Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Saturday called on the government to fully execute the law establishing the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines (VIP), emphasizing that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s renewed commitment must be backed by adequate funding, proper facilities, and a concrete implementation roadmap.
Go made the statement following Marcos’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, where the President announced that the government would start drafting plans to construct the facility.
The institute was formally created under Republic Act No. 12290, which was signed into law by Marcos in September 2025.
Go stressed that establishing the VIP has been a cornerstone of his advocacy to boost the nation’s epidemic preparedness and diminish reliance on foreign supplies for vaccines, diagnostic tools, and essential medical technologies.
“Malinaw ang naging aral ng pandemya. Hindi tayo maaaring palaging umaasa sa ibang bansa pagdating sa pananaliksik, testing, bakuna at iba pang kinakailangang tugon sa mga nakahahawang sakit,” Go said.
“Kailangan nating magkaroon ng sariling kakayahan upang mas mabilis nating maprotektahan ang buhay at kalusugan ng mga Pilipino,” he added.
Operating as an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the VIP serves as the primary hub for research and development on viruses and pathogens affecting humans, livestock, and crops.
Go insisted that the President’s SONA pledge must translate into immediate action, particularly through structured planning, budgetary allocations, and the setup of state-of-the-art research laboratories.
“Mayroon na tayong batas. Ang mahalaga ngayon ay maisakatuparan ito nang maayos at hindi manatili lamang sa plano,” he said.
“Dapat magkaroon ang institution ng sapat na pondo, makabagong kagamitan at mga ekspertong kayang magsagawa ng tuloy-tuloy na pananaliksik,” he continued.
The lawmaker noted that the VIP will enhance disease surveillance, accelerate pathogen detection, and enable faster government responses during health crises. Developing localized research and vaccine manufacturing capabilities ensures solutions tailored to the country’s specific health needs.
Additionally, Go underscored the necessity of seamless collaboration among the DOST, the Department of Health (DOH), academic institutions, hospitals, and research facilities.
“Ang (VIP) ay hindi lamang tugon sa nakaraang pandemya. Ito ay pangmatagalang pamumuhunan sa ating kalusugan, seguridad at kakayahang tumayo sa sarili,” Go said.
“Patuloy nating tututukan ang pagpapatupad ng batas upang maging handa ang bansa sa anumang bagong banta sa kalusugan,” he stressed.