BOI pushes pharma roadmap to boost local drug industry

The Board of Investments (BOI) presented progress updates on the Integrated Roadmap for the Philippine Pharmaceutical Industry (IRPPI) during the Philippine Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry’s (PCPI) 2nd General Membership Meeting on September 11, 2025, in Quezon City.

The event underscored a unified effort between government and industry leaders to strengthen local manufacturing, promote innovation, and expand access to quality medicines.

BOI Industry Development Services Executive Director Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichosa said the roadmap, completed in 2022 and implemented in 2023, envisions a resilient and agile pharmaceutical value chain by 2030.

“In light of the many developments across the pharmaceutical value chain, we encourage the industry to work closely with the government to strengthen the industry to serve the population’s needs, especially in times of epidemics and pandemics,” she said.

Halili-Dichosa noted the industry’s import dependence, with pharmaceutical imports steadily rising between 2019 and 2024, peaking in 2021.

“For the 1st semester of 2025, exports have declined by 25% while imports increased by 5% compared with the same period of 2024,” she added.

The roadmap aims to enable local manufacturers to produce 60 percent of the country’s registered medicines and establish the Philippines as a global player in pharmaceutical innovation and access.

Among the updates to the roadmap are PEZA guidelines on establishing Pharmazones, which will serve as hubs for research, development, and manufacturing, and the finalization of the Tatak Pinoy Strategy that includes pharmaceuticals as a priority industry.

Other initiatives include the FDA Administrative Order simplifying export procedures for local drugmakers and the planned establishment of the Virology Institute of the Philippines.

Food and Drug Administration Director General Atty. Paulo Luis G. Teston said the agency is pursuing digital transformation, backlog reduction, and workforce expansion to improve transparency and efficiency.

He emphasized that the FDA is “not a barrier to trade but a catalyst for innovation and a partner in national development,” affirming its role in ensuring medicine security through strict quality standards.

House Committee on Health Chairperson Ciriaco B. Gato Jr. was recognized for his legislative support, particularly on proposed amendments to RA 9711 and the Pharmacy Act.

PCPI President Dr. Lloyd Balajadia thanked stakeholders for their collaboration and reaffirmed the chamber’s role as a government partner in building an innovation-driven pharmaceutical industry.

He stressed the need for sustained cooperation to provide accessible, high-quality healthcare for all Filipinos.

For 2025, the Philippine pharmaceutical market is projected to generate nearly USD 2 billion in revenue, with steady 4.1 percent annual growth expected through 2029.

This expansion is driven by rising demand for generic drugs as the government works to make healthcare more affordable and accessible nationwide.

The BOI said the growing market opens new opportunities for innovation, investment, and broader access to essential medicines.