To ensure broad stakeholder participation in health-related initiatives, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) held the final leg of its public consultation on the draft implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines (VIP) Act.

The National Capital Region consultation, which marked the final stop of the series, was held at the Sequoia Hotel in Parañaque City. The first three consultation legs were conducted across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao starting 13 November 2025.

Republic Act 12290 provides for the creation of a national center for virology and vaccine development, aimed at addressing the country’s long-standing reliance on foreign vaccines and limited local capacity for research and production.

The measure was approved on third reading by the House of Representatives but took nearly three years before securing Senate approval. It was signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on 12 September 2025. Construction of the institute’s facility is currently underway in Tarlac.

Support for the establishment of the VIP has been expressed by Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa, officials from University of the Philippines Manila, local government units, civic society groups and hospitals.

For DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., the initiative draws directly from lessons learned during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Resilience is not merely surviving, but thriving,” Solidum explained, underscoring the importance of long-term solutions to public health challenges.

During the consultation, participants raised concerns on specific provisions of the draft IRR, including possible redundancies, issues of inclusion and the need to further clarify certain definitions.