Unilab plans to transform Laguna campus into ecozone

MORE PERKS Amherst Laboratories is one of the locators in Unilab’s pharma campus in Biñan, Laguna —PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK OF AMHERST LABORATORIES

MANILA, Philippines — Local pharmaceutical giant United Laboratories Inc. (Unilab) is looking to convert its Laguna campus into a designated pharmaceutical economic zone. This is a move seen boosting the local drug manufacturing industry.

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) said on Friday that Director General Tereso Panga had met with Unilab officials. They were led by the company’s chief strategy officer Gino Dizon. The meeting took place at their pharmaceutical campus in Laguna last April 21.

“Unilab plans to vie for the proclamation of their campus as a pharma ecozone, and register its new activities and projects under Peza,” it said in a statement.

Such a declaration means that locators will be entitled to tax perks and other incentives.

“This move supports the mandate of President Marcos to capacitate and empower local pharma manufacturers and make medicines more accessible and affordable to Filipinos,” it added.

Locators
According to information from Peza obtained by the Inquirer, the Unilab Pharma Campus spans 3.5 hectares.

Currently, the site hosts two locator companies: Amherst Laboratories Inc. and First Pioneer Distribution Inc.

Amherst Laboratories Inc. is the flagship manufacturing subsidiary of Unilab, occupying 2.4 hectares.

The plant produces prescription medicines mainly in solid and liquid dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, powders, creams, ointments, syrups and suspensions.

The facility is also touted as the largest toll manufacturing pharmaceutical plant in the Philippines, compliant with international GMP (good manufacturing practice) standards set by the European Union and Singapore.

Distribution center
Meanwhile, First Pioneer Distribution Inc. operates a distribution center, billed as one of the largest covered single structures in the Philippines, with over 30,000 square meters of floor area.

Peza said the distribution center supported Unilab’s extensive supply chain covering more than 350 prescription and over-the-counter products.