Government allocates P362 million for genome sequencing efforts

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has approved the allocation of P362 million in the budget for genomic bio-surveillance efforts of the government to monitor and appropriate response to the evolving mutations of COVID-19.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, who co-chairs the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, said the matter was approved by the President during a Cabinet meeting the other day.

Nograles said the government committed to continue efforts “to adopt and appropriately respond to the outbreak.”

“With different strains and variants of the COVID-19 virus now emerging, the Department of Health (DOH) will be mobilizing resources and investing in genomic bio-surveillance,” Nograles said yesterday.

The intensified genome bio-surveillance will “strengthen and improve our overall COVID-19 response.”

“The conduct of whole genome sequencing and bio-informatics analysis of the virus will enable us to understand the evolution of the virus across geographical and time scales as well as the impact of the specific mutations on viral properties including infectiousness and virulence,” Nograles added.

Citing the DOH studies, Nograles said the genomic bio-surveillance is critical input in the national vaccine deployment program for the government to have a better understanding of the virus and its possible mutations.

“It will enable us to implement a more responsive vaccination program, execute other existing health interventions and prepare for future pandemics,” Nograles said.

Meanwhile, the number of deaths in the country due to the COVID pandemic is nearing 11,000 as cases of infection reached 531,699 yesterday.

Health officials confirmed that COVID cases nationwide rose to 531,699 with the addition of 1,590 cases. – Mayen Jaymalin