Heeding the government’s call to address the deficient supply of COVID-19 related products in the Philippines, many of the country’s manufacturers are undertaking re-purposing initiatives.
The Board of Investments (BOI) is assisting manufacturers by helping them strengthen their capabilities, navigating them through as they re-purpose their existing product lines. Their work is part of a broader campaign to support businesses through the Covid-19 pandemic.
BOI assistance focuses on the manufacturer’s strengths in product development, logistics, production systems, and skilled workforce. For example, alcoholic liquor used to create alcohol disinfectants, ready-to-wear garments transformed into protective uniforms, or even medical gloves fashioned from rubber balloons.
In particular, BOI helps manufacturers by creating linkages between raw materials suppliers and manufacturers to ensure a steady supply of products needed to combat the pandemic.
The work is already bearing fruit. Australian-based packaging firm Tacca Industries has announced that it plans to step up its role in the production of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the Philippines. Tacca is hiring just under 100 new members of staff in the country as it makes the move, with the jobs based at their plant in Laguna.
Firms interested in following in Tacca’s footsteps can book an appointment via BOI’s Facebook page to find out more about the help and incentives on offer. A dedicated specialist will help businesses strengthen their PPE related capabilities, navigating them through the process.
Trade Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo, said: “We are delighted to launch this initiative and look forward to working with manufacturers in the Philippines repurpose their production lines. This will be good for everyone – it will help manufactures expand their business while providing desperately needed Covid-19 products”
Clem Tacca, CEO of Tacca Industries, said: “The number one priority is to keep the employment and keep people in jobs and this extra project that we will do in the mask material will be good for the economy and everybody in general. It’s crucial that health workers in the Philippines are cared for and making sure that they get the right equipment so that they are very safe and sound. That is also a priority which everyone in the Philippines has been raising with me and it’s something that we’ll bring into the country because of our name. We are already in contact with some people that the BOI has put us in touch with. BOI’s help has been invaluable.”
