Republic of the Philippines:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7283

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT CREATING THE CENTER FOR DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL,
PROVIDING MECHANISMS FOR EPIDEMIC CONTROL, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Viruses have threatened the health of animal and human populations for centuries
despite developments of vaccines and highly effective antiviral drugs. Pandemics and
epidemics remain threats because humans have little immunity to new viruses. Three
pandemics occurred in the 20th century, each resulting in illness in approximately 30
percent of the world population and death in 0.2 percent to 2 percent of those infected.

The economic and societal disruption that COVID-19 is causing worldwide is teaching
us a very difficult lesson. At present, fear of contagion and public health measures to
limit contact with others are affecting the functioning of critical infrastructure, the
movement of goods and services, and operation of institutions such as schools and
universities.

The global reach of current health risks show that our existing government response
mechanism is inadequate. Our large population across the world making us especially
prone to communicable diseases requires the creation of a new institution with the
capacity to confront health risks timely and decisively. Hence, this bill proposes the
creation of the Center for Disease Prevention and Control for adequate preparation,
early detection and quick response and containment. The creation of such a center
would allow us to timely intervene in case of health emergencies instead of our current
bureaucracy-challenged approach.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is most earnestly sought.

Le a

LUIS R IND “LRAY] VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House BILL No. 7283

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACTCREATING THE CENTER FOR DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL,
PROVIDING MECHANISMS FOR EPIDEMIC CONTROL, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Be enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. Title- This Act shall be known as the" Center for Disease Control and
Prevention Act of 2020." Or the "CDC Act of 2020".

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy It shall be the policy of the State to ensure the health and
wellbeing of Filipinos, to protect them from communicable diseases, and to proactively
prevent the emergence and transmission of serious diseases. Towards this end, the
state shall devote significant material and institutional resources to provide a framework
for communicable disease control and prevention in the country.

It is also hereby declared a policy of the State to adopt, support, establish,
institutionalize, improve and maintain structures, processes, mechanisms and initiatives
thatareaimed, directed and designedto:

(a) _ protect and promote the health of the Filipino people; and
(b) help establish and maintain an effective health mechanism that is responsive to
the country's health needs, emergency and other emerging problems.

Towards this end, and in view of the globalization of health risks, there shall be a high-
level public institution imbued with the capacity, the competencies, theecosystem, and the
authority to confront these risks decisively and thus protect the public welfare
development to proceed despite these risks.


Sec. 3. Definition of Terms - As used in this Act, the term:

(a)Communicable disease, also knownas transmissible disease or infectious
disease, shall mean an illness resulting from an infection, or a disease
which can be transmitted from an infected host individual or group to a
particular individual or group, regardless of whether the other individual
was previously infected.

(b)" Contagious disease" is an infectious disease that can be transmitted
from person to person.

(c)"Disease" refers to an illness due to a specific toxic substance,
occupational exposure or infectious agent, which affects a susceptible
individual, either directly or indirectly, as from an infected animal or
person, or indirectly through an intermediate host, vector, or the
environment.

(d)"Disease control" refers to the reduction of disease incidence, prevalence,
morbidity or mortality to a locally acceptable level as a result of deliberate
efforts and continued intervention measures to maintain the reduction.

(e)"Disease surveillance" refers to the ongoing systematic collection,
analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of outcome-specific data
for use in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health
practice. A disease surveillance system includes the functional capacity
for data analysis as well as the timely dissemination of these data to
persons who can undertake effective prevention and control activities.

(f) "Emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases" refer to diseases that: (|)
have not occurred in humans before; (2) have occurred previously but
affected only small numbers of people in isolated areas; (3) have
occurred throughout human history but have only recently been
recognized as a distant disease due to an infectious agent; (4) are
caused by previously undetected or unknown infectious agents; (5) are
due to mutant or resistant strains of a causative organism; and (6) once
were major health problems m the country, and then declined
dramatically, but are again becoming health problems for a significant
proportion of the population.

(g)" Epidemic/outbreak" refers to an occurrence of more cases of disease
than normally expected within a specific place or group of people over a
given period of time.

(h)" Health care facility" means any institution, building, or agency or portion
thereof, whether public or private (for-profit or nonprofit) that is used,
operated, or designed to provide health services, medical treatment, or
nursing, rehabilitative, or preventive care to any person or persons. This
includes, but is not limited to: ambulatory surgical facilities, home health
agencies, hospices, hospitals, infirmaries, intermediate care facilities,
kidney treatment centers, long term care facilities, medical assistance
facilities, mental health centers, outpatient facilities, public health
centers, rehabilitation facilities, residential treatments facilities, skilled


nursing facilities, and adult day-care centers. This also includes, but is
not limited to, the following related property when used for or in
connection with the foregoing: laboratories; research facilities;
pharmacies; laundry facilities; health personnel training and lodging
facilities; patient, guest, and health personnel food service facilities; and
offices and office buildings for persons engaged in health care
professions or services.

"Health event of public health concern” refers to either a public health

emergency or a public health threat due to biological, chemical, radio-

nuclear and environmental agents.

("Infectious disease" is a disease caused by a living organism or other
pathogen, including a fungus, bacillus, parasite, protozoan, or virus. An
infectious disease may, or may not, be transmissible from person to
person, animal to person, or insect to person.

