Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Acting Secretary Jim O. Sampulna signed on April 8 a deed of conveyance on a parcel of land that will be turned over to the Department of Health’s main research arm – the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).
“This deed of conveyance is the DENR’s simple gift and contribution for RITM to further advance their research work, and prepare to address the current pandemic and health concerns that may arise in the future,” said Sampulna.
The ceremonial signing of the deed of conveyance was under President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s Proclamation No. 1276 dated Jan. 6, 2022, which states that a parcel of patrimonial land within the Alabang Stock Farm, Muntinlupa City, will be for RITM building site purposes.
The 9,077-square meter land is adjacent to the current site of the health research facility in Alabang.
RITM Director Celia C. Carlos, MD expressed her gratitude to the DENR for facilitating the preparation of the deed of conveyance, and for allocating the land in their favor, noting that one of the facility’s problems was the lack of space.
“I wish to acknowledge the big help provided by Land Management Bureau Director Atty. Emelyne V. Talabis and her staff who guided and supported us in all stages of this journey towards RITM acquisition of additional lots,’ said Carlos.
RITM has been responding to outbreaks of infectious diseases for the last 20 years, including the first severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) outbreak in 2003.
It was also at the forefront controlling the AH1N1 pandemic in 2009, measles outbreak in 2013, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak in 2014 to 2015, polio outbreak in 2018, and SARS-CoV outbreak in 2019.
Carlos also pointed out that the additional parcel of land would help expand the facility’s healthcare services and technologies.
RITM currently houses 18 National Reference Laboratories in infectious diseases, which allow health care workers and professionals to perform confirmatory tests, and implement quality assurance. ###
