Philippine Council for Health Research and Development(PCHRD)

Hi! I would like to request for information regarding:

1. data for virology
2. proposal of Virology Institute of the Philippines
3. list of laboratory for Virology
4. what are the space requirements for laboratory for virology?
5. Biosafety Laboratory Manual of the Philippines
6. Minimum space area requirements in a laboratory

October 30, 2020

Dear Jessica,

Greetings!

Thank you for your request dated Oct 21, 2020 under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch.

You requested for information on virology laboratory.

The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) is one of the sectoral funding agencies of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) that provides R&D funding for research institutions in the Philippines. PCHRD funds research proposals that are aligned with the National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA) and Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda (HRNDA). 

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance PCHRD does not have some of the information you have requested. However, you may wish to contact the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) of DOST at [email protected], or resubmit your request addressed to then on the eFOI portal at https://www.foi.gov.ph/requests?agency=ITDI. The establishment of the proposed Virology Institute of the Philippines will be under DOST-ITDI.

In connection to some of your questions:

2. proposal of Virology Institute of the Philippines
Senate Bill 1543 and House Bill Nos. 6793, 6798, 6808, 6838, 6873, 6913, and 6992 seek to institutionalize the establishment of the Philippine Virology Science and Technology Institute or VIP. You may check the proposal documents from the respective websites of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives. 

5. Biosafety Laboratory Manual of the Philippines
You may coordinate with the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (http://www.ncbp.dost.gov.ph/) regarding biosafety manuals. 

6. Minimum space area requirements in a laboratory  
Please note that there are different biosafety levels for laboratories such as level 1, 2,3 and 4. The area, design and components of proposed laboratories will be aligned to national and international biosafety guidelines depending on the required biosafety level.
  
For further assistance you may review the FAQ section of the eFOI site: https://pcoomaster01122017091500-dot-efoi-ph.appspot.com/help.

If you are unhappy with this response to your FOI request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response by writing to Dr. Jaime C. Montoya, PCHRD Executive Director. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made within 15 calendar days from the date when you received this letter. We will complete the review and tell you the result within 30 calendar days from the date when we receive your review request.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011).

Thank you.

Respectfully,
Renzell Parino
FOI Officer