(k) "Infectious waste" is "biological waste," which includes blood and blood
products, excretions, exudates, secretions, suctioning and other body
fluids, and waste materials saturated with blood or body fluids; (ii) "cultures
and stocks," which includes etiologic agents and associated biologicals,
including specimen cultures and dishes and devices used to transfer,
inoculate, and mix cultures , wastes from production of biologicals and
serums, and discarded live and attenuated vaccines; (ii) "pathological
waste," which includes biopsy materials and all human tissues, anatomical
parts that emanate from surgery, obstetrical procedures, necropsy or
autopsy and laboratory procedures, and animal carcasses exposed to
pathogens in research and the bedding and other waste from such
animals, but does not include teeth or formaldehyde or other preservative
agents; and (iv)"sharps,” which includes needles, |.V. tubing wi.th needles
attached, scalpel blades, lancets, breakable glass tubes, and syringes that
have been removed from their original sterile containers.

(I) “Notifiable disease" refers to a disease that, by legal requirements, must
be reported to the public health authorities.

(m)"Precommunicable stage" shall mean the stage beginning upon an
individual's earliest opportunity for exposure to an infectious agent and
ending upon the individual entering or reentering the communicable stage
of the disease or, if the individual does not enter the communicable stage,
the latest date at which the individual could reasonably be expected to
have the potential to enter or reenter the communicable stage.

(n) "Quarantine " is the physical separation and confinement of an individual
or groups of individuals, who are or may have been exposed to a
contagious or possibly contagious disease and who do not show signs or
symptoms of a contagious disease, from non-quarantined individuals, to
prevent or limit the transmission of the disease to non-quarantined
individuals.

(0) "Sudden onset health outbreak”, or "sudden onset health events", shall be
diseases whose risks to public health and safety exponentially increase
over time absent intervention.

(


CHAPTER I
CREATION OF THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL PHILIPPINES

Sec. 4. Creation of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. There
shall be created a Center for Disease Control and Prevention, hereinafter
referred to as " Center," a government agency attached to the Department of
Health, which shall exercise administrative supervision over the Center.

The Center shall be the principal agency tasked with developing and applying
communicable disease control and prevention initiatives. Additionally, it shall be
responsible for controlling the introduction and spread of infectious diseases, and
shall provide consultation and assistance to other nations and international
agencies to assist in improving their disease prevention and control. It shall also

Sec. 5 - Reorganization of existing units. Under this Center, the following
bureaus and agencies are hereby subsumed into the Center.
|. The Disease Prevention and Control Bureau of the Department of Health
2. The Epidemiology Bureau of the Department of Health
3. The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine
4. The Disease Emergency Management Bureau

Sec. 6. Functions of the Center. - The Center shall perform the following
functions:
1. Maintain active surveillance of diseases through epidemiologic and

laboratory investigations, data collection, analysis, and distribution;

2. Act as lead agency in developing and implementing operational programs
relating to communicable diseases;

3. Actas the lead disease surveillance agency of the country;

4. Conduct operational research aimed at developing and testing effective
communicable disease prevention, control, and health promotion
programs;

5. Administers national programs to develop recommended health standards
to ensure readiness for the emergence of new communicablediseases;

6. Administer national programs for improving the performance of clinical
laboratories in identifying and classifying commw1icable diseases;

7. Recommend the exercise of certain powers by the President in the case of

an epidemic;

. Set the parameters for the declaration of the existence of an epidemic;

9. Recommend such measures and policies as may be necessary to prevent
the transmission of communicable diseases;

10. Assess and support the capabilities of local government units (LGUs) in
preventing the emergence and transmission of communicable diseases;

11. Enhance and strengthen the administrative and technical capacity of the
Disease Prevention and Control Bureau and Epidemiology Bureau to
ensure the agencies’ monitoring coverage over establishments and
products under their jurisdiction;

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12.Promote public health decisions guided bystrategic information for best
possible health outcomes;

13. Provide coherence in the health monitoring to ensure equitable, accessible,
efficient and quality health services to communities, through dynamic
partnership and shared advocacy, responsibility and accountability;

14, Set the standards and the process for the establishment of Epidemiology
and Surveillance Units (ESUs) as required by Section 8 of Republic Act.
No. 11332, assist DOH-retained hospitals, local health facilities especially
district hospitals and private hospitals and laboratories in establishing
ESUs and assess their performance and accredit them based on
standards set by the CDC;

15. Maintain a Registry of Notifiable Diseases and Biosecurity Hazards, which
shall be published and updated online;

16, Recommend to the Council inclusions and deletions from the registry;

17. Perform such other functions as may be mandated by Law, or as may be
duly delegated by relevant authorities.

Sec. 7. Center Executive Director. -The Center shall be headed by an
ExecutiveDirectorwho shall be appointed by the President upon the effectivity
of this Act, with the rank of Undersecretary, and who shall perform the
followingfunctions and powers:

1. Manage and direct the activities of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC);

2. Provide leadership for the implementation of CDC's responsibilities related
to disease prevention and control;

3. Advise the Secretary of Health on policy matters concerning CDC
activities;

4. Recommend to the President and the Secretary of Health the exercise of
special powers in the case of an epidemic;

5. Certify to the existence of an epidemic, which shall be treated as a public
health emergency;

6. Participate in the development of CDC goals and objectives;

7. Provide overall direction and coordination to the epidemiologic activities of
coc;

8. Coordinate CDC response to health emergencies;

9. Provide liaison with other governmental agencies, international
organizations including the World Health Organization, learning
institutions, and other outside groups;

