NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. B. NO. 1042
of ll)c ^cirrta
72 AUG -4 P6:24
RECEIVED BY;
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT MANDATING THE STOCKPILING OF PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
On March 7, 2020, the first local transmission of the Coronavirus disease 
(COVID-19) was confirmed by the Department of Health, triggering the 
declaration of a state of public health emergency on March 8, 2020, through 
Proclamation No. 922, and the imposition of the “community quarantine” on 
March 12, 2020, to prevent the further spread of the virus. On March 16, 2020, 
the “enhanced community quarantine” was implemented in the entire Luzon 
area, wherein all persons are required to remain at home, all modes of 
transportation had been suspended, provision of essential goods and services 
are regulated, and uniformed personnel strictly enforced quarantine 
procedures.
The immediate transmission and spreading of the COVID-19 across 
countries led to several concerns, including supply chain bottlenecks and the 
overwhelming of the global production capacity of Personal Protective 
Equipment (PPEs), with production backlogs of up to 4-6 months in fulfilling 
orders.1 In the Philippines, many health workers had to buy their own gloves 
and masks, which supplies are likewise in critical supply levels. Modified PPEs 
were used, such as non-porous knee-length gown made from plastic raincoat, 
ordinary plastic bag as shoe cover, face shield made out of hard plastic with
1 ADB Briefs, Global Shortage of Personal Protective Equipment amid COVlD-19; Supply Chains, 
Bottlenecks, and Policy Implications, April 2020, acc6ssibl6 at
https://www.adb.orq/sites/default/files/publication/579121/ppe-covid-19-supply-chains-bottlenecks-
policv.pdf (date last accessed: August 3, 2022).


garter and foam for added comfort, and garden gloves as final gloves, among 
other initiatives to improvise PPEs.2
While Filipinos are known to be resilient, proactive changes in our 
existing policies should be undertaken to ensure the welfare and protection of 
our citizens, particularly our health workers who are at the forefront of the 
COVID-19 pandemic. To better equip and prepare our healthcare facilities for 
the present and future similar events, the necessity for the PPE Stockpiling Act 
is undeniable.
Under this bill, the DOH is mandated to establish a stockpile that would 
be adequate for healthcare workers and workers in critical industries for a 
period of up to ninety (90) days. All PPEs in the stockpile shall be new, 
unexpired, and not previously worn or used, and the DOH is required to conduct 
inventory management, and shall take into account cenain guidelines in the 
procurement, management, and distribution of PPEs, to ensure that PPE stock 
levels and quality are maintained.
Thus, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATOR JOTL VILLANUEVA|4/
2 ANC, How COVlD-19 frontliners are improvising with personal protection equipment amid lack of supply, 
accessible at httDs://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotliqht/03/17/20^ow-covid-19-frontliners-are: 
improvising-with-personal-protection-eauipment-amid-lack-of-supplies {last accessed August 3, 2022).


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE 
S. B. noI042
% g?enate
' L^fficr of Hi? ^rcvetar|>
*22 AUG -4 P6 *24
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT MANDATING THE STOCKPILING OF PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “PPE 
Stockpiling Act."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the 
State to adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health 
development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other 
social services available to all the people at affordable cost. Towards this end, 
the State shall ensure the availability of, and access to, personal protective 
equipment (PPE) and other critical and strategic materials in times of public 
health emergencies and other emergencies by establishing and mandating a 
stockpiling system that would ensure adequate and immediate supply of these 
materials in times of need.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms 
shall mean:
a)
Workers in Critical Industries refers to workers in critical 
establishments, such as, but not limited to, the following, who are 
exposed to greater danger, contagion, virus, disease, or peril from 
natural calamities, such as volcanic activity/eruption:
(1) Hospitals, sanitaria, rural health units, main health centers, 
health infirmaries, barangay health stations, clinics, 
laboratories, and other health-related establishments;


