1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE VIROLOGY SCIENCE AND 
TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The COVID-19 pandemic ushered the need to improve the 
Philippine health system to effectively respond to novel, emerging, and re-
emerging infectious diseases. In the past two years, the Philippines has 
been one of the countries that severely suffered from losses due to the 
prolonged community lockdowns. The pandemic has set back Philippine 
development for another twenty years, undermining gains in all socio-
economic indicators, including health and education.  
There is thus an urgency to boost the capacity of the country to 
protect public health. This bill seeks to establish the Virology Institute of 
the Philippines (VIP) to intensify virology research in humans, animals, 
and plants using science and technology applications and modern 
approaches such as molecular biology and biotechnology. It hopes to 
strengthen international and inter-departmental collaboration and improve 
the country’s capacity to develop diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics. 
It likewise seeks to establish a road map on virology science and 
November 17, 2022
2:56 pm
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technology partnerships and maintain, operate, and manage a facility to 
undertake laboratory and technical services on virology. Moreover, it 
hopes to encourage scientists under the Balik Scientist Program to 
engage in collaborative research, as well as promote technology transfers 
in universities and institutions of higher learning.  
The VIP shall be under the Department of Science and Technology, 
which will then be reorganized and strengthened to carry out its functions 
as proposed in this bill. The Two Billion Peso-initial funding is expected to 
provide ample resources for establishing the VIP and funding the 
country’s virology research. 
With the occurrences of novel viruses likely to intensify in the coming 
years, the passage of this measure is urgently sought. 


3 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
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 
1 
Institute of the Philippines Act of 2022.” 
2 
3 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to 
4 
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health 
5 
consciousness among them. The State recognizes that science and 
6 
technology are essential for national development and progress. 
7 
8 
To this end, the State shall formulate and implement policies to 
9 
address the current and emerging health issues and ensure the quality 
10 
and adequacy of health medical human resources, health institutions, and 
11 
delivery of health services. It shall prioritize research, development, and 
12 
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promotion of innovations in technology and services, as well as safe and 
1 
indigenous health-promoting practices and their use by the health sector. 
2 
 
3 
In this regard, the State shall establish an institute for virology 
4 
science and technology research to conduct a scientific inquiry on 
5 
potential disease-causing agents that affect people, plants, and animals, 
6 
providing the scientific bases for the treatment of viral diseases and the 
7 
local production of vaccines, as well as the formulation of policies to 
8 
prevent the transmission of these diseases within the community and 
9 
national context.  
10 
 
11 
SEC. 3. Objectives. – This Act seeks to establish a virology institute 
12 
that shall focus on the following key development areas for virology 
13 
science and technology applications in plants, animals, and humans: 
14 
 
15 
a) Research on viruses using a modern approach such as molecular 
16 
biology and its application or biotechnology; 
17 
b) Development of diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics; 
18 
c) International cooperation and network databases of virus infections; 
19 
d) Operations of a virus gene bank, virus genome laboratory, and virus 
20 
reference laboratory to focus on viruses circulating in the Philippines 
21 
for disease prevention and epidemiological studies; and 
22 
e) Operation of a high containment laboratory dedicated to studying 
23 
highly infectious and highly pathogenic viruses. 
24 
 
25 
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
26 
 
27 
a) Bacteriophage refers to any group of viruses that infect specific 
28 
bacteria, usually causing their disintegration or dissolution; 
29 
b) Biosafety refers to a condition in which the probability of harm, 
30 
industry, and damage resulting from the intentional introduction or 
31 
use of the regulated article is within acceptable and manageable 
32 
levels; 
33 
c) Biosecurity refers to the strategic and integrated approach to 
34 
analyzing and managing relevant risks to plant, animal, and human 
35 
life and health and associated risks for the environment. It is based 
36 
on the recognition of the critical linkages between sectors and the 
37 


 
 
5 
potential for hazards to move within and between sectors, with 
1 
systemwide consequences; 
2 
d) Diagnostics refer to methods, tests, techniques, and tools in viral 
3 
diagnosis for plants and humans; 
4 
e) Therapeutics refers to anti-viral, bacteriophages, nanotechnology 
5 
treatment approaches, nucleic acid-based treatment, remedial 
6 
agents, and drugs for the treatment of viral diseases and infections 
7 
of plants, animals, and humans; 
8 
f) A vaccine refers to a product that induces or stimulates active 
9 
acquired immunity by producing antibodies to a specific infectious 
10 
agent. It helps the body’s immune system to recognize and fight 
11 
pathogens like viruses or bacteria, and 
12 
g) Virology refers to the scientific discipline concerned with the study 
13 
of the biology of viruses and viral diseases of plant, animal, and 
14 
human medical importance and pandemic potential, including the 
15 
distribution, 
pathogenicity, 
viral 
cytopathicity, 
biochemistry, 
16 
physiology, molecular biology, biotechnology, ecology, tropism, 
17 
spillover or interspecies transmission, evolution, and clinical aspects 
18 
of viruses. 
19 
 
