Duterte reviewing proposal to establish virology institute in Philippines -Palace

President Rodrigo Duterte is studying the proposal to establish a virology institute in the Philippines in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Malacañang said Friday.

“President Duterte is now reviewing the recommendation to establish a Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines that will serve as a premiere research institute in virology and diseases to strengthen local vaccine development in the country,” Duterte’s spokesperson Harry Roque said.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Senator Panfilo Lacson earlier pushed for the establishment of a virology institute at the New Clark City in Tarlac.

Bases Conversion and Development Authority president Vince Dizon recently said that the establishment of a virology institute was approved by the Cabinet’s economic development cluster.

"The country needs diagnostics to detect and limit the spread of the existing viruses; vaccines to provide long-term protection; treatments to save lives in the shorter term, and social science to understand their behavioral and societal implications," Lacson said in May.

Roque also said the DOST recently approved the clinical trials for lagundi and tawa-tawa as supplement COVID-19 treatments. These are in addition to the melatonin, convalescent plasma, and virgin coconut oil clinical trials.

The Palace official added that the Philippines, through the DOST, joined the global action in developing a vaccine against COVID-19.

“We have been in touch with several institutions to collaborate on vaccine development and allow local manufacturing, if possible. Our country is part of the World Health Organization Solidarity Trials for COVID-19 treatments,” Roque said.—AOL, GMA News