PBSP, LCF urged to “aggregate” vaccines needed by large corporations to immunize workers
Accenture Inc. and Jollibee Foods Corp. have been cited for their plans to arrange and pay for the COVID-19 vaccination of their 67,000 employees and their families.
“We applaud both Accenture and Jollibee for inspiring other businesses to immunize their workers as well as their families,” Rep. Michael Defensor (Anakalusugan) said.
“We expect other corporations to follow in the footsteps of the two firms,” Defensor said.
The country’s largest provider of outsourced business consulting and processing services, Accenture employs over 50,000 college-educated Filipinos in multiple sites in Metro Manila, Laguna, Ilocos Norte and Cebu.
Jollibee employs 17,000 Filipinos, including those in its subsidiaries and support units.
“We are counting on the National Task Force Against COVID-19 and the Department of Health to help Accenture and Jollibee purchase the vaccines that they need to protect their employees and their families,” Defensor said.
Under new guidelines, private corporations that wish to buy shots for their employees and dependents have to enter into tripartite procurement agreements with the national government and vaccine manufacturers.
Meanwhile, Defensor called on the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) to “aggregate” the vaccines needed by their members to inoculate their employees and their families.
“Both PBSP and LCF can aggregate the jabs needed by member firms for use on their employees and dependents, and then enter into ‘mother’ procurement agreements with the government and vaccine producers,” Defensor said.
With 255 member companies, PBSP is the largest business-led social development non-governmental organization.
LCF groups 96 of the largest corporate foundations dedicated to improving the lives of their human resources, the community and the environment.| – bnn
