Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _______________
Introduced by ANG PROBINSYANO
Party-List Representative Alfred Delos Santos
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how ill-equipped the Philippines is in
dealing
with
the
threat
of
viral
outbreaks.
The
short
supply
of
reverse
transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) machines,1 as well as the limited
number
of
laboratories
who
are
capable
of
performing
genome
sequencing2
contributed greatly to the glacial pace of the government’s contact tracing efforts. With
the persisting dangers of COVID-19 virus and the looming threat of the monkeypox
virus,3 the need to ramp up the country’s viral research efforts becomes all the more
apparent.
The present bill seeks to institutionalize the development of a Virology Institute
to address the gaps in the country’s understanding of these deadly microorganisms.
Through continuous scientific, technological, and policy research, it is our sincere
hope that the Virology Institute will help resolve present dangers and avert future
ones.
It is for the foregoing reasons that the passage of the present bill is earnestly
sought.
ALFRED C. DELOS SANTOS
Representative, Ang Probinsyano Party-List
3 Monkeypox outbreak 2022 (available at Monkeypox outbreak 2022 -
https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/monkeypox-oubreak-2022Global (who.int))
2 Lack of genome sequencing kits slows down identification of PH COVID-19 samples (available at https://news.
abs-cbn.com/news/06/18/21/lack-of-genome-sequencing-kits-slows-down-identification-of-ph-covid-19-samples)
1 Lack of med techs forces RT-PCR laboratory to shorten operations (available at https://dailyguardian.com.ph
/lack-of-med-techs-forces-rt-pcr-laboratory-to-shorten-operations/)
July 29, 2022
4:55 pm
2777


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _______________
Introduced by ANG PROBINSYANO
Party-List Representative Alfred Delos Santos
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE VIROLOGY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
INSTITUTE 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.
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 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 establish a virology institute that shall
focus on the following key development areas for virology science and technology
applications in plants, animals, and humans:
a) Research on viruses using a modern approach such as molecular biology and
its application or biotechnology;
2777


b) Development of diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics;
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,
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:
a) Bacteriophage refers to any group of viruses that infect specific bacteria,
usually causing their disintegration or dissolution;
b) Biosafety refers to a condition in which the probability of harm, injury, and
damage resulting from the intentional and unintentional introduction or use of
a regulated article is within acceptable and manageable levels;
c)
Biosecurity refers to the strategic and integrated approach to analyzing and
managing relevant risks to plant, animal and human life, and health and
associated risks for the environment. It is based on recognition of the critical
linkages between sectors and the potential for hazards to move within and
between sectors, with system-wide consequences;
d) Diagnostics refer to methods, tests, techniques, and tools in viral diagnosis for
plants, animals and humans;
e)
Therapeutics refer to anti-viral, bacteriophages, nanotechnology treatment
approach,
nucleic
acid-based
treatment,
remedial
agents,
drugs
for
the
treatment of viral diseases and infections of plants, animals and humans:
f)
Vaccine refers to a product that induces or stimulates 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 bacterin; and
g) Virology refers to the scientific discipline concerned with the study of the
biology of viruses and viral diseases of plant, animal, and human medical
importance and pandemic potential, including the distribution, pathogenicity,
viral cytopathicity, biochemistry, physiology, molecular biology, biotechnology.
Ecology, tropism, spillover or interspecies transmission, evolution, and clinical
aspects of viruses.
SEC.
5. Creation of the Virology Science and Technology Institute of the
Philippines. – The Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines (VIP)is
hereby created and shall be an attached agency under the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) for purposes of policy and program coordination to ensure
alignment in national policies and priorities.


The VIP shall serve as the premier research and development institute in the
field of virology, encompassing all kinds of viruses and viral diseases in plants,
animals and humans. It shall be a venue for scientists, research institutes and other
organizations in the Philippines and abroad, to work collaboratively to study viruses of
agricultural, industrial, clinical, and environmental importance.
SEC. 6. Mandate. - The VIP 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. 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. 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 for the formulation of the National Virology Research
Agenda, in consultation with all concerned stakeholders, that will encompass
research involving viruses of plant, animal and humans;
b) Undertake scientific and technological research and development in the field of
virology;
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
virology
research
ethics,
biosafety,
and
biosecurity;
f)
Develop
and
maintain
an
information
system
on
virology
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 in virology and relevant
disciplines
through
human
resource
development,
infrastructure,
and
institution building;
h) Undertake policy research, technology assessment, and other related studies on
virology;
i)
Provide laboratory and technical services on virology;
j)
Promote
and
advocate
the
national
programs
on
virology
science
and
technology; and,