20 
SEC. 5.  Creation of the Virology Science and Technology 
21 
Institute of the Philippines – The Virology Science and Technology 
22 
Institute of the Philippines (VIP) is hereby created and shall be an 
23 
attached agency under the Department of Science and Technology 
24 
(DOST) for purposes of policy and program coordination to ensure 
25 
alignment in national policies and priorities. 
26 
 
27 
The VIP shall serve as the premier research and development 
28 
institute in the field of virology, encompassing all kinds of viruses and viral 
29 
diseases in plants, animals, and humans. It shall be a venue for scientists, 
30 
research institutes, and other organizations in the Philippines and abroad 
31 
to work collaboratively to study viruses of agricultural, industrial, clinical, 
32 
and environmental importance. 
33 
 
34 
SEC. 6. Mandate. – The VIP shall implement policies, plans, 
35 
programs, and projects for the development of virology science and 
36 
technology in the country and the promotion of scientific and technological 
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6 
activities for the public and private sectors. It shall ensure that the results 
1 
of these activities are properly applied towards self-reliance and utilized 
2 
to accelerate economic and social development towards the protection of 
3 
the citizen and resources. 
4 
 
5 
SEC. 7. Powers, Functions, and Duties. – To accomplish its 
6 
mandate, the VIP shall have the following powers, functions, and duties: 
7 
 
8 
a) Serve as the lead convenor for the formulation of the National 
9 
Virology Research Agenda, in consultation with all concerned 
10 
stakeholders, that will encompass research involving viruses of 
11 
plants, animals, and humans; 
12 
b) Undertake 
scientific 
and 
technological 
research 
and 
13 
development in the field of virology; 
14 
c) Conduct product research and development in the areas of 
15 
diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines in cooperation with the 
16 
private sector and concerned government agencies; 
17 
d) Promote and undertake the transfer of the results of scientific 
18 
research and development in collaboration with government 
19 
agencies, industry, and the academe; 
20 
e) Promote, advocate, and oversee virology research ethics, 
21 
biosafety, and biosecurity; 
22 
f) Develop and maintain an information system on virology science 
23 
and technology for use by the public and private sectors; 
24 
g) Develop and implement, together with other entities concerned, 
25 
programs 
for 
strengthening 
scientific 
and 
technological 
26 
capabilities in virology and relevant disciplines through human 
27 
resource development, infrastructure, and institution building; 
28 
h) Undertake policy research, technology assessment, and other 
29 
related studies on virology; 
30 
i) Provide laboratory and technical services on virology; 
31 
j) Promote and advocate the national programs on virology science 
32 
and technology; and 
33 
k) Establish linkages with local and international partners. 
34 
 
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7 
SEC 8. Organizational Structure. – The VIP shall be headed by a 
1 
Director and two (2) Deputy Directors for Research and Development and 
2 
Support. Policy and Linkages. 
3 
 
4 
The VIP shall be composed of the following divisions: 
5 
 
6 
1. Virus Research 
7 
2. Diagnostics and Therapeutics Research 
8 
3. Vaccines Research 
9 
4. Technical Services and Training 
10 
5. Policy, Planning, and Linkages 
11 
6. Finance and Administration 
12 
 
13 
The Deputy Director for Research and Development shall oversee 
14 
the operations of the Virus Research, Diagnostics and Therapeutics 
15 
Research, and Vaccines Research Divisions. The Deputy Director for 
16 
Support, Policy, and Linkages shall oversee the operations of the 
17 
Technical Services and Training, Policy, Planning, and Linkages, and 
18 
Finance and Administration Divisions. 
19 
 
20 
The VIP shall have technical and administrative support staff and 
21 
consultants. The consultants may come from the public and private 
22 
sectors on a consultancy or contractual basis and shall be granted 
23 
honoraria or allowances in accordance with existing rules and regulations. 
24 
 
25 
Subject to the approval of the Department of Budget and 
26 
Management (DBM), the VIP shall determine its organizational structure, 
27 
create new divisions or units as it may deem necessary, and appoint its 
28 
officers and employees. 
29 
 
