Department Of Science & Technology (DoST) Will Get P284 Million Worth Of Funding In 2021 For Purchase Of Equipment & Other Needs.
DoST Undersecretary for Research and Development Dr. Rowena Cristina Guevara sahred the news in the “DoST Report” episode aired on Oct. 30. That will be used to start research activities under the proposed Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines (VIP).
Guevara underscored the importance of the VIP that would focus mainly on studying and developing vaccines on humans, animals, and plants. She said that there are research projects that have been approved and these would focus on the ZIKA virus, African Swine Flu for pig, and kadang-kadang for coconut.
According to Guevara, the creation of the VIP would undergo two phases – organize Filipino researchers who have been doing virology on humans, animals and plants, and the establishment of a research facility that takes two years to complete.
Furthermore, she shared the many initiatives being implemented to provide for the development of and access to vaccines for Covid-19, such as the country’s participation in the Phase 3 clinical trials of bilateral partners such as China and Russia.
Exploring all avenues, the Philippines will also join Gavi Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access (Covax) facility, a mechanism designed to guarantee rapid, fair and equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines worldwide.
This news was originally published at Manila Times