Romero

2 House panels okay bill on creation of Virology and Vaccines Institute of the Philippines

November 11, 2022 Jester P. Manalastas 405 views

TWO House panels have approved a substitute bill on the creation of the Virology and Vaccines Institute of the Philippines.

One of the authors, 1PACMAN Rep. Michael Romero, has expressed gratitude to the House committee on health and committee on science and technology for giving priority to the measure.

Once enacted into law, this will be the country’s first public agency specializing in the research and commercialization of virus technology in the country.

“There are threatening issues that can only be addressed using science and technology, specifically through research and development. It is therefore imperative that we establish a Research Institute that drives into the study of viruses and vaccines or the field of virology,” Romero, chairman of the House committee on social services said.

He added that the country needs to act now to detect and control the spread of the existing viruses, vaccines to provide long-term protection, treatments to save lives in the shorter-term implications.

Another author, Albay Rep. JoeY SAlceda emphasized that “countries with serum institutes were able to gain access to vaccines quicker and were thus able to return to normalcy faster during the pandemic.”

He added that vaccines and virus-related technology is not merely restricted to human use. Agriculture requires virological study.

Salceda cited how Vietnam’s own virology institute was able to invent the first ASF vaccine in the world.

The institute would be under the Department of Science and Technology.

Under the measure, the institute “shall serve as the premier research and development institute in the field of virology, encompassing all areas in viruses and viral diseases in humans, plants, and animals.”

It shall act as a venue for scientists, both here and abroad, to work collaboratively to study viruses of agricultural, industrial, clinical, and environmental importance.

Also, the institute will work with international organizations and conduct innovative and pioneering research that will advance the frontiers of virology in the country.

Salceda also insisted that the tax exemptions and the funding provisions for the institute be retained, and assured the committee that the tax panel will approve the tax provisions.

The two solons are hoping that the measure will be enacted into law by the end of 2022 or early in 2023.