In a major stride toward bolstering the nation’s health security, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed Republic Act No. 12290, officially creating the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines (VIP). The new national research center will focus on virus studies, vaccine development, and diagnostics to prepare the country for future pandemics and emerging health threats.

Signed on September 12, 2025, the law positions the VIP as the country’s lead institution for research on infectious agents affecting humans, animals, plants, and the environment. The Institute will spearhead vaccine research from discovery to pre-clinical stages, while also developing therapeutics and diagnostics for both emerging and reemerging diseases.

The VIP was first proposed during the COVID-19 pandemic and is now being realized as a state-of-the-art facility equipped with high-containment laboratories, biobanks, genome centers, and advanced bioinformatics capabilities. It will also serve as a hub for training scientific experts and collaborating with both local and international research institutions.

“This is a transformative step for Philippine science and public health,” said officials from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which will chair the VIP Board. The Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Agriculture (DA) will serve as co-chairs, reflecting the law’s adoption of the One Health approach—recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.

Under the new law, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) will retain its current functions under the DOH but will work closely with the VIP to strengthen disease surveillance and laboratory support. Findings from both institutions will inform national strategies through the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases and the National Task Force against animal-borne diseases.

The VIP is required to submit an annual report to the President and to Congress by March 30 each year, ensuring transparency and accountability in its operations.