Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1491

Introduced by the Honorable Danilo Ramon S. Fernandez.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Lockdowns, testing, contact tracing and isolation / quarantine are obviously
not enough to address wave after wave of spiking infection in times of pandemic.
What we most urgently need is life-saving vaccines. Unfortunately, the Philippines
right now is not a vaccine-producing country. We are totally dependent on foreign
countries in terms of imported vaccines. Most of those nations, however, have been
practicing “vaccine nationalism” by cornering most of the world’s thin supply to
cater to the needs of their own citizens. We are therefore left at the mercy of those
foreign entities not only as to if and when and but also by how much they are willing
to export.

Hence, it is about time that we develop and manufacture our own vaccines,
and not only for COVID-19 but also for African swine fever (ASF), bird flu, and
viral diseases which have been affecting many crops. This need is no longer a
concer involving food production and security but the very survival of our economy
itself. If we could already legislate into existence our own space agency at this time,
there is no reason for us not to be able to build an industry which could potentially
save tens of thousands of lives on this little patch of earth that we are living on.

By establishing a virology (vaccine) institute, this bill moves forward our
country’s aspiration to have its own vaccine facility. We don’t have to procure these
essential medicines from other nations. Once we have such Philippine-made vaccines
in play, we could trust our own private sector to competitively take the lead when it
‘comes to mass production.

For the foregoing reasons, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly
sought.

(ON. DANILO RAMON S. FERNANDEZ
Representative
Lone District, Santa Rosa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bit No.__1491

Introduced by the Honorable Danilo Ramon S. Fernandez

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE VIROLOGY INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPINES (VIP)
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 “Virology Institute
of the Philippines (VIP) Act of 2022.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared the policy of the State:

1). To protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill
health consciousness among them;

2). To undertake appropriate health, manpower development, and
research, responsive to the country's health needs and problems;

3).To recognize that science and technology are essential for
national development and progress;

4).To give priority to research and development, invention,
innovation, and their utilization; and

5). To support indigenous, appropriate, and self-reliant scientific and
technological capabilities, and their application to the country's productive
systems and national life.

To this end, it is recognized that the establishment of an institute that
will conduct research and development activities/in-depth study on the viruses


affecting the lives of its people and resources is vital for the protection of the
health of its people and the preservation of the national life.

SEC. 3. Objectives. ~ This Act seeks to establish a virology institute that
shall focus on the following Key Development Areas for virology science and
technology applications to ensure the State's sustained progress:

a), Research on viruses using a modern approach such as molecular
biology and its application or biotechnology;

»). Development of diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics
(Molecular Biotechnology);

¢). International cooperation and network of databases of
virus infections;

d).Operation of a virus gene bank, virus genome laboratory, and virus
reference laboratory to focus on viruses circulating in the Philippines for
disease prevention and epidemiological studies; and

e).Operation of a virus high containment laboratory dedicated to the
study of highly infectious and highly pathogenic viruses.

SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms
shall mean:

a). Diagnostics refer to those methods, tests, techniques, and tools in
viral diagnosis for humans, animals, and plants;

b). Therapeutics refer to anti-viral, nanotechnology treatment approach,
nucleic acid-based treatment, remedial agents, drugs for the treatment of viral
diseases and infections for humans, animals, and plants;

©). Vaccines refer to the products that induce or stimulate active acquired
immunity by producing antibodies to a specific infectious agent. It helps the
body's immune system to recognize and fight pathogens like viruses or
bacteria; and

4). Virology refers to the scientific discipline concerned with the study of
the biology of viruses and viral diseases, including the distribution,
pathogenicity, viral cytopathicity, biochemistry, physiology, molecular
biology, biotechnology, ecology, tropism, spillover or _ interspecies
transmission, evolution, and clinical aspects of viruses.

SEC.S. Creation of the Virology Institute of the Philippines.- To carry
out the provisions of this Act, there is hereby created a research and
development institute under the Department of Science and Technology
called the Virology Institute of the Philippines (VIP). The VIP shall serve as


the premier research and development institute in the field of virology,
encompassing all areas in viruses and viral diseases in humans, plants, and
animals. It shall act as avenue for scientists, both here and abroad, to work
collaboratively to study viruses of agricultural, industrial, clinical, and
environmental importance.

The Institute shall establish strategic partnerships with the world’s
leading scientists, virology centers, and institutes and conduct innovative and
pioneering researches that will advance the frontiers of virology in the country.

SEC. 6. Mandate. - The Institute shall implement policies, plans,
programs, and projects for the development of virology science and technology
in the country and the promotion of scientific and technological activities for
both the public and private sectors, and 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 its resources.

SEC. 7. Powers, Functions, and Duties. - To accomplish its mandate, the
VIP shall have the following powers, functions, and duties:

a), Serve as the lead convener of the Virology research agenda as part of
the National Unified Health Research Agenda(NUHRA);

by. Undertake scientific and technological research and development
(R&D) in the field of virology:

c). Conduct product R&D in the areas of diagnostics, therapeutics, and
vaccines;

d).Promote and undertake the transfer of the results of scientific
research and development to concerned government agencies, industry, and
academe;

¢).Develop and maintain an information system on virology science and
technology for use by both the public and private sectors;

f). Develop and implement, together with other entities concerned,
programs for strengthening scientific and technological capabilities in virology
and relevant disciplines through human resource development, infrastructure,
and institution building;

g). Undertake policy research, technology assessment, and
other related researches on virology;

h). Provide laboratory and technical services on virology;

i). Promote and advocate the national programs on virology science
and technology; and


j). Establish linkages with local and international partners.

