Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
6873

House Bill No.

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
2n4 District, Ilocos Norte

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) has
caught the world unprepared. Millions have contracted the coronavirus
disease (Covid-19) and has become the first pandemic of this generation. The
country has also been facing problems on a novel, emerging, reemerging, and
enzootic viruses affecting livestock and plants. The African swine fever (ASF),
one of the most severe and highly contagious viral diseases of pigs, has
recently become prevalent in many provinces in the country. It is a major
threat to pig production, food security, and biodiversity in the world.

With the emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases there can be
no argument that humankind’s best hope of preventing and treating these
diseases comes from a vigorous research enterprise’. Research and
development (R&D) have particularly helped in the discovery and production
of vaccines against Polio, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Measles, and Influenza.
R&D, particularly, in the fields of science and technology are key factors in
national development and progress. It is, therefore, imperative that Congress
finally support and strengthen R&D in the country.

‘As new pathogens continue to emerge, and existing non-viral pathogens
become resistant to common antibiotics, we are living at a time of great need
for the discipline of virology. Virology is 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.

This proposed measure secks to establish a virology institute that shall
focus on research on viruses; development of diagnostics, vaccines, and
therapeutics; international cooperation and network of databases of virus
infections; operation of virus genome laboratory; and, operation of virus high
containment laboratory dedicated to the study of highly infectious and
pathogenic viruses to ensure sustained progress of the country.

+ Imperiale, MJ. and Casadevall, A. (March/April 2015) The Importance of Vrologyata Time of Great Need and
Great Jeopardy, Retrieved from https://mblo.asm.org/content/6/2/e00236-15 on May 29, 2020
2 Ibid.


‘The establishment of an institute that will conduct an in-depth study on
the viruses affecting the lives of the people and resources is vital for the
protection of the health of the people and the preservation of the national life.

In light of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is most earnestly sought.

ANGELO ~~



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

6873

House Bill No.

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
284 District, [locos Norte

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

Be it enacted by the Senate and the 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”.

SECTION. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of
the State:

a. To protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill
health consciousness among them;

b. To undertake appropriate health, manpower development, and
research, responsive to the country's health needs and problems;

c. 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; ani

e. 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 eng, it is recognized that the establishment of an institute that will
conduct research and development activities or an in-depth study on the
viruses affecting the lives of the people and resources is vital for the protection
of the health of the people and the preservation of the national life.

SECTION 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);

¢. 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.

SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following
terms shall mean:

a. Virology — is 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.

b. Diagnostics — relates to methods, tests, techniques, and tools in viral
diagnosis for humans, animals, and plants.

c. Therapeutics — 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.

d. Vaccines - are 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.

SECTION 5. Creation of the Virology Science and Technology 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 Science and Technology 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 a venue for scientists, both here
and. ae 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.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 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 of the Virology research agenda as part of
the National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA);

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

c. 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;

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

f 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;

g. 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

j. Establish linkages with local and international partners.

SECTION 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 divisions:

Virus Research

Diagnostics and Therapeutics Research
Vaccines Research

‘Technical Services and Training

Policy, Planning, and Linkages

Finance and Administration

mp ao op

‘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.

SECTION 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:

a. Chairperson, Secretary of DOST
b. Co-chairperson, Undersecretary for R&D, DOST
c. Members:
i, Undersecretary of Department of Health (DOH)
Undersecretary of Department of Agriculture (DA)
i. Director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Philippines
(CDC PHL)
iv. Executive Director of Philippine Council for Health Research &
Development (PCHRD)
v. Executive Director of Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and
Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD)
vi. Executive Director of Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and
Emerging Technology Research & Development (PCIEERD)
vii Director of Philippine Virology Science and Technology Institute (VIP)
viii. Director of University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health
(UP-NIH)
ix. Three (3) representatives from the Private Sector elected by the
ex-officio Board Members

SECTION 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.

SECTION 11. Engagement of Balik 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.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 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”.

SECTION 15. Annual Report. — The VIP shall submit to the President
and the Committee on Science and Technology in both Chambers of the
Congress not later than the 3oth of March of every year following the
effectivity of this Act. The report shall pravide a detailed account of the status
of the implementation of this Act and recommended legislation, where
applicable and necessary.

SECTION 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:

a. The initial amount of Two Billion pesos (P 2,000,000,000.00) to be
taken from the current fiscal year’s appropriation, in case the General
Appropriation Act (GAA) was approved before this law is enacted;

b. The income produced from its operations, technology transfer, and
licensing agreements; and

¢. 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.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 18. Appropriations. The sum of Two Billion Pesos (Php
2,000,000,000.00) 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.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 20. Separability Clause. Any portion or provision of this
‘Act that may be declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect
of nullifying the other portions or provisions hereof as long as such remaining
portion or provision can still subsist and be given effect in their entirety.

SECTION 21. 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.

SECTION 22. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

after its publication in the Official Gazette or any two (2) newspapers of
general circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,