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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS ENCISO VIII 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
COVID-19’s highly contagious nature forced to limit the movement of billions of people across 
the globe. It prohibited mass gatherings, face-to-face classes, travels to both domestic and 
international destinations, and even forced the closure of many businesses. Data shows that 
the Philippines have severely suffered from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic – GDP fell 
by 16.9% and unemployment by around 17.7% during the height of the lockdown. 
Towards the last quarter of 2020, a number of vaccines for COVID-19 have been developed 
and approved for emergency use. It is seen as the most effective tool in eradicating the effects 
of the pandemic. As of June 17, 2022, around 70 million people were already fully vaccinated 
against the COVID-19 virus in the Philippines. This includes those who received single-dose 
vaccines.1 
This measure proposes the creation of a Vaccine Passport Program for the country to have 
an effective and efficient COVID-19 vaccination effort. It shall provide an individual’s record of 
COVID-19 vaccinations, including information on the vaccination given, the number of doses 
administered, and other related matters.  
The early preparation for the roll-out of the vaccines allows the government to adequately 
prepare for the administration of its mass vaccination program and recognize the purchase of 
Local Government Units and private businesses.   
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
 MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
NICOLAS ENCISO VIII 
1 Statista. (n.d.). Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination rollout in the Philippines 
2022.https://www.statista.com/statistics/1236727/philippines-coronavirus-covid19-vaccine-rollout/ 
July 18, 2022
5:29 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS ENCISO VIII 
AN ACT CREATING A VACCINE PASSPORT PROGRAM, 
AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in the 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1.  Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Vaccine Passport Program 
Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – The Constitution mandates that the State shall 
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness 
among them. 
The State recognizes the importance of preventive healthcare and the need to 
take proactive measures in the fight against diseases, particularly COVID-19. It 
acknowledges that a comprehensive, mandatory and sustainable immunization 
program for vaccine-preventable diseases is indispensable to achieve the objectives 
of universal healthcare and the country’s commitments to the Sustainable 
Development Goals (SDGs), particularly on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being). A 
Vaccine Passport Program can help facilitate COVID-19 immunization and future 
immunization programs by allowing the State to track who has been vaccinated, which 
groups should be prioritized, and where priority vaccinations should take place. It also 
serves as a means to monitor the vaccines’ effects and the effectivity of immunization 
programs. Towards this end, the State shall adopt and implement a Vaccine Passport 
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Program to facilitate its COVID-19 and future immunization programs against vaccine-
preventable diseases. 
 
SECTION 3. Vaccine Passport Program. – Subject to the provisions of Republic Act 
No. 10173 or the “Data Privacy Act of 2012”, the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force 
for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) shall issue a Vaccine 
Passport to all Filipinos, which shall be a record of the COVID-19 vaccinations 
received by an individual. The Vaccine Passport shall take into account internationally-
recognized standards, and shall contain the following: 
a) Manufacturer, brand name, and batch number or other identifier of the 
COVID-19 vaccine; 
b) Date of vaccination; 
c) Name of the hospital, health center, or health facility where the vaccine 
was received; and 
d) Name, signature and license number of the duly licensed physician, 
nurse or other health worker administering the vaccine. 
 
The Vaccine Passport Program shall primarily be digital, but shall remain accessible 
through other means such as printed passports. The IATF, through the Department of 
Information and Communications Technology, shall develop the digital systems and 
applications that will meet the objectives of the Program while maintaining quality, 
safety, ease of use, and accessibility for all Filipinos. 
 
SECTION 4. Benefits of Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine. – Individuals vaccinated 
against COVID-19 may be granted certain benefits or exemptions, subject to 
guidelines issued by the IATF, which shall be clearly stated in the individual’s Vaccine 
Passport, such as but not limited to: 
 
a) International travel, as may be allowed in foreign jurisdictions; 
b) Non-essential domestic travel; 
c) Local checkpoint and quarantine exemptions; and 
d) Access to business establishments allowed to operate based on IATF 
guidelines. 
 


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Individuals vaccinated against COVID-19 as indicated in the Vaccine Passport shall 
not be considered immune from COVID-19, unless otherwise declared by the DOH 
based on reliable scientific evidence and consensus. 
 
SECTION 5. Adoption of the Vaccine Passport Program for Other Immunization 
Programs. – The Department of Health (DOH) shall adopt the Vaccine Passport 
Program to facilitate other immunization programs, including but not limited to 
mandatory basic immunization as provided by Republic Act No. 10152 or the 
“Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act of 2011”, subject to 
guidelines to be issued by the DOH. 
 
SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within 30 days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the DOH shall promulgate and issue the necessary guidelines 
for the effective implementation of this Act. The implementing rules and regulations 
issued pursuant to this Section shall take effect upon its publication in the Official 
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
SECTION 7. Appropriations. – The funds necessary for the implementation of this Act 
shall be sourced from reallocations of the 2019 and 2020 General Appropriations Act 
for the COVID-19 response. Appropriations for the succeeding years shall be included 
in the annual appropriations of the DOH under the General Appropriations Act. 
 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall not be 
affected thereby. 
 
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. – All other laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
regulations, other issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 10. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,