10. Coordinate international health activities relating to disease prevention

and control;

11.In cooperation with DOH Regional Offices, provide or obtain technical
assistance for regional and local health departments and private and
official agencies as needed;

12.Provide overall direction to, and coordination of, the scientific/medical
programs of CDC;

13. Oversee and provide leadership for laboratory science, safety, and

quality management;

14.Plan, promote, and coordinate an ongoing program to assure equal


employment opportunities in CDC;

15.Provide leadership, coordination, and assessment of administrative
management activities;

16.Coordinate with appropriate DOH staff offices on administrative and
program matters;

17.Coordinate the consumer affairs activities for CDC; and

18.Provide leadership, policy guidance, coordination, technical expertise, and
services to promote the development and implementation of the agency's
national programs

SEC. 8. Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Bureau - There shall be
created the Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Bureau with the following
functions:

a. Develop plans, policies, programs, projects and strategies for disease
prevention and control and health protection.

b. Provide coordination, technical assistance, capability building, consultancy
and advisory services related to disease prevention and control and health
protection.

SEC. 9, Divisions of the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau.-There shallbe
created the following divisions under Disease Prevention and Contro! Bureau with
the following functions:

a. The Infectious Diseases for Elimination Division (TDED) shall have the
following functions:

L To develop policies, standards and guidelines for the elimination of
infectious diseases;

2. To develop plans, programs and projects to carry out preventive and control
strategies against elimination ofinfectious diseases;

3. To assist and strengthens capacity to measure and analyze the burden of
elimination of infectious diseases;

4. To provide monitoring and evaluation schemes to measure of interventions
in the prevention and control of elimination diseases;

5. To provide technical assistance and expert services to collaborating and
implementing agencies on matters pertaining to the prevention and control
of infectious diseases for elimination;

6. To develop capability of health sector agencies and organizations in the
implementation of programs and projects related to the prevention and
control of infectious diseases for elimination;

7. To promote coordination and collaboration with partner agencies and
organizations on matters pertaining to elimination of infectious diseases;

8. To mobilize resources to assist collaborating and implementing agencies
and organizations.


b. The Infectious Disease of Prevention and Control Division (IDPCD) shall have
the following functions:

1. To develop policies, standards and guidelines for the prevention and control of
infectious diseases;

2. To develop plans, programs and projects to carry out preventive and control
strategies against infectious diseases;

3. To assist and strengthens capacity to measure and analyze the burden of
infectious diseases;

4. To provide monitoring and evaluation schemes to measure of interventions in
the prevention and control of infectious diseases:

5. To provide technical assistance and expert services to collaborating and
implementing agencies on matters pertaining to the prevention and control of
infectious diseases;

6. To develop capability of health sector agencies and organizations in the
implementation of programs and projects related to the prevention and control
of infectious diseases;

7. To promote coordination and collaboration with partner agencies and
organizations on matters pertaining to infectious diseases;

8. To mobilize resources to assist collaborating and implementing agencies and
organizations.

All other divisions currently under the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau of the
Department of Health shall remain within the bureau, which shall hereafter be
renamed the Non-Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Bureau.

SEC. 10. Epidemiology Bureau. - There shall be create the Epidemiology Bureau with
the following functions:
|. To develop and evaluate surveillance systems and other health information
systems
2. To collect, analyze and disseminate reliable and timely information on the
health status
3. To Investigate disease outbreaks and other threats to public health
4. To network public health laboratories in support of epidemiological and
surveillance activities

SEC. 11. Divisions of the Epidemiology Bureau. - There shall create the divisions
under the Epidemiology Bureau with the following functions:

1. Applied Epidemiology Health Management Division
a. Investigate and respond to epidemics and other urgent public health threats
as the need arises
b. Develop and maintain field epidemiology training programs for public
health workers
c. Develop, capture, filter, verify, assess, respond, disseminate and evaluate
event- based surveillance systems
d. Collect and maintain resource materials on epidemiology,
surveillance, management and monitoring and evaluation in public health.


2. Public Health Surveillance Division
a. Undertake notifiable disease surveillance through Philippine Integrated
Disease Surveillance and Response.

3. Survey, Monitoring & Evaluation Division
a. Provide statistical services to priority health programs of the DOH
b. Monitoring non-behavioral risk factors priority non-communicable diseases
through globally standardized survey
c. Monitor HIV and AIDS Registry and Integrated HIV Behavioral and
Serologic Surveillance, size estimates and Most At-Risk Population
d. Provide program health indicators information

SEC. 12. Disease Emergency Management Bureau. - There shall be created the
Disease Emergency Management Bureau with the following functions:

a) Act as the DOH Coordinating unit and Operation Center for all health
emergencies and disasters, as well as incidents with the potential of
becoming an emergency, and coordinate the mobilization and sharing of
resources.

Provide the communication linkage among DOH Central Office and other

concerned agencies, including the hospitals and the regions, during

emergencies and disasters.

Maintain updated information of all health emergencies and disasters (except

epidemiological investigation reports) and provide such information to other

offices and agencies in accordance with existing protocols.

