Senator Christopher “Bong” Go renewed his call for the passage of Senate Bill No. 196 — a bill that seeks to establish the Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines (VIP).
Under the proposed SBN 196, the VIP will serve as the principal laboratory of the country in providing virology laboratory investigations, research, and technical coordination of the entire network of virology laboratories nationwide. The bill shall likewise provide guidelines for the establishment and operation of testing, reference and biosafety Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 research laboratories throughout the country.
In two separate ambush interviews in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan, and San Pedro City, Laguna on March 6 and 7, respectively, Go highlighted the crucial role of VIP in ensuring that the country is one-step ahead against future public health emergencies.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) have been working together for the immediate construction of the five-hectare VIP in New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.
“Under the 2023 national budget, mayroon na pong na-allocate na PhP419 million under the office of the Department of Science and Technology under the Office of Secretary para po ito sa Virology Institute of the Philippines to finance the research and development projects. Iba’t iba po ito na allocation,” cited Go.
“Iba’t ibang pondo po ito na nakalaan na po sa Department of Science and Technology habang wala pa ‘yung Virology Institute (of the Philippines). Maaaring habang pinag-aaralan pa po ang panukalang batas, di pa po pumapasa, pero mayroon na pong pondo under the DOST,” he added.
The budget will be used to finance several research and development projects, such as the isolation and purification of Philippine common viruses with medical importance and pandemic potential for antigen-antibody studies, combination therapy on lytic bacteriophages and plant extracts against multidrug-resistant bacteria, development of a real-time polymerase chain reaction for point of need detection of African Swine Fever virus, and development of PCR-based detection kit for Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus.
It will also be used for the detection of food and water-borne bacterial pathogens using phage-based diagnostics, De Novo synthesis of non-infective Zika Pseudovirus as reference for diagnostics and vaccines development, and Antigenic peptide VLPs as potential candidates for COVID-19 vaccine development.
Meanwhile, when asked if the proposed VIP will affect the existing Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), Go reassured, “Hindi naman mabubuwag ang RITM dito. Ang atin naman ay (sana) pagdating po ng panahon magkaroon tayo ng kakayahan na magproduce po ng sariling bakuna. It took us almost a year bago tayo nakapag-umpisa ng pagpapabakuna noon. Dumating ang COVID-19 March (2020), kailan tayo unang nagkapabakuna? ‘Di ba end of February o March (2021) na after one year bago tayo nagkaroon ng bakuna.”
“Itong Virology Institute sana po ay magkaroon tayo ng kakayahanan na magkaroon tayo ng sariling bakuna para po ready tayo. Hindi natin alam kung ito na po ang huling pandemyang darating sa buhay natin,” he added.
The lawmaker likewise continues to push for SBN 195, which aims to create the Philippine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC shall serve as the lead agency for developing communicable disease control and prevention initiatives. It will be primarily responsible for controlling the introduction and spread of infectious diseases in the Philippines.
“Dapat handa tayo para hindi tayo mabigla dahil hindi naman natin masabi kung ito na ba ang huling pandemya na darating sa buhay natin. Mas mabuti na handa tayo… mas mabuti nga magkaroon tayo ng sarili nating bakuna para hindi tayo umaasa sa ibang bansa. Mas mabuti na yung lagi tayong handa,” Go maintained.