New york: A United States-based medical glove manufacturer is investing an initial USD200 million to build a production facility in the Philippines, with plans to expand operations once the first phase proves successful, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced Tuesday (New York time).
According to Philippines News Agency, President Marcos, speaking at a press conference at The Pierre A Taj Hotel before departing New York, revealed that the Harvard-based U.S. Medical Glove Company (USMGC) has commenced preparations for the project. Representatives have already been dispatched to the Philippines to initiate the facility's construction.
Marcos emphasized that the initial investment is pegged at PHP200 million dollars, with USMGC having already found a local partner for the venture. While the first phase involves a smaller investment, discussions are underway for a substantial expansion once operations get underway.
The facility is expected to ensure a stable domestic supply of gloves for various sectors including healthcare and the military. Marcos stated, "This is going to be to our advantage dahil magkakaroon tayo ng supply hindi lang para sa healthcare workers pati sa military at lahat nang nangangailangan."
The government is open to exploring further opportunities if the venture performs well, and USMGC is keen to expedite the facility's construction. Marcos highlighted the speed of the construction process, noting that once the building is completed and the machinery arrives, production could begin within 48 hours.
During his two-day working visit to the US, Marcos met with USMGC executives on Monday. In a Facebook post, he noted that the project is expected to generate more than 2,000 jobs and facilitate the local production of essential medical supplies.
USMGC, a leading American manufacturer of nitrile and polyisoprene surgical and exam gloves, is headquartered in Harvard, Illinois. The company operates 10 nitrile-glove production lines, producing over 2 billion gloves annually, utilizing eco-friendly, energy-efficient machines that are significantly lighter than conventional machinery, and recycling 100 percent of production water.