Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1721
| HOUSE BILL NO.
|
Introduced by HON. RUTH MARIANO-HERNANDEZ

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE VIROLOGY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

term health emergency as national health systems were unprepared for the rapacious
spread of the virus.

The —s COVID-19 pandemic plunged the Philippines and the whole world in a long-
ith

For the Philippines to further progress in public health and for appropriate public health
emergency responses, its capability in science and technology - particularly in the field of
virology - 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 is
imperative, This institute will enable the government to provide the scientific bases for
the treatment of viral diseases, and the crafting of policies that shall prevent the
transmission of these diseases.

This bill is a re-filed version of House Bill 9559 authored by Reps. Joey Salceda, Cheryl
Deloso-Montalla and Angelina Tan in the 18 Congress. The sald measure was approved
by the House on July 28, 2021 and transmitted to the Senate on July 29, 2021 - where it
did not see the light of approval.

This bill shall mandate the creation of the Virology Science and Technology Institute of
the Philippines (VIP) as an attached agency of 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 implement policies, plans, programs, and projects for the development of
virology science and technology that will encompass research involving viruses of plant,
animals and humans

The said institute will also take the lead in the conduct of product research and
development in the areas of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines and undertake the
transfer of the results of scientific research and development in collaboration with

1



concerned ehiioa agencies, industry, and the academe for the greater good of
Filipino citizens and humankind.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1721

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. RUTH MARIANO-HERNANDEZ

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:

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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Virology Institute of the
Philippines (VIP) Act.”

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.

SEC. 2. vet ot of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the

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
plication or biotechnology;


b)
Oo}
d)

O)

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Development of diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics;

International cooperation and network of databases of virus infections;

laboratory to focus on viruses circulating in the Philippines for disease

Operation of a virus gene bank, virus genome laboratory, and virus reference
ile and epidemiological studies; and,

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

SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

a)

b)

9

qd)

e)

8)

SEC. 5. C1

- The Virol

and shall

Bacteriophage refers to any group of viruses that infect specific bacteria, usually
calising their disintegration or dissolution;

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;

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;

|
Diagnostics refer to methods, tests, techniques, and tools in viral diagnosis for
pants animals and humans;

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;

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 bacteria; and

irology 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.

logy Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines (VIP) is hereby created

to of the Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines.
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)

b)

3)

a)

)

8)

h)

ve as the lead convener for the formulation of the National Virology
search Agenda, in consultation with all concerned stakeholders, that will
compass researches involving viruses of plant, animal and humans;

22e

Undertake scientific and technological research and development in the field of
virology;

Conduct product research and development in the areas of diagnostics,
therapeutics, and vaccines in cooperation with the private sector and concerned
government agencies;

Promote and undertake the transfer of the results of scientific research and
development in collaboration with government agencies, industry, and the
academe;

Promote, advocate and oversee virology research ethics, biosafety, and
biosecurity;

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

evelop 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;

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secre policy research, technology assessment, and other related studies on

irology;

Provide laboratory and technical services on virology;

romote and advocate the national programs on virology science and
chnology; and,

Establish linkages with local and international partners.

5


SEC. 8. Organizational Structure. - The VIP shall be headed by a Director and two (2)
Deputy ies for Research and Development, and Support, Policy, and Linkages.

The VIP shall be composed of the following divisions:

. Virus Research

N

Diagnostics and Therapeutics Research

co

Vaccines Research

=

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, and 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 ponerse degree in virology, and should have at least three (3) years of
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.

possess a Bachelor's Degree in Microbiology or in a similar field and at least a Master’s

Each of the Deputy Directors of the VIP shall have a rank of Director III, SG-27. Each must
Degree in oo



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:

b)Secrétary of the Department of Health (DOH);

) Secrétary of the Department of Agriculture;

Members:

d)Undersecretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources;
¢) Undersecretary for Technology for Research and Development of the DOST;

f) Undersecretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for International
Economic Relations;

8) Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED);

h)Director of the Research Institute for Tropical Medical Medicine (RITM);

i) Director General of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA);

j) Director of VIP;

k) Executive Director of University of the Philippines-National Institute of Health;

1) Representative from the National Academy of Science and Technology;

m) Representative from the National Research Council of the Philippines; and

n) 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 which 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

7


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 researches 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, 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 scien 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
(DTN, 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 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 researches 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 spall assist SUCs in the creation of virology courses and programs, open


internships and scholarships for qualified students of higher education institutions
(HEIs), 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 tax payers 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 identi 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 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 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 Carta 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”.

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. 22. ashore Research Fund. - All donations, contributions, grants, bequests, or

SEC. 23. Authority to Solicit, Negotiate, and Receive Donations, Grants, Gifts,
Legacies, Endowments, and Contributions. - The VIP may solicit, negotiate with, and
receive Tom 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. ‘Li 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 catinst 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
ransferred 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
apt 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.

10



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.

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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,

coe