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Pinoy virologist to gov't, fellow PH scientists: Provide more support to VIP, join 'Lucky 7'
Pinoy virologist to gov't, fellow PH scientists: Provide more support to VIP, join 'Lucky 7'
A foreign-trained Filipino virologist appealed Friday, Aug. 13, to the government to provide more support to the soon-to-rise Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines or VIP, even as he called on fellow Filipino scientists to join the so-called “Lucky 7.”
Immunology and virology expert Dr Homer Pantua made this call when he and six fellow Balik Scientists paid a virtual courtesy call on DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña on Friday.
He thanked the leadership of the DOST, led by de la Peña for batting for the creation of the VIP in the country.
“Thank you for this initiative, I salute you. Thank you to the Filipino people. My next message is also, thank you to these seven Balik Scientists. I consider this the Lucky 7 but hopefully this Lucky 7 is not enough. My next message is a message of appeal. I appeal to the Philippine government to further support this initiative as everyone said this could be a legacy for many generations to come,” Pantua said.
“And another appeal is an appeal to all Filipino scientists in the Philippines and abroad to hear the call of the Department of Science and Technology to help build this Virology and Vaccine Institute,” he added.
Pantua, who got a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biomedical Sciences specializing in Immunology and Virology, has been described by the DOST as “an innovative and motivated infectious disease drug discovery scientist with over 13 years of industry experience as the lead scientist.” Having strong technical skills that encompass microbiology, molecular biology, immunology, biochemistry, and biotechnology, Pantua is affiliated with Genentech in South San Francisco, California in the United States, and BioAssets Corporation.
In response to Pantua’s call, de la Peña assured him that the agency will do their best to drum up support for the world-class Institute.
“The messages that they have expressed are really inspiring. I listen very well to the appeal of Dr. Pantua regarding further support coming from the government. We will do our best to be able to do that and we are of course trying to get as much support from other agencies also. We have the DOH which has been our co-worker in many areas, the DBM for the budgetary support and even Public Works and Highways for facilities,” he said.
Other Balik Scientists who paid courtesy on de la Peña are Dr. Elpidio Cesar Nadala Jr., Dr. Lourdes Nadala, Dr. Teodoro Fajardo Jr., Dr. Myra Hosmillo, Dr. Christina Lora Leyson, and Dr. Leodevico L. Ilag.