INQUIRER PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) will not be abolished with the creation of the Virology Institute of the Philippines (VIP), the Department of Health (DOH) assured on Saturday.
According to DOH Undersecretary and spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire, the RITM will not be abolished but will only be under a bigger institution.
“May mga pag-uusap pero kailangan ipaliwanag natin sa publiko na hindi totoo na i-a-abolish natin ang RITM. Ilalagay lang natin siya sa isang malaking institution na maaaring mas ma-improve natin and mapalawak pa natin ang kanilang expertise sa research at pagpapagawa ng bakuna,” Vergeire explained at the Laging Handa public briefing.
(There are talks about it but we have to clarify to the public that it is not true that the RITM will be abolished. It will only be placed under a bigger institution so we can improve and expand its expertise on research and creation of vaccines.)
“Hindi po totoo na i-a-abolish siya. Maisasama lang siya sa isang mas malaking institution para mas magkaroon siya ng mas maraming resources at mas ma-expand natin ang expertise natin,” she added.
(It is not true that we will abolish it. We will just place it under a bigger institution so it can have more resources and we can expand its expertise.)
The RITM was inaugurated in 1981 and was tasked to plan and implement research programs for infectious and tropical diseases.
The VIP, on the other hand, is seen to be the premier research and development institute in the field of virology, encompassing all areas in viruses and viral diseases in humans, plants, and animals
Facilities for the VIP are expected to rise by the end of 2023 or in 2024. In July, the House of Representatives approved House Bill No. 9559 which seeks the creation of the virology institute, considering its relevance in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.