President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed into law the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines (VIP) Act on September 12, 2025, officially designating the VIP as the country’s premier national institute for virology research and vaccine development under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). The initiative, led by the DOST, aims to bolster the nation’s public health defenses and strengthen preparedness for future disease outbreaks.
Following the principles of the One Health Approach, the VIP will spearhead the development of locally made diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines targeting viral diseases and pathogens affecting humans, animals, and plants. Through this initiative, the DOST aims to build stronger public health defenses and improve the country’s preparedness for future disease outbreaks, safeguarding both human health and food security.
“The establishment of the VIP marks the country’s commitment to strengthen local capacities in preparing for and responding to public health threats such as pandemics and disease outbreaks,” said DOST Secretary Renato Solidum, Jr. “By building our capacities to face these threats, we protect the health and well-being of Filipinos, strengthen our economic resilience, and ensure sustainability,” he added.
Viral diseases that are common in the country, according to the Department of Health, include: Acute Respiratory Infection, Influenza, Chicken pox, Dengue, Hepatitis, and Measles. The VIP is also able to address viral diseases in animals like the African Swine Fever and Avian Influenza. In plants, the VIP is developing an early detection system for Tomato Leaf Curl Virus (now classified as Begomovirus coheni), which affects solanaceous cash crops. The initiative, led by the DOST, aims to bolster the nation’s public health defenses and strengthen preparedness for future disease outbreaks.
“Viruses are among the fastest-evolving threats to human, animal, and plant health, and we must keep pace with this reality. At present, the Philippines does not have a dedicated institution that focuses on diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccine development against viral diseases,” said DOST Undersecretary Leah J. Buendia. “With the growing number of viral infections affecting people, livestock, and crops, the need for a state-of-the-art virology research center has never been more urgent.”
The VIP’s mandate covers a wide range of critical functions. It will undertake discovery programs in virology and related disciplines, conduct vaccine research, and develop diagnostics and therapeutics for viruses and other pathogens. It will also promote evidence-based policies on virology and vaccine science, forge partnerships with local and international research networks, and train and engage experts to build national capacity. In addition, the institute will invest and operate state-of-the-art virology infrastructure while providing technical assistance to support the broader research community.
To ensure a multidisciplinary and coordinated approach, the DOST will work closely with the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Agriculture (DA), and other relevant agencies in implementing the institute’s programs. In its first five years, the VIP will focus on strengthening local research capacities and expanding the country’s body of knowledge on virus strains and diseases, laying the groundwork for a more resilient and prepared Philippines.
“With the enactment of the VIP Law, we, at the DOST, are committed to releasing the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) within 90 days. We will also gear up for extensive public consultations to ensure that the law is implemented transparently and inclusively,” said Dr. Jaime C. Montoya, Executive Director of DOST-PCHRD.
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