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DATE April 13, 2021 [)

Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TIME 4:13pm»
Quezon City, Metro Manila e By Bei
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS iF
Second Regular Session Wo inpex?

HOUSE BILL No._9199

Introduced by the Honorable Joaquin M. Chipeco, Jr.

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 as to if and
when and 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 concern
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. The President himself has said recently that he wants such an
institution to be his legacy to the nation before ending his six-year term next year.

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

™
QUIN M. ait JR.
tative



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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _9199

Introduced by the Honorable Joaquin M. Chipeco, Jr.

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 2020.”

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;

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

c) 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

€).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;

») 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:

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

») Undertake scientific and technological research and development
(R&D) in the field of virology;

©). 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;

p. Develop and implement, together with other entities concemed,
programs for strengthening scientific and technological capabilities in virology
arid relevant disciplines through human resource development, infrastructure, and


institution building;

2). 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 sa

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 d ;

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, rules


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:

1). 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:

I). 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,