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Use Polyvalent Antivenom: Sen. Raffy Tulfo urges the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) to conduct a study for the immediate use of a Polyvalent Snake Antivenom to prevent the increasing number of death due to snake bite, particularly in the countryside. During Wednesday’s hearing, February 12, 2025, Tulfo said the present antivenom that the government is using is longer applicable to the various types of snake species in the country. "We need to use new types of antivenom combination,” Tulfo said. “Thousands of people died in the Philippines due to snake bites and due to shortage of antivenom. This is very alarming because most of the victims are farmers,” Tulfo pointed out. In response, Atty. Ana Liza Duran, MD, RITM head, said the RITM has been sending representatives abroad to study the polyvalent technology and help address the problem of death due to snake bites in the country. Polyvalent Snake Antivenom is designed to help neutralize the effects of the poison (venom) after a snake bite. It is used to treat people who become ill after being bitten by an unidentified snake. (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)