According to Vax maker Moderna to set up facility in Philippines serving Asia-Pacific region | The Star, Malacañang said on Wednesday that pharmaceutical and biotechnology firm Moderna will build a vaccine-making plant in the Philippines to service the whole Asia-Pacific area.
Officials from Moderna reportedly informed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that they were planning to construct a shared service center for pharmacovigilance in order to increase the number of job prospects for health professionals in the nation.
During a meeting with Philippine officials at the Blair House in Washington, Moderna representatives informed Marcos of their decision to establish a vaccine-making facility in the nation.
Considering that you are aware of the capabilities, we are really delighted to have chosen the Philippines for the third one. Moderna's Chief Commercial Officer Arpa Garay was described by the PCO as saying, "We have the talent that is there, and we know that the partnership will be one that can be beneficial for both Moderna and the Philippines."
In contrast, Moderna has picked the Philippines as the "perfect location" for its third shared service center worldwide, according to Moderna Senior Vice President and General Manager Patrick Bergstedt.
The facility will include other shared services, he noted, and they will be available to the whole Asia-Pacific area.
The Covid-19 vaccine, which was given to the Philippines at the height of the pandemic, was developed by Moderna, one of the pharmaceutical companies, in the early stages.
Speaker Martin Romualdez, former president and current Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Marcos, Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual, and Department of Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno met with Moderna representatives on Tuesday afternoon at the Blair House in this city, according to the PCO.
Additionally present at the meeting were DTI Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo, Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo Jr., and Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez.
After it is put into operation, it will be Moderna's only shared service facility in Asia and the third in the entire world, behind Georgia, USA and Poland.
According to the PCO, they have narrowed down possible office locations to Bonifacio Global City in Taguig or Makati and intend to hire 50 staff members, all of whom are health experts.
