MOU Signed Aiming to Make Medicines More Accessible in Baguio

The City of Baguio through Mayor Benjie Magalong and the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) through Executive Director Teodoro Padilla signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today, December 12, 2022. The MOU is designed to pave way in establishing an effective pharmaceutical supply chain that would significantly make life-saving medicines and relevant healthcare programs more accessible and cheaper for the people of Baguio. Along with PHAP officials and representatives of top pharmaceutical companies in the Philippines, Department of Health Undersecretary Charade Mercado-Grande witnessed the signing.

Established in July 1946, PHAP is a non-profit and non-stock organization composed of 42 national and global companies. The organization represents research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare sector in the Philippines.

Apart from medicines and medical supplies becoming more accessible for Baguio constituents, the partnership will also lead to establishing a cooperative and collaborative ecosystem for a more efficient implementation of Universal Health Care.

The City of Baguio was among the chosen LGUs for the partnership as it was recognized to be a leading tech innovator as well as its strong adherence to good governance.

“If there’s an opportunity or any partnership potential that would alleviate people’s health and well-being, we grab it,” Mayor Benjie stated.

Mr. Padilla reassured that the partnership with the City of Baguio will be a bond of trust and mutual benefit. “We [PHAP and PHAP members] follow a strict code of practice, which is our code of ethics, and that all member-companies represented in this room have their own very strict compliance rules with transparency and good governance.”