A consolidated House bill (HB) that seeks to establish a Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines has hurdled not one, but two House panels.
The approved substitute measure is a consolidation of 31 different bills. It received the approval of the Committee on Health and the Committee on Science and Technology during a joint hearing Thursday morning, Nov. 10.
If enacted, the proposed institute would act as a “strategic response” to the Covid-19 pandemic and in ensuring public health emergency preparedness and response.
It will conduct research on virology for both human and animal viruses and diseases. The authors, through their proposed law, also want to kickstart the country’s own vaccine development program.
Batanes lone district Rep. Ciriaco Gato Jr. chairs the health panel, while Aklan 1st district Rep. Carlito Marquez chairs the Science and Technology panel.
Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda, author of HB 47, which was included in the consolidation measure, commended the two committees for the measure’s approval.
“ 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 abroad, to work collaboratively to study viruses of agricultural, industrial, clinical, and environmental importance,” Salceda said after the bill was approved.
“Vaccines and virus-related technology is not merely restricted to human use. Agriculture requires virological study. Tungro, the main threat to many rice farms in the country, is a virus. African Swine Fever is a virus. Our food security rests in large part on our grasp of viruses,” the House Ways and Means chairman continued.
Furthermore, he urged that the institute be eligible for tax exemptions and that funding provisions in the bill be retained.
Previously, in the 18th Congress, a similar bill was approved on third and final reading. It was transmitted to the Senate but did not prosper.
The 31 measures are HB Nos. 10, 47, 282, 308, 462, 528, 602, 1179, 1262, 1491, 1710, 1721, 1903, 2413, 2456, 2736, 2777, 2904, 2979, 3043, 3118, 3147, 3398, 3407, 3503, 3693, 3723, 4186, 4270, 4450 and 4862.