k) Establish linkages with local and international partners.
SEC. 8. Organizational Structure. - The VIP shall be headed by a Director and
two (2) Deputy Directors for Research and Development, and Support, Policy, and
Linkages.
The VIP shall be composed of the following divisions:
1) Virus Research
2) Diagnostics and Therapeutics Research
3) Vaccines Research
4) Technical Services and Training
5) Policy, Planning, and Linkages
6) Finance and Administration
The Deputy Director for Research and Development shall oversee the operations
of the Virus Research, Diagnostics and Therapeutics Research, and Vaccines Research
Divisions. The Deputy Director for Support, Policy, and Linkages shall oversee the
operations of the Technical Services and Training, Policy, Planning, and Linkages, und
Finance and Administration Divisions.
The VIP shall have technical and administrative support staff and consultants.
The consultants may come from the public and private sectors on a consultancy or
contractual basis and shall be granted honoraria or allowances in accordance with
existing rules and regulations.
Subject to the approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM),
the VIP shall determine its organizational structure, create new divisions or units as it
may deem necessary, and appoint its officers and employees.
For this purpose, the VIP shall, in consultation with the DBM, determine the
necessary position qualifications and standards for its personnel following civil service
laws, rules, and regulations.
SEC. 9 Qualifications of the VIP Director and Deputy Directors. - Upon the
recommendation of the Governing Board, the President of the Philippines shall appoint
the Director of the VIP who must possess a bachelor's degree in the field of
microbiology and a postgraduate degree in virology and should have at least three (3)
years’ experience in the field of diagnostic virology. The Director of the VIP shall have
the rank of Director IV, Salary Grade (SG)-28, and shall exercise overall responsibility
over the activities of the VIP, including the supervision over VIP staff. The Director of
the VIP shall report to the President of the Republic of the Philippines and the
Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology the results of the various
diagnostic assays and research studies undertaken by the VIP.


Each of the Deputy Directors of the VIP shall have a rank of Director III, SG-27.
Each must possess a Bachelor's Degree in Microbiology or in a similar field and at
least a Master's Degree in Virology.
SEC.
10.
The
Governing
Board.
-
The
Governing
Board
shall
be
the
policy-making body for the scientific and technological activities of the VIP, composed
of the following:
Chairperson:
a) Secretary of the DOST
Co-Chairpersons:
a) Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH)
Members:
a) Secretary of the Department of Agriculture
b) Undersecretary
of
the
Department of Environment and Natural
Resources
c)
Undersecretary for Technology for Research and Development of the
DOST
d) Undersecretary
of
the
Department
of
Foreign
Affairs
(DFA) for
International Economic Relations
e)
Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
f)
Director of the Research Institute for Tropical Medical Medicine
(RITM)
g) Director General of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
h) Director of VIP
i)
Executive Director of University of the Philippines-National Institute
of Health
j)
Representative from the National Academy of Science and Technology
k) Representative from the National Research Council of the Philippines
l)
Three (3) representatives from the private sector appointed by the
President of the Philippines, as nominated by the Governing Board.
These representatives shall have distinguished themselves in the
fields of medical virology, genomics, plant virology, animal virology,
epidemiology, genetic engineering and other related disciplines.


The VIP Secretariat shall serve as the Secretariat to the Governing Board.
SEC. 11. Transfer of Units, Offices and Functions. - All offices and units under
the DOST system whose functions are related to virology shall be transferred to the
VIP. All powers, functions, assets, capital, records, funds, receivables, equipment and
facilities of the DOST units or its division shall be transferred to the VIP. The DOST
shall conduct an audit and inventory of assets, liabilities and human resources of the
transferred offices and units under the DOST system to the VIP. All transferred and
new employees under the DOST System shall be subject to the qualification standards
provided for in the laws, rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission.
SEC. 12. Engagement of Balik Scientists and Foreign Experts. - The VIP 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.
13.
International
Cooperation.
-
The
VIP
shall
establish
strategic
partnerships with the world's leading scientists, virology centers and institutes, and
conduct innovative and pioneering research that will advance the frontiers of virology
in the country. It may enter into a memorandum of agreement or understanding with
international partners, upon the approval of its Governing Board and in compliance
with existing laws, rules, regulations and issuances of the DFA. The DFA shall provide
legal and other forms of assistance to the VIP.
The Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Philippines
shall also be consulted upon approval of the Governing Board of the VIP.
SEC. 14. Interdepartmental Cooperation. - The VIP shall collaborate with the
DOH, Department of Finance, FDA, RIM 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 VIP 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. 15. Private-Public Partnerships (PPPs). - The Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI), the DOH, Public-Private Partnership Center and the DOST shall
collaborate in seeking Private-Public Partnerships (PPPs) for the development of new
industries, products and services where the VIP shall be the main research and
development unit.
The DOST may also request the assistance of other national and local
government agencies in seeking PPPs where the VIP shall be the main research and
development unit.


