Virology center vital in combating ASF, other diseases – Tolentino

Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino on Thursday said the creation of a Virology Institute of the Philippines (VIP) is needed to improve the country’s response against animal-borne diseases, including African swine fever (ASF).

Senate Majority Leader Francis “Tol” Tolentino FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino on Thursday said the creation of a Virology Institute of the Philippines (VIP) is needed to improve the country’s response against animal-borne diseases, including African swine fever (ASF).

Tolentino made this remark as he pushed for the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 2893 which seeks to establish the VIP, citing overlapping mandates of different agencies in combating ASF.

He also filed Senate Resolution 565, which tasked the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform to probe the impact of ASF on domestic pork production, supply, and prices.

“The reason why we had a long battle with ASF is because of the apparent non-movement of the personnel within the Food and Drug Administration in conducting clinical trials for ASF vaccines. And when they were finally able to reach the conclusion that clinical trials were to be conducted, they [had to conduct] the same en masse,” Tolentino said in a statement.

Under SB 2893, the VIP task is “to ensure seamless collaboration with RITM (Research Institute for Tropical Medicine) and other pertinent research bodies to delineate specific roles and responsibilities, ensuring that the research agenda is complementary rather than duplicative.”

Tolentino expressed hope that the VIP, as envisioned in the bill, would be able to facilitate coordination not just among government bodies, but also with private laboratories.

These, he added, include laboratories within universities and private institutions, including pharmaceutical companies.

The VIP, under the proposed measure, shall be an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology that “shall serve as the lead convenor for research and development in the field of virology, encompassing all kinds of viruses and other pathogens in plants, animals and humans.”

READ: Senate bill seeks stricter penalties for foreign interference

The VIP, as lead convenor for research and development, shall implement policies, plans, programs, and projects for the development of virology in the country and the promotion of scientific and technological activities for both the public and private sectors,” the bill read.

“It shall ensure that the results of these activities are properly applied towards vaccine self-reliance and utilized to accelerate economic and social development towards the protection of the citizens and the country’s resources,” it added.

Read more...