30 
For this purpose, the VIP shall, in consultation with the DBM, 
31 
determine the necessary position qualifications and standards for its 
32 
personnel following civil service laws, rules, and regulations.  
33 
 
34 
SEC. 9. The Governing Board. – The governing Board shall be. 
35 
The policy-making body for the scientific and technological activities of the 
36 
VIP is composed of the following: 
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8 
Chairperson: 
1 
a) Secretary of the DOST; 
2 
 
3 
Co-Chairpersons: 
4 
a) Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH); 
5 
b) Secretary of the Department of Agriculture; 
6 
 
7 
Members: 
8 
 
9 
a) Undersecretary of the Department of Environment and Natural 
10 
Resources; 
11 
b) Undersecretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for 
12 
International Economic Relations; 
13 
c) Chairperson of the Commission of Higher Education (CHED); 
14 
d) Director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
15 
Philippines (CDC PHL); 
16 
e) Director of the Research Institute for Tropical Medical Medicine 
17 
(RITM); 
18 
f) Director General of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); 
19 
g) Director of VIP; 
20 
h) Executive Director of the University of the Philippines – National 
21 
Institute of Health;  
22 
i) Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Health Research 
23 
and Development (PCHRD) 
24 
j) Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, 
25 
Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development 
26 
(PCAARD) 
27 
k) Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, 
28 
and 
Emerging 
Technology 
Research 
and 
Development 
29 
(PCIEERD); 
30 
l) A representative from the National Academic of Science and 
31 
Technology; 
32 
m) Three (3) representatives from the private sector appointed by 
33 
the President of the Philippines, as nominated by the Governing 
34 
Board. 
These 
representatives 
shall 
have 
distinguished 
35 
themselves in the fields of medical virology, genomics, plant 
36 
virology, animal virology, epidemiology, genetic engineering, and 
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9 
other related disciplines. The VIP Secretariat shall serve as the 
1 
Secretariat of the Governing Board. 
2 
 
3 
SEC. 10. Transfer of Units, Offices, and Functions. – All offices 
4 
and units under the DOST System whose functions are related to virology 
5 
shall be transferred to the VIP. All powers and functions, assets, capital, 
6 
records, funds, receivables, equipment, and facilities of the DOST units or 
7 
its divisions shall be transferred to the VIP. The DOST shall conduct an 
8 
audit and inventory of assets, liabilities, and human resources of the 
9 
transferred offices and units under the DOST system to the VIP. All 
10 
transferred and new employees under the DOST System shall be subject 
11 
to the qualifications standards provided for in the laws. Rules and 
12 
regulations of the Civil Service Commission.  
13 
 
14 
SEC 11. Engagement of Balik Scientists and Foreign Experts. – 
15 
The VIP may engage the services of Balik Scientists and foreign experts 
16 
who shall work together with the local scientists and experts, following the 
17 
terms of reference and compensation structure in accordance with 
18 
Republic Act No. 11035 or the “Balik Scientist Program Act” and other 
19 
existing laws. 
20 
 
21 
SEC. 12. International Cooperation. – The VIP shall establish 
22 
strategic partnerships with the world’s leading scientists, virology centers, 
23 
and institutes and conduct innovative and pioneering research that will 
24 
advance the frontiers of virology in the country. It may enter into a 
25 
memorandum of agreement or understanding with international partners 
26 
upon the approval of its Governing Board and in compliance with existing 
27 
laws, rules, regulations, and issuances of the DFA. The DFA shall provide 
28 
legal and other forms of assistance to the VIP. The Regional Office of the 
29 
World Health Organization (WHO) in the Philippines shall also be 
30 
consulted upon the approval of the Governing Board of the VIP. 
31 
 
32 
SEC. 13. Interdepartmental Cooperation. – The VIP shall 
33 
collaborate with the DOH, Department of Finance, FDA, RITM, and other 
34 
relevant government agencies, in accessing and mobilizing available 
35 
information, reports, technical expertise, equipment, materials, and 
36 
supplies as may be required to implement this Act. 
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10 
 
1 
The scientific findings of the VIP shall be integrated into other plans 
2 
relating to disease control and prevention and in the plans of the Inter-
3 
Agency Task Force on Emerging and Infectious Diseases, as created by 
4 
Executive Order No. 168 s. 2014, or its successor body, for the 
5 
management of public health emergencies relating to infectious diseases.  
6 
 