Maintain a database of all health emergency personnel, technical experts, and

resource speakers. Together with the National Center for Health Facilities

Development (NCHFD), the DEMB shall maintain a database of

capabilities of health facilities.

e) Lead in the development of Disaster Risk Reduction & Management in
Health (ORRMH) Plan and the development of protocols, guidelines and
standards for health emergency management.

f) Provide technical assistance in the development of programs and planning
activities for HEM for other government and non-government
organizations.

g) Lead advocacy activities, including simulation exercises.

h) Develop and implements an Integrated Human Resource Training Agenda
for the Health Sector for emergencies and disasters.

i) Lead in the networking of hospitals and health sector organizations

responding to emergencies and disasters.

Monitor and evacuate the enforcement of compliance to policies, and

recommend the formulation or amendment of policies related to health

emergency management.

b)

°)

)

SEC. 13. Divisions of the Disease Emergency Management Bureau. - There
shall be create the divisions under the Disease Emergency Management Bureau
with the following functions:


1. Prevention, Mitigation & Preparedness Division

a) Develop, disseminates, and monitors the implementation of policies for
health emergency preparedness.

b) Develop standardized training modules for various stakeholders on health
emergency

c) Develop, disseminate and update emergency preparedness programs

d) Develop policy-related and operational researches and documentation

relevant to health emergency preparedness that will serve as inputs for

policy development and program/systems improvement.

Develop well-performing managerial human resources for health

emergency management

f) Provide technical assistance to ensure the availability of functional health
emergency preparedness systems (including policies, planning and
capability building activities) at all levels of the healthsector.

g) Provide technical assistance to ensure delivery of appropriate services in

time of emergencies.

Develop and implement an overall Monitoring and Evaluation System and

Plan for health emergency management

i) Lead in public information and awareness-raising activities

e)

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2. Response, Recovery & Rehabilitation Division

a) Mobilize resource of technical experts, health response teams and tangible
logistics needed locally and internationally.

b) Manage information through rapid health assessment, damage
assessment and needs analysis in response, recovery and rehabilitation
phases.

c) Plan and develop policies and guidelines essential in the implementation

and management of projects, programs and activities relevant to

emergency and response, recovery and rehabilitation. Develop and
capacitate human resource of regional offices, opera6on centers and local
government units in responding to emergencies.

Performance such other functions as may be necessary in performing its

functions asa health emergency response division.

d

SEC. 14. Research Institute of Tropical Medicine. - The Center shall absorb all
functions and divisions under the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine pursuant to
Executive Order No. 674 asfollows:

a) To undertake research in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of tropical
diseases of publichealth importance and to produce vaccines forthe control
of vaccine-preventable diseases.

b) To engage and help formulate national health policy and strategy, conduct
research efforts directed towards the development of new diagnostic
techniques as well as effective and efficient trategies for the control of infectious
and/or tropical diseases.

Generally, the Research Institute shall also:


a) Provide high quality tertiary care to both in-patients and out-patients suffering
from tropical diseases included within the scope of the Institute's research
activities.

b) Undertake research activities in the diagnosis, control and prevention of
tropical diseases that are major causes of mortality and morbidity in the
Philippines.

c) Develop cost effective strategies for the control of infectious/tropical diseases.

d) Conduct clinical trials according to accepted Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
guidelines, aimed at better understanding and control of tropical diseases.

e) Conduct regulartraining courses for medical and paramedical personnel in the
control of common tropical diseases in the country

f) Participate in the technical cooperation programs with foreign government in

ss in the diagnosis, control and prevention of tropicaldiseases.

CHAPTER III
REGULATIONS TO CONTROL COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Sec. 15. Promulgation and enforcement by the Secretary of Health. The
Secretary of Health upon the recommendation of the Executive Director, is authorized
to make and enforce such regulations as in his/her judgment are necessary to prevent
the introduction, transmission, or spread of communicable diseases from foreign
countries into the Philippines or its territory. For purposes of carrying out and enforcing
such regulations, the Secretary of Health, or the Executive Director upon delegation
by the Secretary of Health, may provide for such inspection, fumigation, disinfection,
sanitation, pest extermination, destruction of animals or articles found to be so infected
or contaminated as to be sources of dangerous infection to human beings, and other
measures, as in his/her judgment may be necessary.

Sec. 16. Apprehension, detention, or conditional release of individuals.
Regulations prescribed under this Chapter shall not provide for the apprehension,
detention, or conditional release of individuals except for the purpose of preventing the
introduction, trans mission, or spread of such communicable diseases as may be
specified from time to time in Executive orders of the President upon the
recommendation of the Secretary of Health and/or the Executive Director.

Sec. 17. Application of regulations to persons entering from foreign countries.
Except as specifically provided by aw, regulation prescribed under this section, insofar
as they provide for the apprehension, detention, examination, or conditional release of
individuals, shall be applicable only to individuals coming into Philippine territory from
a foreign country or a possession.

Sec. 18. Apprehension and examination of persons reasonably believed to
be infected.

(1) Regulations prescribed under this Chapter may provide for the apprehension and
examination of any individual reasonably believed to be infected with a communicable
disease in a qualifying stage and (A) to be moving or about to move within the
Philippines; or (B) to be a probable source of infection to individuals who, while infected


with such disease in a qualifying stage, will be moving within the Philippines. Such
regulations may provide that if upon examination any such individual is found to be
infected, he may be detained forsuch time and in such manner as may be reasonably
necessary.

