Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOusE EiiL-rio.   6684
Tiue..JLEL    .El±
E_th-.=--,
Introduced bv ReD. Ray Florence T. Roves
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Established   in   1981   by  way   of   Executive   Order   No.   674,   the   Research
Institute  for  Tropical   Medicine   (RITM)  serves  as  the   main   research  arm   of  the
Department  of   Health   for  the   prevention   and   control   of   infectious   and   tropical
diseases.   In   1998,  the  production  of  biologicals  and  vaccines  was  added  to  its
mandate,   and   in   2000,   the   RITM   was   designated   as   the   National   Research
Laboratory for a number of communicable diseases that may present itself differently
in tropical countries, and the confirmatory testing site for blood units.
On  January  30,  2020,  the  same  day  that  the  Philippines  recorded  its  first
confirmed  case  of COVID19  in  the  country,  the  World  Health  Organization  (WHO)
activated  its  highest  level  of  alert  by  declaring  the  COVID19  pandemic  a  public
health  emergency  of  international  concern.  The  Philippines  then  mounted  a  multi-
sectoral whole of nation approach in trying to limit the spread of the disease.
Due to its mandate of undertaking research in the prevention and treatment of
tropical  diseases  and  the  production  of  vaccines,  the  RITM  became  the  primary
testing and confirmatory laboratory for the disease.  However, an article published on
March  20,  2020  stated  that the  Philippines  has  only  processed  over  1,000  patient
samples for COVID19;  1,000 samples twelve days after a State of Public Emergency
was declared in the country.
Despite strict community quarantine protocols aimed  at curbing the spread of
COVID19  within  the  population  and  Department  of  Health  guidelines  wherein  only
"persons   under  investigation",   or  persons  who   show  severe   symptoms   of  the
disease,  senior citizens,  pregnant women,  and the immunocompromised were to be
tested  for  the  disease,  the  RITM,  with  only  a  daily  capacity  to  process  300-450
swabs,  was  overwhelmed  with  samples  coming  from  the  regions  because  of  the
increasing  number of people  exhibiting  symptoms.  This  led  to  huge  backlogs  in  the
processing and  release of test results. What would usually take 48  hours to release


was   taking   5-7   days.   The   Philippine   healthcare   system   during   that   time   was
challenged by the lack of kits and laboratories for testing.
While we  hope  that  a  public  health  emergency  with  the  same  magnitude  of
COVID19 will never again sweep the world,  it is the duty of the State to ensure that
the   health   and   safety  of  its   people   and   to   prepare  for  what  scientists  fear  is
inevitable.   Establishing   fully-capacitated   and   equipped   regional   branches   of  the
RITM  would  provide  more  agility  in  government  response,  faster  interventions  and
would spread the workload in the detection and prevention of diseases.  This is a far
cry  from  the  existing  one  central   institution   processing  samples  from  the  entire
archipelago.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
Repre


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
Hous`E`BiL.i-No.6684
Introduced by Rep. Ray Florence T. Reves
AN ACT
EXPANDING THE RESEACRCH INSTITUTE FOR TROPICAL IVIEDICINE, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
SECTION   1.   Short  7t.I/e.  -  This  Act  shall  be  known  as  the   "Expanding  the
Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) Act."
SECTION  2.  Dec/arafi-on  of Po//-cy.  -  It is the  policy  of the  State  to  promote  the
health  and  well-being  of  its  citizens.  Given  that  communicable  diseases  constitute
most  of  the  leading   cause  of  morbidity  and   mortality  in  the  country,   the  State
prioritizes  national  development in the field  of health  and shall  endeavor to create  a
strong biological research component necessary for the effective pursuit of programs
for the control of communicable diseases.
SECTION 3. Research Institute for Tropical Nledicine (RITM) Regional Centers.
-  There  shall  be  established,  under  the  supervision  of  the  Department  of  Health
(DOH),  Research  Institute for Tropical  Medicine  (RITM)  Regional  Centers  in  places
with key vulnerable populations as may be determined by its Advisory Board.
SECTION 4. Ongani-zafi.on. - The organizational structure and staffing pattern of the
RITM   Regional   Centers   shall   be   determined   by   the   RITM   Advisory   Board   in
accordance with existing  rules and  regulations of the Civil Service Commission  and
the    Organization,    Position    Classification    and    Compensation    Bureau    of    the
Department of Budget and Management.
In  accordance  with  existing  laws,  rules  and  regulations,  the  Board  may  reorganize
the  structure,  modify the  stafflng  pattern  and  create and  abolish  divisions,  sections
on units in the RITM Regional Centers.


SECTION  5.  Powers and Funcfi.ons - The  RITM  Regional Centers shall  maintain
its  two-fold  primary  functions  of  undertaking  research  in  the  prevention,  diagnosis
and treatment of tropical  diseases of public health  importance as well  as  producing
vaccines for the control of vaccine-preventable diseases.
In general, the functions of the RITM Regional Centers shall be as follows:
a)   Undertake   research   activities   in  the  diagnosis,   control,   and   prevention   of
tropical  diseases  that  are  major  causes  of  mortality  and   morbidity  in  the
Philippines;
b)   Develop cost effective strategies for the control of infectious/tropical diseases;
c)   Conduct  clinical  trials  aimed  at  better  understanding  and  control  of  tropical
disease;
d)   Conduct  regular  training  courses  for  medical  and  paramedical  personnel  in
the control of common tropical diseases in the country;
e)   Provide  high  quality  tertiary  care  and  treatment  to  both  inpatients  and  out-
patients  suffering  from  tropical  diseases  included within the scope  of RITM's
research activities;
f)    Arrange for the  participation  of the  PCHRD and the  PMA in the  planning  and
implementation of the programs of RITM;
g)  Apply  for,   receive,   and   accept  bequests,   grants,   and   donation   of  funds,
equipment,  materials and services needed for the attainment of its objectives;
and
h)   Perform  such  other related  activities as  may be assigned  by the Secretary of
Health  or  as  may  be  provided  by  law  consistent  with  the  purposes  of  the
Institute.
SECTION 6. Approprl-afi-ons. - The amount necessary to implement the provisions
of this Act shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).
SECTION  7.  /mp/emenfing Rq/es and Regq/af7.ons. - The Department of Health
(DOH),   together  with   the   Department  of  Budget  and   Management   (DBM),   the
Philippine   Council   for   Health   Research   and   Development   (PCHRD),   and   the
Philippine Medical Association  (PMA),  shall  promulgate the  necessary implementing
rules and regulations within sixty (60) days upon effectivity of this Act.
SECTloN  8.  Separab/.//.fy C/ause.  -  lf for any  reason  any  provision  of this Act is
declared  unconstitutional or invalid,  such  parts or portions not affected thereby shall
remain in full force and effect.


SECTION  9.  Repea/I.ng C/ause. - All  laws,  executive orders,  presidential decrees,
presidential   proclamations,   letters   of  instruction,   rules   and   regulations   or   parts
thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed  or
modified accordingly.
SECTION   10.  Effecfi.vi-fy.  -This  Act  shall  take  effect  fifteen  (15)  days  after  its
complete  publication  in  the  Off7.cf.a/  Gazeffe  and  in  at  least two  (2)  newspapers  of
general circulation.
Approved,