Camsur lawmaker sees smooth launch of virology, vax institute

WITH the expected establishment this 2023 of the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines (VVIP), a lawmaker on Monday said the Executive department had already set aside an initial P669.3 million for the VVIP’S fivehectare research and development (R&D) projects and facilities at the New Clark City (NCC) in Tarlac.

Camsur Rep. Lray Villafuerte said the establishment of the VVIP as the country’s premier research and development (R&D) institute on all kinds of viruses and viral diseases in humans, animals and plants is contained in the consolidated House Bill (HB) No. 6452, which the bigger chamber had approved by a 216-0 vote with no abstention.

Villafuerte, who is president of the National Unity Party (NUP), said the speedy approval of this consolidated bill was assured because, on top of the VIP bill’s inclusion in the common legislative agenda (CLA) of Malacañang and the bicameral Congress, the Executive department had already set aside an initial P669.3 million plus a 5-hectare lot for its research and development (R&D) projects and facilities at the New Clark City (NCC) in Tarlac.

“The VIP is expected to be up sooner than later following its inclusion among the 30 priority bills in the CLA that was drawn up by President Marcos with Senate President Migz [Juan Miguel Zubiri] and Speaker Martin [Romualdez] during the first LEDAC [Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council] meeting convened last October 10,” Villafuerte said.

The House-passed HB 6452 had consolidated 42 similar bills, including HB 10 that was principally authored by four lawmakers led by Speaker Martin Romualdez, and HB 308 that was introduced by Villafuerte and three fellow lawmakers from Camsur.

Romualdez’s fellow HB 10 authors were Senior Deputy Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos and Tingog Sinirangan Reps. Yedda Romualdez and Jude Acidre, while HB 308 was introduced by the NUP president with Camsur Reps. Miguel Luis Villafuerte and Tsuyoshi Anthony Horibata, and Bicol Saro Rep. Nicolas Enciso VIII.