(2)For purposes of this Section, the term "qualifying stage", with respect to a
communicable disease, means that such disease- (A) is in a communicable stage; or
(B) is in a precommunicable stage, if the disease would be likely to cause a public
health emergency if transmitted to otherindividuals

Sec. 19. Suspension of entries and imports from designated places to prevent
spread of communicable diseases. Whenever the Executive Director determines
that by reason of the existence of any communicable disease in a foreign country there
is serious danger of the introduction of such disease into the Philippines, and that this
danger is so increased by the introduction of persons or property from such country that
a suspension of the right to introduce such persons and property is required in the
interest of the public health, the Secretary of health, upon the recommendation of the
Executive Director, in accordance with regulations approved by the President shall have
the power to prohibit, in whole or in part, the introduction of persons and property from
such countries or places as he shall designate in order to avert such danger, and for
such period of time as he may deem necessary for such purpose.

Sec. 20. Special quarantine powers ill time of war. To protect the military and naval
forces and war workers of the Philippines, in time of war, against any communicable
disease, the President, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and the Executive
Director, is authorized to provide by regulations for the apprehension and examination,
in time of war, of any individual reasonably believed (1) to be infected with such disease
and (2) to be a probable source of infection to members of the armed forces of the
Philippines or to individuals engaged in the production or transportation of arms,
munitions, ships, food, clothing, or other supplies for the armed forces. Such
regulations may provide that if upon examination any such individual is found to
be so infected, he may be detained for such time and in such manner as may be
reasonably necessary.

Sec. 21. Quarantine regulations governing civil air navigation and civil
aircraft. The Executive Director and the Secretary of Health are jointly authorized
to provide by regulations for the application to air navigation and aircraft of any of
the provisions of sections 12 and 13 of this Act and regulations prescribed
thereunder (including penalties and forfeitures for violations of such sections and
regulations), to such extent and upon such conditions as they deem necessary
for the safeguarding of the public health.

Sec. 22 Penalties. Any person who violates any regulation prescribed under this
Chapter, or who enters or departs from the limits of any quarantine station,
ground, or anchorage in disregard of quarantine rules and regulations or without
permission of the quarantine officer in charge, shall be punished by a fine of not
more than Five Million Pesos (Php5,000.000.00) or by imprisonment for not more
than two years, or both.


Sec. 23. Administration of oaths by quarantine officers. Medical officers,
when performing duties as quarantine officers at any port or place within the
Philippines, are authorized to take declarations and administer oaths in matters
pertaining to the administration of the quarantine Jaws and regulations of the
Philippines.

CHAPTE IV
MANAGEMENT OF SUDDEN ON SET HEALTH EMERGENCIES

Sec. 24. Health Emergency Coordination Council (HEC). - There shall be
created a Health Emergency Coordinating Council (HECC), hereinafter referred
to as the Council, composed of the following:

. Secretary of Health as Chairperson;
. The Executive Secretary as Co-Chairperson;
. The Executive Director of the CDCP as Secretary;
The Secretary of Foreign Affairs as Member;
. The Secretary of National Defense as NDRRMC Chairman as
Member;
The Secretary of Interior and Local Government as Member;
. The Secretary of Justice as Member;
. The Secretary of Budget and Management as Member;
. The Secretary of Trade and Industry as Member;
The Secretary of Agriculture as Member;
. The Press Secretary as Member,
The National Security Adviser as Member.
The Chairman of the Philippine Red Cross as Member;
. The Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Health Research
and Development as Member; and
©. The President of PhilHealth as Member.
Other government agencies not under the authority or jurisdiction of the standing
members of the Council may be included should their inclusion be determined by
the Council as necessary.

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The Center shall act as Secretariat of the HECC.

The HECC shall meet at least once every quarter, and shall meet as often as
recommended by the Executive Director. Upon the motion of the Executive
Director, it shall be the duty of the HECC to declare a state of health emergency
upon a vote of the majority of its members. Only the council may declare a state
of health emergency which may be national, or local as defined.

SEC. 25. Authorization to use calamity funds. The declaration of a state of health
emergency shall serve as an authorization for covered local government units
(LGUs) to use their calamity funds in a manner duly consulted with the CDC.

SEC. 26 Sudden Onset Health Emergency Management Plan. - A Sudden
Onset Health Emergency Management Plan (SORE.MP) shall be formulated by


the Council, as supported by the CDC, within six (6) months after the effectivity
of this Act. The SOHEMP shall serve as the framework for the government's
response to any public health emergency. It shall set out goals and specific
objectives to detect, prevent the spread, contain and manage public health
emergencies resulting from an outbreak of highly contagious and/or infectious
diseases, and biological or biochemical disaster.

SEC. 27. Emergency Powers during a sudden onset health outbreak. - The
council may certify to the existence of a state of health emergency during a
sudden onset health outbreak. The basis for such a declaration shall be made
public by the Council through the mass and social media and a written report shall
be submitted to both Houses of Congress. The declaration shall take effect for a
period of sixty (60) days, unless extended or terminated earlier by the President,
upon recommendation by the Secretary of Health.

SEC. 28 Health Care Facilities and Services During a Sudden Onset Health
Outbreak. - During the period of a Sudden Onset Health Outbreak, the Council
may, within reasonable and necessary grounds for emergency response to a
public health emergency, require privately- owned health care facilities to provide
services or the use of theirfacilities.

