The permit application processing for vaccine manufacturers in the country will not extend beyond one month following the signing of a memorandum circular that will establish green lanes.
The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), Department of Health (DOH), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Trade and Industry-Board of Investments (DTI-BOI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF-COVID19) signed the joint circular on May 19.
According to ARTA Director-General Jeremiah Belgica, the processing will only take 20 to 30 days and there will also be incentives for those planning to build vaccine plants in the country.
“In fact, 20 days to 30 days na lamang po ay matatapos po lahat at magkakaroon po ito ng green lane na tinatawag na one-stop shop na kung saan ang mga government agencies po na concerned na dadaanan po dati nang paisa-isa, ay ngayon sabay-sabay na,” Belgica said in the May 28 Laging Handa briefing.
Belgica said the green lanes will only cover for the meantime COVID-19 vaccine-related applicants, especially those engaged in “fill-and-finish” operations.
“Ito iyong mga mayroon nang mga approved na mga EUAs [emergency use authorization] at mga sertipikasyon sa iba’t ibang mga bansa na puwedeng dalhin dito by bulk, at dito na lamang po iyong tinatawag na finish o iyong ilalagay po sa mga iba’t ibang mga vials,” he said.
He said four companies have already expressed interest and some of them can establish their plants “within the next less than one year.” He added that they are expecting two to three applicants that will avail of the green lane’s services.
The ARTA said it has yet to study the green lane’s expansion to include vaccine manufacturers for diseases not related to COVID-19. – Report from Kenneth Paciente/AG-rir
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