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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our country and the entire world, in more 
aspects and levels that we could fathom. The phenomenon brought a staggering number of 
deaths, an unprecedented effect on local, national and global economies, and even psycho-
social and cultural changes, that have changed the ways in which we conduct our daily lives.  
Indeed, our country has fought hard and has gained ground with the COVID-19 virus. 
But only in hindsight do we realize the many things that we could have done better. One of 
these aspects relate to our level of preparedness for a pandemic of this magnitude. Many times, 
it takes a huge crisis to expose the weaknesses in our government systems. One of these was 
the lack of research direction, facility and capacity in addressing highly infectious diseases 
such as the COVID-19 virus.  
In this regard, the present organization of the Department of Health (DOH) focuses on 
a limited scope -- surveillance, policy, and management. The two most relevant bureaus related 
to a disease outbreak are: (1) Bureau of Epidemiology and (2) Disease Prevention and Control 
Bureau. The former’s functions include to: (a) Develop and evaluate surveillance systems and 
other health information systems, (b) Collect, analyze and disseminate reliable and timely 
information on the health status, (c) Investigate disease outbreaks and other threats to public 
health, and (d) Network public health laboratories in support of epidemiological and 
surveillance activities. The latter’s functions include to: (a) oversee the systems integration, 
and (b) oversee the technical integration of the bureau.  
On the other hand, the University of the Philippines- Manila, in 1996 created the National 
Institutes of Health (NIH) to carry out its medical research and development function. This 
institution was strengthened in 1998 through Republic Act No. 8503, or the “Health 
Research and Development Act.” At present the UP NIH houses the following institutes: 
(1) Institute of Ophthalmology, (2) Institute of Socio-Biomedical Research, and (3)
Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology.
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This bill proposes the following actions: (a) to create another institute within the UP NIH 
to carry out research on infectious diseases and immunology- with the goal of anticipation 
and better preparation of looming epidemics caused by viruses, bacteria or other 
pathogens. This institute will be called, “Institute of Infectious Diseases and 
Immunology,” and (b) to formalize an organizational, functional, financial and advisory 
relationship between the UP NIH and the DOH.    
 
It is imperative that our government develops, funds and supports our national capacity to better 
defend the Filipino people against our present and future health threats. 
 
 
 
RICHARD I. GOMEZ 
 
 
 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE INSTITUTE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND 
IMMUNOLOGY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the " Institute of Infectious 
Diseases and Immunology (IIDI) Act." 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and promote 
the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. 
The State recognizes that research, science and technology is essential for national 
development and progress. 
To this end, the State shall formulate and implement policies that shall address 
current health issues, such as the quality and adequacy of health and medical 
human resources, health institutions, and delivery of health services, and shall 
give priority to research, the development and promotion of innovations in both 
technology and services, the use of safe and indigenous health-promoting 
practices, and their appropriate utilization by the health sector. 
In this regard, the State shall prioritize the establishment of an institute that will 
conduct in-depth studies on viruses and their potential disease-causing agents 
that affect people, plants, and animals, in order to provide the scientific bases for 
the treatment of viral diseases, and for the formulation of policies that shall prevent 
the transmission of these diseases within the community and national context. 
SEC. 3. Objectives. - This Act seeks to: 
a) Establish a medical research institute that shall focus on understanding
and discovering infectious diseases, as well as finding ways of
controlling its spread and suppression of the pathogens;
b) Attach such institute to the UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UP
NIH); and
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c) Formalize an organizational, financial, functional and advisory relationship 
between UP NIH and the Department of Health (DOH) 
 
SEC. 4. Creation of the Institute of Infectious Diseases and Immunology -  The 
Institute of Infectious Diseases and Immunology (IIDI) is hereby created and shall 
be an institute of the UP Manila NIH.  
 
The IIDI shall serve as the premier research and development institute in the field 
of infectious diseases of all types of pathogens. It shall be a venue for scientists, 
research institutes and other organizations in the Philippines and abroad, to work 
collaboratively to study pathogens of agricultural, industrial, clinical, and 
environmental significance. 
 
SEC. 5. Mandate. - The IIDI shall implement policies, plans, programs, and 
projects for the development of infectious diseases and immunology science and 
technology in the country and the promotion of scientific and technological 
activities for both the public and private sectors. It shall ensure that the results of 
these activities are properly applied towards self-reliance and utilized to accelerate 
economic and social development towards the protection of the citizens and 
resources. 
 
