AS the news broke out regarding the approval of AstraZeneca on the second batch of orders of the COVID-19 vaccine, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder, Joey Concepcion, said that the turnout was amazing.
Immediately, the Ayala Corporation confirmed 400,000 doses of vaccines, along with other companies, namely: Palawan Pawnshop who ordered 100,000 doses, Okada Manila who ordered 40,000 doses, Uratex Philippines who ordered 21,000 doses, Century Pacific Food who ordered 20,000 doses, Unioil Petroleum Philippines, Inc. who ordered 20,000 doses, Golden Arches Development Corporation who ordered 15,000 doses, and Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. who ordered 10,000 doses, among others. Each dose is still at its base cost of $5.
Meetings with the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, the Entrepreneurs Organization, the Philippine Franchise Association, The Association of the Filipino Franchisers Inc., Philippine Ecozone Developers, Philippine Hotel Associations, Inc., and the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc., and George Barcelon of PCCI among others, also immediately ensued upon the announcement for the second batch.
“When they told me that, the number of calls and inquiries from the private sector were increasing. Although we expected it somehow, we were happy that more and more private sector partners are now taking their part in this initiative – ending the war against COVID-19. This only means that the business community is very serious in ensuring that our economy will remain open while slowly ending this war,” Concepcion stated, with more than 200 companies already expressing their pledge and interest, and still counting.
Recognizing the ‘Bayanihan spirit’ that is being created among the community, Concepcion extended his reach to help more businesses acquire their share of the vaccines – ‘A Dose of Hope.’ As the door opens to more businesses, Concepcion encourages business entities to just express their interest and he will help them personally.
Various business entities like microfinance institutions (MFIs) have been in contact with Go Negosyo and Concepcion. Allan Robert Sicat, Executive Director of Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc., has been connecting these networks of microfinance institutions to Go Negosyo and Concepcion.
Dr. Jaime Aristotle Alip, founder and managing director of The Center for Agriculture and Rural Development Mutually Reinforcing Institutions, is one key advocate that is interested in the project. Leading a group of companies composed of a foundation, a bank, micro insurance, a development institute, and a business development service, Alip’s conglomerate is a critical source of assistance for MSMEs.
Other advocates that expressed their interest in joining this cause are Fr. Jovic Lobrigo of Sedp Simbag sa Pag asenso, Inc. (SEDP Simbag), and Eduardo Jimenez of Kabalikat para sa Maunlad na Buhay, Inc. (KMBI, Inc.), among others. Critical in the revival of MSMEs that has been greatly affected in the country, the earlier MFIs’ operations would resume, the more MSMEs will receive assistance from these institutions.
Go Negosyo and Concepcion is still closely and continuously working with various businesses through this ongoing effort. Just recently, Concepcion had a meeting with the Philippine Retailers Association headed by Rosemarie Ong, Senior Executive Vice President and COO of Wilcon Depot. A strategic partnership, “I shared with them that it’s important to vaccinate all the frontliners in the retail sector, supermarkets, department stores, and malls,” Concepcion highlighted.
With the concerning state of our MSMEs, Concepcion sees this initiative as one step into helping MSMEs bounce back. The more businesses involved in this project, the faster the ecosystem will be revived, thus, stimulating exchange. It is one answer to the question of how we get money flowing again – it will stop the bleeding.
As Concepcion noted, “So two fronts kasi yan, both from the government side, they’re taking care of the public sector, kami naman sa private sector – teamwork kami. So, if we’re able to execute, mas madaling sagupain itong pandemya.”
With the government mainly ensuring the welfare of the country through enabling and keeping safe our health frontliners, this initiative by Concepcion will ensure the welfare of our country through enabling and boosting our ‘economic frontliners’. “Sa kapasidad namin, tutulong din kami. If the private sector will not help, the economy will remain restricted,” Concepcion forwarded.
“MSMEs are one of the greatly affected in this pandemic. Right now, as some of their businesses are close, they don’t have a cash flow. So now, this is why we want to really help, I think the real solution here is control the situation and control the infection, get rid of the virus – and this is only possible through the vaccine,” Concepcion noted.
“Many business organizations are wanting to be in the second part, and this could be the last. Just look at it, the cost of testing using antigen is 500 pesos, RT-PCR, 2500 pesos and up. This is 500 pesos for two doses, an offer from Astra from their zero profit program for 2021, this is the only way to accelerate our economic recovery and save lives,” Concepcion added.
For further clarifications or expression of interest to join the ‘A Dose of Hope’ Project, you may contact the following:
JOSEPHINE ROMERO
Go Negosyo Senior Adviser/09989981235
jophine@gmail.com
EVA PASAGUI
Executive Secretary at the Office of Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship 09189656333
evapasagui.pce@gmail.com
ISABELLE LAPUZ
Special Projects Associate at the Office of Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo
09563584062
isabellelapuz.pce@gmail.com