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(2) 
Morgues and mortuaries;
(3) 
Banks and other financial institutions providing money 
transfer services;
(4) 
Groceries, supermarket, and convenience stores;
(5) 
Public markets;
(6) 
Pharmacies or drugstores, or similar establishments 
authorized to dispense medicines;
(7) 
Restaurants;
(8) 
Logistics and warehouse establishments;
(9) 
Food and medical manufacturing establishments;
(10) Telecommunications companies;
(11) Mass media companies, with respect to their reporters and 
similar personnel in-charge of delivering news;
(12) Electric generation, transmission and distribution companies;
(13) Gasoline stations;
(14) Oil companies, with respect to their tanker drivers;
(15) Water distribution companies, including water delivery and 
refilling stations;
(16) Companies engaged in sanitation, such as garbage 
collectors;
(17) Companies involved in the Philippine capital market, such as 
the Philippine Stock Exchange and Philippine Dealing and 
Exchange Corporation, among others;
(18) Hotels and similar establishments, upon such terms and 
conditions as the appropriate agencies overseeing the 
calamity, disaster or public health emergency prescribe;
(19) Mass public transportation companies;
(20) Civil aviation and maritime transport related companies; and
(21) Such other establishments which may be considered critical 
in light of the nature of the state of calamity or emergency or 
public health concern;
b) 
Health care worker means any worker who provides direct patient 
care and services directly supporting patient care, including, but not 
limited, to physicians, pharmacists, clinicians, nurses, aides, 
technicians, janitorial and housekeeping staff, food services 
workers, and nonmanagerial administrative staff, regardless of 
status of employment; and
c) 
Personal protective equipment or PPE means protective 
equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective 
clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, 
including, but not limited to, N95 and other filtering facepiece 
respirators, elastomeric air-purifying respirators with appropriate 
particulate filters or cartridges, powered air purifying respirators, 
disinfecting and sterilizing devices and supplies, medical gowns 
and apparel, face masks, surgical masks, face shields, gloves, and 
shoe coverings.


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SEC. 4. PPE Stockpile. - The Department of Health (DOH) shall 
establish and maintain a PPE stockpile which would be adequate for all workers 
in critical industries and health care workers for a period of ninety (90) days, 
and upon such guidelines as may be issued by the DOH, in coordination with 
proper government agencies.
As far as practicable, the guidelines for the procurement, management 
and distribution of PPEs shall take into account all of the following:
a) 
The various types of PPE that may be required during a pandemic 
or other health emergency:
b) 
The shelf life of each type of PPE and how to restock a portion of 
each type of PPE to ensure the procurements consist of unexpired 
PPE;
c) 
The amount of each type of PPE that would be required for all 
health care workers and essential workers in the state during a 90- 
day pandemic or other health emergency;
d) 
Lessons learned from previous pandemics and state emergencies, 
including but not limited to, supply procurement, management, and 
distribution;
e) 
Geographical distribution of PPE storage;
f) 
Guidance on how to establish policies and standards for PPE surge 
capacity to ensure that workers have access to an adequate supply 
of PPE during a pandemic or other health emergency;
g) 
How distribution from any procurement shall be prioritized in the 
event that there is insufficient PPE to meet the needs of providers 
or employers of essential workers, including whether the worker or 
hospital concerned is:
1) 
In a location with a high share of low-income residents, or is 
in an underserved area; or
2) 
In a location with a high infection rate or high hospitalization 
rate related to the declared emergency.
Private healthcare facilities shall also be encouraged to establish and 
maintain a PPE stockpile to ensure adequate and accessible supply of PPEs in 
times of national emergency or other public health emergency.
SEC. 5. New and Unexpired PPEs; Inventory Level. - In all cases, all 
PPE in the stockpile shall be new, unexpired and not previously worn or used. 
DOH shall rotate through their stockpiles routinely to ensure that PPEs do not 
expire and are routinely replaced with new PPE.


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In the event that the inventory of a type of PPE dips below the mandated 
level of supplies as a result of the distribution of that type of PPE to health care 
workers and workers in critical industries during a state of emergency, the SOH 
shall, as far as practicable, replenish its inventory to the mandated level within 
30 days. In case of supply crunch or similar circumstances, the DOH shall be 
authorized to enter into negotiated and/or emergency procurement in 
accordance with law.
SEC. 6. Funding. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation 
of this Act shall be sourced from the current budget of the DOH. Thereafter, the 
funds necessary for the continuous implementation of this Act in the ensuing 
years shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the DOH, in consultation with relevant 
government agencies and other stakeholders, shall promulgate the rules and 
regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any provision of this 
Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof 
which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation.
Approved,