Senate approves bill creating Virology Institute on final reading

The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to establish the Virology Institute of the Philippines (VIP) with 19-0-0 votes.

Senate Bill 2893 mandates the VIP to focus on research and development to address pathogens and potential disease-causing agents affecting plants, animals, and humans.

Its mandate include undertaking discovery programs in the field of virology, vaccine research, research and development of prototype diagnostics and therapeutics on viruses and other pathogens, training and engaging with experts for capacity building of virology and vaccine research, among others.

The VIP will be an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which will serve as the lead convener for the formulation of the National Virology Research Agenda.

It will establish joint research programs and share expertise and resources with the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and other relevant institutions.

The VIP will be headed by a director assisted by two deputy directors — one for research and development and one for support, policy, and linkages.

The VIP board will likewise be established, and will be composed of an undersecretary from the DENR, an undersecretary from the Department of Foreign Affairs, chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education, director-general of the Food and Drug Administration, director of the RITM (Research Institute for Tropical Medicine), director of the VIP, executive director of the University of the Philippines National Institute of Health, president of the National Research Council of the Philippines, and two representatives from the private sector appointed by the president. — BAP, GMA Integrated News