SEC. 29. Dangerous Facilities and Materials. - During the State of Health
Emergency, the Council may exercise, in coordination with national government
agencies, local governments, and other organizations responsible for the
implementation of the SOHEMP, the following powers over facilities or materials
that may be considered dangerous due to contamination or exposure to chemical,
nuclear or biological agents or infectious disease pathogen,

To close, direct and compel the evacuation of, or to decontaminate or cause to be
decontaminated, any facility of which there is reasonable cause to believe that it
may endanger the public health; and

To decontaminate or cause to be decontaminated, any material of which there is
reasonable cause to believe that it may endanger the public health.

SEC. 30. Control of Pharmaceutical Agents or Medical Supplies. - After the
declaration of a State of Public Health Emergency, the Council may authorize
concermed agencies to purchase, store or distribute anti-toxins, serums, vaccine,
immunizing agents, antibiotics, and other pharmaceutical agents or medical
supplies that it considers advisable in the interest of preparing for or controlling a
public health emergency, with the right to take immediate possession thereof.

ifa State of Public Health Emergency results in a nationwide or regional shortage
or threatened shortage of any product covered by the preceding paragraph, the
Council may control, restrict, and regulate by rationing and using quotas,
prohibitions on shipments, price fixing, allocation or other means, the use, sale,


trading, distribution, or transportation of the relevant product necessary to protect
the health, safety, and welfare of thepeople.

SEC.

31. Sudden Onset Health Hazards and Emergencies Management

Service. There shall be created, within the CDC, a Sudden Onset Health Hazards
and Emergencies Management Service (SOHHEMS), under the DEMB, which
shall perform the following functions:

SEC.

a. Oversee on-the-ground operations of the CDC in the event of a public
health emergency;

b. Assess and improve the readiness of health facilities for a public health
emergency;

c. Develop a National Epidemic and Rapid Onset Emergency Response
plan, and assist local governments in fonnula6ng their local public health
emergency response plans;

d. Capacitate government instrumentalities and private organizations in
‘on-the-ground response to public health emergencies;

e. Coordinate the logistical requirements of delivering national government
assistance to local governments in case of a public health emergency;

f. Operate a national health emergency hotline;

g. Serve as a central receiving center for relevant information during a
health emergency;

h. Oversee the National Health Emergency Response Unit (NHERU);

i. Perform such other functions as may be delegated by the Secretary of
Health, or as may be needed to perform its role as the coordination body
for ground operations during a public health emergency.

32. National Health Emergency Response Unit There shall be created a

National Health Emergency Response Unit to perform the following functions:

a.

Execute, in coordination with relevant law enforcement authorities, orders
for seizure, surveillance, search, and disposal issued by the President, the
Secretary of Health, the C DC, or the HECC;

. Act as the first-response unit of the SOHHEMS during a public health

emergency;

. Conduct investigative and intelligence gathering activities as ordered by the

CDC or by the Secretary of Health;

. Verify reports of cases of serious infectious diseases, the presence of

serious amounts of biohazards; and such other reports whose verification
is in the interest of protecting public health;

Perform such other functions as may be inherent in its role as the first-
response unit of the PHEMS, or as may be assigned by the Secretary of
Health and/or the CDC Executive Director.

Due to the nature of their duties, frontline personnel of the NHERU shall be entitled
to hazard pay. The Department of Budget and Management shall formulate and
promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this
paragraph.


SEC. 33. Right to information during a sudden onset health outbreak - The
Secretary of Health shall make publicly available information which he/she deems
essential to preserving the health and safety of the public. During a sudden onset
health outbreak, the right to vital information shall take precedence over the right
to privacy.

SEC. 34. Special supervision over the Bureau of Quarantine - During a sudden
onset health outbreak, or as may be mandated by the Secretary of Health in the
interest of preventing an outbreak, the Bureau of Quarantine shall report directly to
the Executive Director of the CDC. The Bureau of Quarantine shall at all times practice
full transparency with the Executive Director of the CDC. The CDC shall have full
access to information in the possession of the Bureau of Quarantine.

SEC. 35 Safe disposal of infectious waste. The CDC may exercise, for such
period as the state of public health emergency exists, the following powers
regarding the safe disposal of infectious waste —

a. Adopt measures. To adopt and enforce measures to provide for the safe
disposal of infectious waste as may be reasonable and necessary to
respond to the public health emergency. Such measures may include, but
arenot limited to, the collection, storage, handling, destruction, treatment,
transportation and disposal of infectious waste.

b. Control of facilities. To require any business or facility authorized to collect,
store, handle, destroy, treat, transport, and dispose of infectious waste
under the law, and any landfill business or other such property, to accept
infectious waste, or provide services or the use of thebusiness, facility, or
property ifsuch action is reasonable and necessary to respond to the public
health emergency as a condition of licensure, authorization, or the ability
to continue doing business in the country as such a business or facility.
The use of the business, facility, or property may include transferring the
management and supervision of such business, facility, or property to the
CDC for a limited or unlimited period of time, but shall not exceed the
termination of the declaration of a state of public health emergency.

c. Use of facilities. To procure, by condemnation or otherwise, any business or
facility authorized to collect, store, handle, destroy, treat, transport, and
dispose of infectious waste under the laws of the country and any landfill
business or other such property as may be reasonable and necessary to
respond to the public health emergency, with the right to take immediate
possession thereof.

d. Identification. All bags, boxes, or other containers for infectious waste shall
beclearly identified as containing infectious waste, and if known, the type of
infectious waste.

