Sen Tolentino pushes bill to create Virology Institute of the Philippines

Senator Francis Tolentino is pushing for the passage of Senate Bill 2893, which aims to establish the Virology Institute of the Philippines (VIP) to improve responses to animal-borne diseases like African swine fever (ASF).

Tolentino cited overlapping mandates among agencies as a reason for the prolonged battle against ASF and filed Senate Resolution 565 to probe the impact of ASF on domestic pork production, supply, and prices.

The VIP would facilitate coordination between government bodies and private laboratories, including those in universities and pharmaceutical companies, ensuring that research agenda is complementary rather than duplicative.

Under the proposed bill, the VIP will serve as an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology, focusing on research and development in virology to promote vaccine self-reliance.

The institute's primary role is to ensure seamless collaboration with existing research bodies like the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) to avoid duplicative efforts.

Tolentino hopes that the VIP will help accelerate economic and social development by protecting citizens and national resources through scientific advancements.