7 
SEC. 14. Private-Public Partnerships (PPPs). – The Department 
8 
of Trade and Industry (DTI), the DOH, the Public-Private Partnership 
9 
Center, and the DOST shall collaborate in seeking Private-Public 
10 
Partnerships (PPPs) for developing new industries, products, and 
11 
services where the VIP shall be the main research and development unit.  
12 
 
13 
The DOST may also request the assistance of other national and 
14 
local government agencies in seeking PPPs, where the VIP shall be the 
15 
main research and development unit. 
16 
 
17 
SEC. 15. Promotion of the Virology Industry. – The DOST, in 
18 
partnership with the DTI and the DOH, shall jointly develop an industry 
19 
roadmap for products and services that can be created, improved, or 
20 
optimized by research from the VIP. As far as practicable, the industry 
21 
roadmap shall include the use of materials in developing new products. 
22 
The industry developed or established resulting from the VIP research 
23 
shall be included in the national government’s priority industries for 
24 
incentives. 
25 
 
26 
SEC. 16. Promotion of Knowledge-transfer and Research in the 
27 
Academe. – The VIP shall promote the creation of hubs and programs for 
28 
virology research and development in the academe, particularly in state 
29 
universities and colleges (SUCs). Towards this end, the VIP shall assist 
30 
the SUCs in creating virology courses and programs, open internships, 
31 
provide grants and scholarships for qualified students and faculty of higher 
32 
education institutions (HEIs), and collaborate with HEIs in the creation of 
33 
virology research centers. The CHED shall collaborate with the DOST in 
34 
the promotion of HEI-VIP partnerships.  
35 
 
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11 
SEC. 17. Protection of VIP-developed Intellectual Property. – 
1 
The Governing Board of the VIP shall ensure that all technologies 
2 
developed exclusively by the VIP with full funding from Filipino taxpayers 
3 
shall be protected by intellectual property laws in accordance with 
4 
Republic Act. No. 10055 or the “Technology Transfer Act of 2009” and 
5 
other applicable laws.  Any patent or property right award granted to the 
6 
VIP shall be held by and in the name of the Philippine Government. In the 
7 
case of partnerships, where the VIP is a collaborating research partner, 
8 
the Governing Board shall ensure that the technologies co-developed by 
9 
the VIP shall also be co-attributed to the Philippine government, with the 
10 
corresponding intellectual protection. 
11 
 
12 
SEC. 18. Procurement of Specialized Materials, Equipment, and 
13 
Services. – The VIP shall undertake the procurement of specialized 
14 
materials, equipment, and services to be used by the VIP in its operation 
15 
and administration in the most expeditious manner and adopt the most 
16 
suitable or appropriate method of procurement that it deems fit based on 
17 
its identified needs and requirements depending on the existing conditions 
18 
and requirements that justify the use of a particular alternative modality 
19 
provided for by Republic Act. No. 9184 or the “Government Procurement 
20 
Act” and its 2016 Revised IRR. 
21 
 
22 
SEC. 19. Official Site of VIP. – A lot with an area equivalent to at 
23 
least five (5) hectares under the administration of the Bases Conversion 
24 
and Development Authority (BCDA) within the New Clark Economic Zone 
25 
in Tarlac Province shall be allocated exclusively for the VIP, its research 
26 
facilities, and laboratories. The biosafety infrastructure shall be designed 
27 
based on risk assessment standards and guidelines of the WHO for 
28 
handling specific pathogens and the establishment of virology laboratories 
29 
in developing countries.  
30 
 
31 
SEC. 20.  Entitlement to Magna Carta Benefits. – Qualified 
32 
employees of the VIP shall be covered by Republic Act No. 8439, 
33 
otherwise known as the “Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, 
34 
Researchers, and other Science and Technology Personnel in 
35 
Government.” 
36 
 
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12 
SEC. 21. Virology Research Fund. – All donations, contributions, 
1 
grants, bequests, or gifts, in cash or in-kind, received by the VIP from 
2 
various sources shall be placed into a fund to be known as the Virology 
3 
Research Fund, and such donations shall be exempt from donor’s tax: 
4 
Provided, That, acceptance of grants, bequests, contributions, and 
5 
donations from foreign governments shall be subject to the approval of 
6 
the President of the Philippines, upon the recommendation of the 
7 
Secretary of the DOST and the Secretary of the DFA.  
8 
 