SEC. 6. Powers, Functions, and Duties. - To accomplish its mandate, the IIDI 
shall have the following powers, functions, and duties: 
 
a) Together with the DOH’s appropriate bureaus, IIDI shall be the convener 
for the formulation of the National Infectious Diseases and Immunology 
Research Agenda,  in consultation  with  all concerned  stakeholders,  
that  will encompass researches involving pathogens of plant, animal and 
humans; 
 
b) Undertake scientific and technological research and development in 
the fields of infectious diseases and immunology; 
 
c) Conduct product research and development in the areas of diagnostics, 
therapeutics, and vaccines in cooperation with the private sector and 
concerned government agencies; 
 
d) Promote and undertake the transfer of the results of scientific research 
and development in collaboration with government agencies, industry, and 
the academe; 
 
e) Promote, advocate and oversee research ethics, biosafety, and biosecurity; 
 


 
 
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f) Develop and maintain an information system on infectious diseases and 
immunology science and technology for use by both the public and private 
sectors; 
 
g) Develop  and  implement,  together  with other  entities concerned,  
programs for strengthening  scientific and technological  capabilities  
through  human resource development,  infrastructure, and  institution 
so building; 
 
h) Provide laboratory and technical services on infectious disease and 
immunology; 
 
i) Promote and advocate the national programs on infectious disease and 
immunology science and technology; and, 
 
j) Establish linkages with local and international partners. 
 
SEC. 7. Organizational Structure. – The structure of the  IIDI shall be patterned 
after similar and standard structures of the UP NIH institutes.  
 
SEC. 8.  Engagement of Balik Scientists and Foreign Experts. - The IIDI may 
engage the services of Balik Scientists and foreign experts who shall work together 
with the local scientists and experts, following the terms of reference and 
compensation structure in accordance with Republic Act No. 11035 or the "Balik 
Scientist Program Act" and other existing laws. 
 
SEC. 9. Interdepartmental Cooperation. - 
The IIDI shall collaborate with 
the DOH, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Finance 
(DOF), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Research Institute for Tropical 
Medicine (RITM) and other relevant government agencies, in accessing and 
mobilizing available information, reports, technical expertise, equipment, materials 
and supplies as may be required to implement this Act. 
 
The scientific findings of the IIDI shall be integrated in other plans relating to 
disease control and prevention and in the plans of the Inter-Agency Task Force on 
Emerging Infectious Diseases, as created by Executive Order No. 168 s. 2014, 
or its successor body, for the management of public health emergencies relating 
to infectious diseases. 
 
SEC. 10. Entitlement to Magna Carta Benefits. - Qualified employees of the 
IIDI shall be covered by Republic Act No. 8439, otherwise known as "Magna 
Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and Other Science and Technology 
Personnel in Government". 
 


 
 
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SEC. 11. Infectious Diseases Research Fund. - All donations, contributions, 
grants, bequests, or gifts, in cash or in-kind, received by the IIDI from various 
sources shall be placed into a fund, to be known as the Infectious Diseases and 
Immunology Research Fund and such donations shall be exempt from donor's tax: 
Provided, That, acceptance of grants, bequests, contributions, and donations from 
foreign governments shall be subject to the approval of the President of the 
Philippines, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of DOH and the Secretary 
of Department of Foreign Affairs. 
 
SEC. 12. Authority to Solicit, Negotiate, and Receive Donations, Grants, 
Gifts, Legacies, Endowments, and Contributions. - The IIDI may solicit, 
negotiate with, and receive from any public or private domestic or foreign sources 
legacies, gifts, donations, grants, endowments, contributions or other transfers of 
ownership and/or possession of real or personal prope11ies of all kinds in favor and 
for the benefit of the IIDI, which shall all be part of the special account in the 
general fund. 
 
SEC. 13. Tax Exemptions. - Donations, grants, gifts, endowments, legacies, and 
contributions used actually, directly and exclusively for the purpose of the IIDI 
shall be exempt from donor's so tax and the same shall be considered as allowable 
deduction from gross income for purposes of computing the taxable income of the 
donor, in accordance with Sec. 34 (H)(2)(a) of the National Internal Revenue Code 
of 1997, as amended. Likewise, such other transfers of ownership and/or possession 
of real or personal properties of all kinds shall be exempt from all taxes. 
 
SEC. 14. Annual Report. - The IIDI shall submit its annual report to the President 
and to the Committees on Health, Science and Technology in both Houses of 
Congress, not later than the 30th of March of every year following the effectivity 
of this Act. The annual report shall provide a full  and detailed account of the 
status of the implementation of this Act and policy recommendations. 
 
SEC. 15. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. - There shall be a Joint 
Congressional Oversight Committee on the implementation of this Act, which shall 
be jointly chaired by the Chairpersons of the Committees on Health and Science 
and Technology of the Senate and House of Representatives. It shall be composed 
of the Chairpersons of the Senate Committees on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian 
Reform, the Chairpersons of the Committees on Agriculture and Food of the House 
of Representatives, and two (2) Members from each House representing the 
minority who shall be appointed by the Senate President and the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives. 
 
SEC. 16. Appropriations. - The initial amount for the implementation of this Act 
shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the DOH. Thereafter, 
the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 


 
 
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SEC. 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOH Secretary shall, 
in consultation with DBM, DOST, Civil Service Commission, and other 
relevant government agencies, promulgate the necessary rules and regulations 
within one hundred twenty (120) days from the effectivity of this Act. 
 
SEC. 18. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 19. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or 
other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 20. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its  
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved.