Chapter 158: Prelude to Opening a New Enterprises
First, the company must be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the Philippines. This involves submitting the proposed company name for approval and providing the articles of incorporation, and the names of the directors.
Second, they need to obtain the necessary permits from the local government unit where the business will operate. This includes the barangay clearance, mayor\'s permit, and business permit.
Third, the company must secure licenses from the Department of Health (DOH), especially if they plan to manufacture or distribute pharmaceutical products. This process includes a rigorous assessment of the company\'s facilities and operations to ensure compliance with health and safety standards.
Fourth, registration with the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is mandatory for both medical technology and pharmaceutical products. This will involve several stages of approval, including clinical trials for pharmaceuticals and performance evaluations for medical devices.
Finally, for a company dealing with cutting-edge medical technologies, securing intellectual property rights through the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) is crucial to protect innovations and inventions from being copied or exploited without consent.
As Michael absorbed this information, he realized the complexity of the task ahead. Starting a medical technology and pharmaceutical company would not only require a significant financial investment but also a dedicated team to manage the regulatory and operational challenges.
But who is this team? Well, they are usually composed of experts in various fields relevant to the business\'s core operations.
This typically includes professionals like legal advisors specializing in corporate and healthcare law, financial analysts to handle budgeting and investment strategies, medical experts to guide product development and regulatory compliance, and project managers to oversee the operational aspects of setting up the new business.
Usually, they are third-party contractors or full-time hires depending on the needs of the company. For the initial setup and regulatory navigation, third-party contractors with specific expertise can be more cost-effective and efficient. They bring specialized knowledge for handling complex legal and regulatory processes and can be engaged on a project basis.
For ongoing operations, however, full-time hires are essential to maintain continuity, manage daily activities, and sustain long-term growth. These positions would likely include a core team of executives, research and development specialists, operations staff, and support roles in HR, IT, and marketing.
Michael understood that finding the right balance between contractors and full-time staff would be key to managing costs while ensuring expertise and consistency in the company\'s operations.
He decided to prioritize hiring a few strategic full-time positions like a chief operating officer (COO) to manage day-to-day operations and a chief scientific officer (CSO) to lead product development and innovation.
Additionally, forming partnerships with research institutions and hiring freelance experts for specific projects could help in accessing state-of-the-art knowledge and technologies without the overhead of full-time staff.
With this approach in mind, Michael planned to collaborate with Juliet to refine the hiring strategy and start the recruitment process, ensuring they would build a team capable of bringing their vision for the medical technology and pharmaceutical company to fruition.
And as he was working on that, there was a knock on the door.
Michael\'s finger that hovered over the keyboard paused and he called out, "Come in."
The door opened and Juliet entered. It was not only her, there was a woman trailing behind.
"Who is that?" Michael asked as he scanned the girl\'s appearance behind her. It was a woman in her mid-twenties with a fair complexion, light yellow-green eyes, and shoulder-length light brown hair that was braided and tied with a ribbon. She wore a formal work attire with a cropped red suit jacket over a white blouse and black pencil skirt, complementing her professional yet stylish demeanor.
"This is Clara," Juliet introduced, gesturing to the woman beside her. "She\'s a candidate for the assistant secretary position. Actually, not a candidate, I already selected her after going through the final round of interviews. She has the skills and experience we need."
Michael, looking at Clara again, nodded. "That sounds good, Juliet. I trust your judgment."
Turning to Clara, Michael extended a welcoming hand. "Welcome to the team, Clara. I look forward to seeing what you can bring to our company."
Clara shook his hand firmly, a confident smile on her face. "Thank you, Mr. Reyes. I\'m eager to contribute to the success of our projects. And it is an honor to meet you in person. I\'ve heard a lot about the innovative work your company is doing."
"Thank you, Clara," Michael replied, turning his gaze back to Juliet. "So…would that be all? Introducing me to your new secretary or do you have something for me?"
"I have something for you," Juliet responded promptly.
"Okay…what is it?"
"Mr. Reyes, Ms von Reimann and Mrs. Estolas are already at the conference room to discuss the new enterprise you wanted to start. They are waiting for us to join them and go over the details, especially regarding the financial and strategic planning aspects of Reyes Pharmaceuticals and Reyes MedTech Solutions."
Michael, taken slightly by surprise but ready for the discussion, nodded. "Thank you, Juliet. Let\'s not keep them waiting."
He stood up, gesturing for Clara and Juliet to follow. "Clara, this will be a good opportunity for you to see the kind of projects we\'re undertaking and meet some of our key stakeholders."
As they walked towards the conference room, Michael quickly reviewed the main points he wanted to cover in the meeting. He knew that securing the support of Ms. von Reimann and Mrs. Estolas was crucial for the venture\'s success.
Upon entering the conference room, Michael greeted Ms. von Reimann and Mrs. Estolas warmly.
"Thank you for joining us on such short notice. We have some exciting plans to discuss regarding our new ventures in medical technology and pharmaceuticals."
Juliet took her place at the table, setting up her tablet and pulling up the presentation they had prepared. Clara sat beside her, observing the proceedings and taking notes.
Juliet on the other hand, asked.
"Wait…you are actually serious now? You are starting a pharmaceutical company?"
"Yes," Michael confirmed. "This is it. Our solar panels are something that we can\'t rely on for building our wealth because there is a policy in China that prevents foreign companies from importing solar technology. That\'s one of the reasons we\'re branching out into the medical technology and pharmaceuticals sector. Now, who\'s here ready to make history?"