The Ayala Group has committed to procure 450,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines against coronavirus, of which half will go to the government.
Ayala Corporation president and COO Fernando Zobel de Ayala said this would cost about P120 million, including all expenses for logistics and transportation of the vaccines.
“This is a time for everyone – private sector, public sector – to work together. Never have we faced a crisis of these proportions that has produced so much suffering in our country,” Zobel said during the virtual press briefing.
Half of the procured vaccines would be donated to the government as requested, while the other half would go to the private sector.
“Government, in turn, has requested that 50 percent be given to individuals that the government selects, and 50 percent will be given back to the private sector so we can also provide to people who need it,” he added.
Zobel emphasized the importance of the private sector’s effort and initiative in helping the country fight back against the virus that have claimed thousands of lives.
“I’d like to think that the private sector has come through in a very big way, with a call from the government, and tried to to do everything that they could, not only for their employees, their suppliers, but the public in general,” he added.
The Philippines and private firms earlier secured 2.6 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
