Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines

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Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines
Agency overview
FormedSeptember 12, 2025 (2025-09-12)
Parent department Department of Science and Technology

The Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines (VIP), a national research center of the Philippines which has a focus on virology and vaccine research. The VIP has no existing facilities yet with the main headquarters to be built in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac.

Contents

History

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, proposals have been made to set up a virology research facility in the country. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), headed by Secretary Fortunato de la Peña, announced in May 2020 that the science agency submitted a proposal to establish the Virology Institute of the Philippines, which is meant to conduct research on viruses and viral diseases affecting plants, animals, and humans. At the time, the Philippines only had the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, which specializes in the research of infectious and tropical diseases. [1]

There were moves to institutionalize the proposed virology research institute through legislation by Congress, in the House of Representatives alone, at least seven bills have been filed by mid-August 2020. [2] Within the same month, the institute project has been included in the Philippine national government's Build! Build! Build! infrastructure program of President Rodrigo Duterte. [3]

In July 2021, the House bills for the institute and a center for disease control (CDC) were approved on their third and final reading. [4] President Duterte included the institute in a list of priority measures that he mentioned during his sixth and final State of the Nation Address (SONA). [5]

In October 2021, a biosafety level 2+ (BSL-2+) laboratory was inaugurated in Taguig in preperation for the establishment of the VIP. However the laboratory itself is not part of the proposed VIP complex. [6] [7] [8]

It was during the 20th Congress under the administration of President Bongbong Marcos that the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines (VIP) was institutionalized when he signed Republic Act No. 12290 into law on September 12, 2025. [9]

Proposed facilities

The Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines has no existing facility yet. Its headquarters is proposed to be built at New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. [3] Five hectares of land have been allocated. The institute will include lecture halls, offices, greenhouses, and laboratories, including a BSL-4 lab, the first in the country. [10] [11]

References

  1. ↑ Adel, Rosette (May 22, 2020). "DOST proposes creation of virology institute in Philippines". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on June 24, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  2. ↑ Quismorio, Ellson (August 17, 2020). "House moves to hasten nation's own Virology Institute". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on July 29, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  3. 1 2 Crismundo, Kris (August 6, 2020). "PH's virology center to rise in New Clark City". Philippine News Agency. Archived from the original on September 3, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  4. ↑ Bajo, Anna Felicia (July 28, 2021). "House OKs bills creating virology institute, center for disease control on final reading". GMA News. Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  5. ↑ Luci-Atienza, Charissa (July 26, 2021). "DOST 'happy' with Duterte's call on Congress to pass bill creating PH Virology Institute". The Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Biosafety lab to be launched in preparation for the creation of PHL vaccine institut". BusinessMirror. Philippine News Agency, S&T Media Services. August 29, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  7. ↑ Resurreccion, Lyn (October 24, 2021). "DOST inaugurates virology, vaccine lab". BusinessMirror. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  8. ↑ Arayata, Maria Cristina (October 21, 2021). "Biosafety level 2 lab launched". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  9. ↑ Unite, Betheena (September 19, 2025). "Marcos signs Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines Act". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  10. ↑ Domingo, Katrina (May 25, 2021). "Virology Institute of the Philippines to rise in Tarlac in 2 years: DOST". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on May 26, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  11. ↑ "PH's first virology institute to rise soon with help of 'balik scientists'". CNN Philippines. May 26, 2021. Archived from the original on June 25, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
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