(Anadolu file photo) MANILA - The Philippines investing in its own virology institute and vaccine manufacturing capacity is crucial to effectively respond to future pandemics and other viral diseases. At the Laging Handa public briefing on Wednesday, Dr. Ted Herbosa, medical adviser of the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19, said during the start of the pandemic, the country had difficulty sourcing vaccines and medical supplies that would protect Filipinos against the highly transmissible coronavirus infection. "During the pandemic itself, nahirapan tayong mag-source ng vaccines because the vaccines na pinu-produce noong ibang countries ay ginagamit din nila so hindi pa nila maibenta at ma-export sa atin so medyo naantala iyong vaccine program natin (During the pandemic itself, it was difficult for us to source vaccines because other countries were also using their own produced vaccines so they could not sell and export to us, thus, our vaccine program was slightly delayed