SEC. 36. Safe disposal of human remains. The CDC may exercise, for such period
as the state of public health emergency exists, the following powers regarding the safe
disposal of human remains—
a. Adopt measures. To adopt and enforce measures to provide for the safe
disposal of human remains as may be reasonable and necessary to respond


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SEC.

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to the public health emergency. Such measures may include, but are not
limited to, the embalming, burial, cremation, interment, disinterment,
transportation, and disposal of human remains.

. Possession. To take possession or control of any human remains.

Disposal. To order the disposal of any human remains of a person who has
died of a contagious disease through burial or cremation within twenty-four
(24) hours after death. To the extent possible, religious, cultural, family, and
individual beliefs of the deceased person or his or her family shall be
considered when disposing of any human remains.

|. Control of facilities to require any business or facility authorized to embalm,

bury, cremate, inter, disinter, transport, and dispose of human remains under
the laws of the country to accept any human remains or provide the use of its
business or facility if such actions are reasonable and necessary to respond to
the public health emergency as a condition licensure, authorization, or the
ability to continue doing business in the country as such a business or facility.
The use of the business or facility may include transferring the management
and supervision of such business or facility to the CDC for a limited or unlimited
period of time, but shall not exceed the termination of the declaration of a state
of publichealth emergency.

. Use of facilities. To procure, by condemnation or otherwise, any business or

facility authorized to embalm, bury, cremate, inter, disinter, transport, and
dispose of human remains under the laws of the Philippines as may be
reasonable and necessary to respond to the public health emergency, with the
right to take immediate possession thereof.

Labeling. Every human remains prior to disposal shall be clearly labeled
with all available information to identify the decedent and the circumstances of
death. Any human remains of a deceased person with a contagious disease
shall have an external, clearly visible tag indicating that the human remains is
infected and, if known, the contagious disease.

Identification. Every personin charge of disposing ofany human remains shall
maintain a written or electronic record of each human remains and all
available information to identify the decedent and the circumstances of
death and disposal. If human remains cannot be identified prior to disposal,
a qualified person shall, to the extent possible, take fingerprints and
photographs of the human remains, obtain identifying dental in formation,
and collect a DNA specimen Alll information gathered under this paragraph
shall be promptly forwarded to the CDC.

37 Other powers of control of health care supplies.
Procurement. The CDC may purchase and distribute antitoxins, serums,
vaccines, immunizing agents, antibiotics, and other pharmaceutical agents or
medical supplies that it deems advisable in the interest of preparing for or
controlling a public health emergency, without any additional legislative
authorization.

Rationing. If a state of public health emergency results in a national or
regional shortage or threatened shortage of any product under (a),
whether or not such product has been purchased by the public health


authority, the CDC may control, restrict, and regulate by rationing and
using quotas, prohibitions on shipments, allocation, or other means, the
use, sale, dispensing, distribution, or transportation of the relevant
product necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the
people.

c. Priority. In making rationing or other supply and distribution decisions, the
CDC may give preference to health care providers, disaster response
personnel, and mortuary staff.

d. Distribution. During a state of public health emergency, the CDC may
procure, store, or distribute any anti-toxins, serums, vaccines, immunizing
agents, antibiotics, and other pharmaceutical agents or medical supplies
located within the country as may be reasonable and necessary to respond
to the public health emergency, with the right to take immediate possession
thereof If a public health emergency simultaneously affects
more than one state, nothing in this Section shall be construed to allow the
public health authority to obtain anti-toxins, serums, vaccines, immunizing
agents, antibiotics, and other pharmaceutical agents or medical supplies
for the primary purpose of hoarding such items or preventing their fair and
equitable distribution among affected countries.

SEC. 38. Vaccination and treatment. During a state of public health emergency, or
a state of sudden onset health outbreak, the CDC may exercise the following
emergency powers over persons as necessary to address the public health
emergency:

a. Vaccination. To vaccinate persons as protection against infectious
disease and to prevent the spread of contagious or possibly contagious
disease. (1) Vaccination may be performed by any qualified person
authorized to do so by the CDC. (2) A vaccine to be administered must
not be such as is reasonably likely to lead to serious harm to the affected
individual. (3) To prevent the spread of contagious or possibly contagious
disease the CDC may isolate or quarantine, pursuant to the provisions of
this Act, persons who are unable or unwilling for reasons of health,
religion, or conscience to undergo vaccination pursuant to this Section.
Treatment. To treat persons exposed to or infected with disease. (1)
Treatment may be administered by any qualified person authorized to do
so by the CDC or DOH. (2) Treatment must not be such as is reasonably
likely to lead to serious harm to the affected individual. (3) To prevent the
spread of contagious or possibly contagious disease the public health
authority may isolate or quarantine, persons who are unable or unwilling
for reasons of health, religion, or conscience to undergo treatment
pursuant to this Section.