SEC. 16. Promotion of the Virology Industry. - The DOST, in partnership with
the DTI and the DOH, shall jointly develop an industry roadmap for products and
services that can be created, improved, or optimized by research from the VIP. As far
as practicable, the industry roadmap shall include the use of local materials in the
development of new products. The industry developed or established resulting from
the VIP research shall be included in the national government's priority industries for
incentives.
SEC. 17. Promotion of Knowledge-Transfer and Research in the Academe. - The
VIP shall promote the creation of hubs and programs for virology research and
development in the academe, particularly in state universities and colleges (SUCs).
Towards this end, the VIP shall assist SUCs in the creation of virology courses and
programs,
open
internships
and
scholarships
for
qualified
students
of higher
education institutions (HEls) and collaborate with HEls in the creation of virology
research centers.
The CHED shall collaborate with the DOST in the promotion of HEI-VIP
partnerships.
SEC. 18. Protection of VIP-Developed Intellectual Property. - The Governing
Board of the VIP shall ensure that all technologies developed exclusively by the VIP
with full funding from Filipino taxpayers shall be protected by intellectual property
laws in accordance with Republic Act No. 10055 or the Technology Transfer Act of
2009" and other applicable laws. Any patent or property right award granted to the
VIP shall be held by and in the name of the Philippine Government. In the case of
partnerships, where the VIP is a collaborating research partner, the Governing Board
shall ensure that technologies co-developed by the VIP shall also be co-attributed to
the Philippine Government, with the corresponding intellectual protection.
SEC. 19. Procurement of Specialized Materials, Equipment and Services. - The
VIP shall undertake the procurement of specialized materials, equipment, and services
to be used by the VIP in its operation and administration, in the most expeditious
manner, and adopt the most suitable or appropriate method of procurement that it
deems fit based on its identified needs and requirements depending on the existing
conditions and requirements that justify the use of a particular alternative modality
provided for by Republic Act No. 9184 or the "Government Procurement Reform Act"
and its 2016 Revised IRR
SEC. 20. Official Site of VIP. - A lot with an arca 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 Province shall be
allocated exclusively for the VIP, its research facilities, and laboratories. The biosafety
infrastructure shall be designed based on risk assessment standards and guidelines of
the
WHO
for
handling
specific
pathogens
and
the
establishment
of
virology
laboratories in developing countries.
SEC. 21. Entitlement to Magna Cart Benefits. - Qualified employees of the VIP
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.
22. Virology Research Fund. - All donations, contributions, grants,
bequests, or gifts, in cash or in-kind, received by the VIP from various sources shall be
placed into a fund, to be known as the Virology 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 DOST and the Secretary of DFA.
SEC. 23. Authority to Solicit, Negotiate, and Receive Donations, Grants, Gifts,
Legacies, Endowments, and Contributions. - The VIP 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 properties of all kinds in favor and for the benefit of the
VIP, which shall all be part of the special account in the general fund.
SEC. 24. Tax Exemptions. - Donations, grants, gifts, endowments, legacies, and
contributions used actually, directly and exclusively for the purpose of the VIP shall be
exempt from donor's 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. 25. Annual Report. - The VIP shall submit its annual report to the
President and to the Committees on 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. 26. 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 Science and Technology of
the Senate and House of Representatives. It shall be composed of the Chairpersons of
the Senate Committees on Health and Demography, and Agriculture, Food and
Agrarian Reform, the Chairpersons of the Committees on Health and 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. 27. Appropriations. - The initial amount for the implementation of this Act
shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the DOST. Thereafter, the
funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 28. Transitory Provisions. -


a) The functions and assets of the DOST units enumerated herein shall be
transferred to the VIP within three (3) years without need of conveyance and
transfer of assignment.
b) To the greatest extent possible and in accordance with existing laws, all
employees of the affected offices, agencies and units shall be absorbed by
the VIP. Personnel hired on a permanent basis and with appointments
attested by the CSC who may be affected by the transition of DOST units to
VIP, or who will not be absorbed in the new positions of the new staffing
pattern of the different offices in the VIP, shall have the option to:
1) Be transferred to other units or offices within the DOST in accordance
with civil service law, rules and regulations; or,
2) Avail of the applicable retirement benefits and separation incentives
as provided under R.A. No. 6656 and other relevant laws.
c)
Incumbent DOST officials and employees may be considered to assume
positions in the VIP, subject to competency evaluation and CSC regulations.
d) Research grants acquired during the transition of DOST transferred units to
VIP shall be utilized solely for the grants' intended purposes for each of the
affected units or offices.
e)
Existing contracts and agreements entered into by the affected offices with
third parties prior to the enactment of this Act shall remain valid.
SEC. 29. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOST Secretary shall, in
consultation with
DBM,
DOH,
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. 30. 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. 31. 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. 32. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,