9 
SEC. 22. Authority to Solicit, Negotiate, and Receive Donations, 
10 
Grants, Gifts, Legacies, Endowments, and Contributions. – The VIP 
11 
may solicit, negotiate with, and receive from any public or private domestic 
12 
or foreign sources legacies, gifts, donations, grants, endowments, 
13 
contributions, or other transfers or ownership and/or possession of real or 
14 
personal properties of all kinds in favor and for the benefit of the VIP, 
15 
which shall all be part of the special account in the general fund. 
16 
 
17 
SEC. 23. Tax Exemptions. – Donations, grants, gifts, endowments, 
18 
legacies, and contributions used actually, directly, and exclusively for the 
19 
purpose of the VIP shall be exempt from donor’s tax, and the same shall 
20 
be considered as an allowable deduction from gross income for purposes 
21 
of computing the taxable income of the donor, in accordance with Sec. 34 
22 
(G)(2)(a) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended. 
23 
Likewise, such other transfers of ownership and/or possession of real or 
24 
personal properties of all kinds shall be exempt from all taxes. 
25 
 
26 
SEC. 24. Annual Report. – The VIP shall submit its annual report 
27 
to the President and the Committee on Science and Technology in both 
28 
Houses of Congress not later than the 30th of March of every year 
29 
following the effectivity of this Act. The annual report shall provide a full 
30 
and detailed account of the status of the implementation of this Act and 
31 
policy recommendations.  
32 
 
33 
SEC. 25. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. – There 
34 
shall be a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the 
35 
implementation of the Act, which shall be jointly chaired by the 
36 
Chairpersons of the Committee on Science and Technology of the Senate 
37 


 
 
13 
and House of Representatives. It shall be composed of the Chairpersons 
1 
of the Senate Committees on Health and Demography, and Agriculture 
2 
and Food and Agrarian Reform, the Chairperson of the Committees on 
3 
Health and Agriculture and Food of the House of Representatives, and 
4 
two (2) Members from each House representing the minority who shall be 
5 
appointed by the Senate and the Speaker of the House of 
6 
Representatives.  
7 
 
8 
SEC. 26.  Appropriations. – An initial amount of two billion pesos 
9 
(PHP 2,000,000,000.00) will be allocated for the implementation of this 
10 
Act.  Thereafter, its funding shall be included in the annual General 
11 
Appropriations Act. 
12 
 
13 
SEC. 27. Transitory Provisions. –  
14 
 
15 
a) The functions and assets of the DOST units enumerated herein shall 
16 
be transferred to the VIP within three (3) years without the need for 
17 
conveyance and transfer of assignment. 
18 
b) To the greatest extent possible and in accordance with existing 
19 
laws, all employees of the affected offices, agencies, and units shall 
20 
be absorbed by the VIP. Personnel hired on a permanent basis and 
21 
with the appointments attested by the CSC, who may be affected by 
22 
the transition of DOST units to VIP, or who will not be absorbed in 
23 
the new positions of the new staffing pattern of the different offices 
24 
in the VIP, shall have the option to: 
25 
1. Be transferred to other units or offices within the DOST in 
26 
accordance with civil service law, rules, and regulations; or 
27 
2. Avail of the applicable retirement benefits and separation 
28 
incentives as provided under R.A. No. 6656 and other relevant 
29 
laws. 
30 
c) Incumbent DOST officials and employees may be considered to 
31 
assume positions in the VIP, subject to competency evaluation and 
32 
CSC regulations. 
33 
d) Research grants acquired during the transition of DOST-transferred 
34 
units to VIP shall be utilized solely for the grants’ intended purposes 
35 
for each of the affected units or offices. 
36 


 
 
14 
e) Existing contracts and agreements entered into by the affected 
1 
offices with the third parties prior to the enactment of this Act shall 
2 
remain valid.  
3 
 
4 
SEC. 28. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The DOST 
5 
Secretary shall, in consultation with  DBM, DOH, Civil Service 
6 
Commission, and other relevant government agencies, promulgate the 
7 
necessary rules and regulations within one hundred (120) days from the 
8 
effectivity of this Act. 
9 
 
10 
SEC. 29. Separability Clause. – If for any reason, any provision of 
11 
this Act or any part thereof is declared invalid or unconstitutional, all other 
12 
actions or provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect. 
13 
 
14 
SEC. 30. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, 
15 
rules, and regulations inconsistent with this Act's provisions are hereby 
16 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
17 
 
18 
SEC. 31. Effectivity. – The Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
19 
after publication in the Official Gazette and two (2) newspapers of national 
20 
circulation. 
21 
 
22 
 
23 
Approved, 
24