ARTA to meet with DOH on green lane for local vax manufacturers

MANILA – The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) will hold a meeting with concerned agencies to discuss the establishment of a green lane for faster processing of permit applications of local vaccine manufacturers.

In a radio interview Tuesday, ARTA Director General Jeremiah Belgica said the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be invited to attend the conference.

The presence of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will likewise be requested to help thresh out the streamlining of government processes in relation to the issuance of permits for local vaccine manufacturers.

“(Ito ay) para ho makita natin on how could we attract itong mga local manufacturers na magkaroon po ng kanilang sariling manufacturing plant for vaccines,” Belgica said.

ARTA’s move is in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to set up a green lane for local vaccine manufacturers in a bid to capacitate the country to produce own jabs against Covid-19.

DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez earlier said the green lane would accelerate further the resolution of permit applications of local vaccine manufacturers provided that they have submitted all necessary requirements to concerned agencies.

Belgica, in a separate interview, vowed to keep an eye not only on this matter but also on all other products deemed essential to curb the spread of Covid-19.

“Ang ARTA ngayon ay patuloy na tututukan ang Food and Drug Administration at ang iba pang mga ahensiya na dadaanan ng mga companies na ito na nais mag-manufacture at maggawa ng mga vaccines at hindi lang mga vaccines, pati iyong mga kritikal na gamot na kakailanganin natin (ARTA will continue to focus on the FDA and other agencies that these vaccine manufacturers would deal with, and even other drugs we will be needing),” he noted during the Public Briefing Laging Handa briefing aired over PTV last Saturday.

“At hindi naman kaila sa marami sa atin na ang Food and Drug Administration ay isa sa mga prayoridad na ahensiya na tinututukan talaga ng Anti-Red Tape Authority lalo na sa oras ng pandemya. Sabi nga natin, ang red tape ay nakamamatay kaya kinakailangan talagang magtulung-tulong tayo para pabilisin ang proseso (The FDA is among the agencies that ARTA is focusing on especially now that there is a pandemic. We need to help each other and cooperate to hasten the process),” Belgica added.