Pia airs concern on Virology Institute

Senator Pia Cayetano clarifies she has reservations only with the proposed creation of the Virology Institute and not on the measure pushing for the establishment of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cayetano explained the proposed creation of the Virology Institute may duplicate the functions of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

“Basically, since last year, since the last Congress, Senator Nancy Binay and I have been concerned about the creation of a new institute which is the Virology Institute under the (Department of Science and Technology) versus supporting and giving more funding for RITM,” she said.

Hence, the senator called on the Department of Health to create a technical working group to resolve and clear things up regarding the raised concerns about the overlapping functions and focus between the Virology Institute and RITM.

“So we just need these things resolved, among a few other things. So far, it looks good,” the lawmaker said.

Cayetano said the health department should clarify its proposals and provide clear technical input to them.

“So as I said, I support rightsizing. Kung ang RITM eh (If the RITM) as we know it, end of life na siya, and ang important functions niya is parang maa-absorb sa CDC (its important function will be absorbed by the CDC). Okay lang sa akin yun, kasi kung ano naman ang mas efficient (It’s still okey for me, whatever is efficient on that matter). We have to be able to move along with the times,” she said.