CHAPTER V
TRACKING OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES

SEC. 39. Reporting.
a. Illness or health condition. A health care provider, medico-legal, or


medical examiner shall report all cases of persons who harbor any illness
or health condition that may be potential causes of a public health
emergency, including emerging and re-emerging infections.

b. Pharmacists. 1n addition to the foregoing requirements for health care
providers, a pharmacist shall report any unusual or increased prescription
rates, unusual types of prescriptions, or unusual trends in pharmacy visits
that may be potential causes of a public health emergency. Prescription-
related events that require a report include, but are not limited to-- (1) an
unusual increase in the number of prescriptions or over- the-counter
pharmaceuticals to treat conditions that the CDC identifies through
regulations; (2) an unusual increase in the number of prescriptions for
antibiotics; and (3) any prescription that treats a disease that is relatively
uncommon or may be associated with bioterrorism.

c. Manner of reporting. The report shall be made electronically or in -writing
within twenty-four (24) to the Department of Health or through the CDC.
The report shall include as much of the following information as is
available: the specific illness or health condition that is the subject of the
report; the patient's name, date of birth, sex, race, occupation, and current
home and work addresses (including city and province); the name and
address of thehealth care provider, coroner, ormedical examiner and of the
reporting individual, if different; and any other information needed to locate
the patient for follow-up. For cases related to animal or insect bites, the
suspected locating information of the biting animal or insect, and the name
and address of any known owner, shall be reported.

d. Animal diseases. Every veterinarian, livestock owner, veterinary
diagnostic laboratory director, or other person having the care of animals
shall report animals having or suspected of having any diseases that may
be potential causes of a public health emergency. Thereportshallbe made
electronically or in writing within twenty- four (24) hours to the DOH or the
CDC and shall include as much of the following information as is available:
the specific illness or health condition that is the subject of the report; the
suspected locating information of the animal, the name and address of any
known owner, and the name and address of the reporting individual.

e. Laboratories. For the purposes of this Section, the definition of "health
care provider" shall include medical laboratories, provided that such
laboratories have agreed to the reporting requirements of the country.
Results must be reported by the laboratory that performs the test, but a
local laboratory that sends specimens to a laboratory abroad is also
responsible for reporting results.

f. Enforcement. The CDC may enforce the provisions of this Section in
accordance with existing enforcement rules and regulations.

SEC. 40. Tracking. The CDC shall ascertain the existence of cases of an illness or
health condition that may be potential causes of a public health emergency;
investigate all such cases for sources of infection and to ensure that they are subject
to proper control measures; and define the distribution of the illness or health
condition. To fulfill these duties, the CDC shall identify exposed individuals as follows-


a. Identification of individuals. Acting on information developed in accordance
with Section 34 of this Act, or other reliable information, the CDC shall identify
all individuals thought to have been exposed to an illness or health condition
that may be a potential cause of a public health emergency.

b. Interviewing of individuals. The CDC shall counsel and interview such
individuals where needed to assist in the positive identification of exposed
individuals and develop information relating to the source and spread of the
illness or health condition. Such information includes the name and address
(including city and province) of any person from whom the illness or health
condition may have been contracted and to whom the illness or health condition
may have spread.

c. Examination offaciliies or materials. The CDC shall, forexamination purposes,
close, evacuate, or decontaminate any facility or decontaminate or destroy any
material when the authority reasonably suspects that such facility or material
may endanger the public health

d, Enforcement. The CDC may enforce the provisions of this Section in
accordance with existing enforcement rules and regulations. An order of the
CDC given to effectuate the purposes of this Section shall be enforceable
immediately.

SEC. 41. Information sharing.

a. Whenever the CDC or other government agency leams of a case of a
reportable illness or health condition, an unusual cluster, ora suspicious event
that may be the cause of a publichealth emergency, it shalll immediately notify
the SOHECC andits members.

b. Whenever the CDC learns of a case of a reportable illness or health condition,
an unusual cluster, or a suspicious event that it reasonably believes has the
potential to be caused by bioterrorism, it shall immediately notify public safety
authorities.

c. Sharing of information on reportable illnesses, health conditions, unusual
clusters, or suspicious events between publichealth and safety authorities shall
be restricted to the information necessary for the treatment, control,
investigation, and prevention of a public health emergency.

SEC. 42. Intergovernmental information sharing. The Secretary of Foreign
Affairs and the Secretary of Health are jointly mandated to review and recommend
to the SOHECC multilateral and bilateral agreements which the country may adopt
to strengthen its information-sharing mechanisms with other countries.

CHAPTER VI
OTHER PROVISIONS

Sec. 43. Congressional Oversight Committee on Communicable Disease
Control and Prevention - To monitor the implementation of this Act, there shall be
a Congressional Oversight Committee on Communicable Disease Control and
Prevention, composed of the Chairand four other members of the House Committee
on Health, and the Chairandfour other members of the Senate Committee on Health
and Demography. No part of this Act shall be construed as to limit the oversight
powers inherently or actually possessed by the same committees.


Sec. 44, Appropriations. In addition to the appropriations for the units subsumed in
the Center under this Act, there shall be appropriated a sum of Fifty Million Pesos
(Php50,000.000.00) forthe implementation of this Act, including the operations of the
Center. Provided, that such appropriation shall apply only when this Act is passed
before the Center could be given appropriations under the General Appropriations
Act for the nearest upcoming year.


Sec. 45. Staffing. - The Secretary of Health, in consultation with the Department
of Budget and Management (DBM), shall determine the organizational structures
including regional or field offices, qualification standards, staffing pattern and
compensation of the newly created Center in accordance with existing laws, rules
and regulations.

Sec. 46. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Secretary of Health shall
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations within ninety (90) working days
from the effectivity of this Act.

Sec.47. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is
subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which
are not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 48. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive
orders, presidential proclamations, issuances, rules and regulations, or parts
thereof which are contrary to or inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act
are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

Sec. 49. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,