Sen. Imee Marcos calls for RITM budget increase amid COVID-19 challenges

Senator Imee Marcos is advocating for an increased budget to modernize and expand the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) due to challenges in COVID-19 testing.

Marcos highlighted that the RITM's limited capacity and insufficient manpower pose a significant challenge to the country's ability to conduct COVID-19 tests, especially if widespread contagion occurs.

She expressed concern that the reported 2,000 testing kits would be insufficient for the country's population of over 100 million, particularly if there is a surge in cases.

The senator lamented that over 30 years of neglect have left the RITM understaffed and ill-equipped to handle emerging viruses and large-scale infections, noting it was inaugurated during her father's presidency.

Currently, only five sub-national centers, all located in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, are capable of performing COVID-19 tests.

Marcos recommended expanding the RITM's regional presence, particularly in high-population areas of Regions 3 to 5, to improve testing capacity.

She also mentioned that Filipino scientists at UP have developed their own testing kits and stressed the need for continued funding for RITM's modernization and manpower, especially in regional offices, after the current crisis.