SEC. 8. Organizational Structure. - The VIP shall be an attached agency
of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for purposes of policy
and program coordination, and to ensure alignment in national policies and
priorities. It shall be headed by a Director and two (2) Deputy Directors, one (1)
for Research and Development, and another one (1) for Support, Policy, and
Linkages.

The VIP shall be composed of the Office of the Director, Office of the
Deputy Director for Research and Development, Office of the Deputy Director
or Support, Policy, and Linkages and the following divisions:

1). Virus Research;

2). Diagnostics and Therapeutics Research;

3). Vaccines Research;

4). Technical Services and Training;

5). Policy, Planning, and Linkages; and

6). Finance and Administration

The Deputy Director for Research and Development shall head the first
three (3) divisions while the Deputy Director for Support, Policy, and Linkages
shall head the next three (3) divisions.

Subject to the approval of the Department of Budget and Management
(DBM), the VIP shall determine its organizational structure and create new
divisions or units as it may deem necessary and shall appoint officers and
employees of the VIP following the civil service laws, rules, and regulations.

For this purpose, the Institute shall draw up the necessary position
qualifications and standards for its personnel following the Civil Service Law,
tules and regulations, in consultation with the DBM.

SEC. 9. The Governing Board. - The Governing Board shall be the
principal policy-making body for scientific and technological activities of the
Institute. It shall be composed of the following:

I). Chair, Secretary of DOST;
2). Co-chair, Undersecretary for R&D, DOST; and

3). | Members:


1). Undersecretary of Department of Health (DOH);

2). Undersecretary of Department of Agriculture (DA);

3) Director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Philippines
(CDCPHL);

4). Executive Director of Philippine Council for Health Research &
Development (PCHRD);

5). Executive Director of Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic , and
‘Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD);

6). Executive Director of Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and
Emerging Technology Research & Development (PCIEERD);

7). Director of Philippine Virology Science and Technology Institute
(VIP);

8). Director of University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health
(UP-NIH);and

9). _ Three (3) representatives from the private sector elected by the ex-
officio Board Members

SEC. 10. Transfer of Offices and Units. - All offices and units under the
DOST system that are handling matters related to virology shall be transferred to the
VIP.

The transfer of an office or unit shall include the functions, appropriations ,
funds, records, equipment, facilities, choses in action, rights, other assets, and
liabilities, if any, of the transferred office or unit as well as the personnel thereof,
as may be necessary.

SEC. 11. Engagement of Batik Scientists and Foreign Experts. - The
Institute may engage Balik Scientists and foreign experts following the terms of
reference and compensation structure of the Balik Scientist Program.

SEC. 12. International Cooperation. - The VIP may enter into a
memorandum of agreement or memorandum of understanding with international
partners, upon the approval of its Governing Board.

SEC. 13. Official Site of VIP. - A lot with an area equivalent to at least five
(5) hectares under the administration of the Bases Conversion and Development
Authority (BCDA) within the New Clark Economic Zone in Tarlac shall be
allocated exclusively for the Institute, its research facilities, and laboratories The
biosafety infrastructure shall be designed based on risk assessment for handling
specific pathogens following the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on
the establishment of a virology laboratory in developing countries.


SEC. 14, Entitlement to Magna Carta Benefits. - Qualified employees of
VIP and its attached units 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 ".

SEC. 15. Annual Report. - The VIP shall submit an annual report to the
President and the Committee on Science and Technology in both Chambers of the
Congress not later than the 30th of March of every year following the effectivity of
this Act. The report shall provide a detailed account of the status of the
implementation of this Act and recommended legislation, where applicable and
necessary.

SEC. 16. Virology Research Fund. - There is hereby created a Virology
Research Fund to be used exclusively for the implementation of the Virology
Institute Strategic Plan, which shall be administered by the VIP following, existing
government budgeting, accounting, and auditing rules and regulations. The Fund
shall be sourced from the following:

1). The initial amount of Two Billion pesos (P2,000,000,000.00) to be
taken from the current fiscal year's appropriation, in case the General
Appropriation Act (GAA) was approved before this law is enacted;

2).The income produced from its operations, technology transfer, and
licensing agreements; and

3).Loans, contributions, grants, bequests, gifts, and donations whether
from local or foreign sources. Provided, that acceptance of grants, bequests,
contributions, and donations from foreign governments shall be subject to the
approval of the President upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the
DOST and Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The
Secretary of DOST, with the approval of the NEDA and subsequently, the
Department of Finance (DOF), is hereby granted the authority to enter into
loan agreements with foreign financial institutions.

SEC. 17. Use of Income. - The VIP shall be authorized to use all of the
income generated from its operations, as well as donations, bequests, grants for
the upgrading if its physical and human resources, and for the augmentation
of its budget, in case of a shortfall.

SEC. 18. Appropriations. - The sum of Two Billion Pesos (Php2,
000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated as an initial operating fund for the
operation of the Institute, taken from the current fiscal year's appropriation.
Thereafter, the amount needed for its operation shall be included in the
General Appropriation Act.

SEC. 19. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one hundred
twenty (120) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DOST in coordination
with DBM, Civil Service Commission, and other relevant government


agencies, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 20. Repealing Clause. — All laws, orders, rules and regulations and
other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 21. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act is held
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions thereof which are not affected
shall continue to remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 22. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following

the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,