Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

8280

House Bill No.

Introduced by Hon. RONNIE L. ONG

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Nine months have passed since the country was first placed under community
quarantine due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Since then, the most common restrictions
that have affected the public are restrictions on travels within and outside the country
and on opening and entering business establishments. It cannot be denied that these
largely contributed to the decline of our economy, not to mention the effect to each
one’s mental and emotional health.

Beginning December of this year, various countries have already been leading
the procurement and inoculation of COVID-19 vaccines and have been positively
considering the follow-up implementation of vaccine passports which would incentivize
vaccination and would impose an artificial restriction on who can and cannot travel
within and outside the country and participate in some social, civil, and economic
activities that are currently restricted.

Although the COVID-19 inoculation is still a few months away from entering the
Philippine borders, it is but proper to take further preparations and necessary steps for
the establishment of the vaccine passport system. For one, various private companies
may already purchase vaccines in advance for their own employees in order to help
revive their business operations. In addition, airline companies and other tourism
establishments, which are hardly hit by the pandemic, will benefit from the increase in
domestic and international passengers, especially those with vaccine passports.

When the government also starts to roll out its mass immunization program, our
health workers, contact tracers, other frontline workers, indigent senior citizens,
uniformed personnel, OFWs, and other priority groups will need vaccine passports as
proofs if they are to be exempted from the usual COVID-19 restrictions.

In view of the foregoing, it is our hope that this bill will be considered and
approved before the roll out of the vaccine in 2021 in order to restore people's trust and
confidence to travel with the end view of reviving and bolstering our economy.

R ING
Representative, APPL


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No, 8286

Introduced by Hon. RONNIE L. ONG

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A VACCINE OR IMMUNIZATION PASSPORT FOR
COVID-19 AND OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Vaccine Passport
Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to protect the
health and safety of the public while balancing the right of people to travel, with the end
view of helping the society and economy recover from the effects of COVID-19 and
similar infectious diseases. Toward this end, the government shall endeavor to provide
the necessary protocols, especially the establishment of a Vaccine Passport system, in
view of the upcoming distribution and mass immunization of COVID-19 vaccines and to
pave the way for post-vaccination protocols in similar pandemics in the future.

SEC. 3. Vaccine Passport as Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination. — The Inter-
Agency Task Force (IATF) on COVID-19, particularly the Department of Health (DOH),
Department of Tourism (DOT), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the
Department of Trade and Industry (DT!) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr),
shall coordinate and provide for a single internationally-recognized vaccine passport to
serve as proof that a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19. The same shall
be issued as a matter of right whether or not the person availed of the free vaccination
program of the government or was vaccinated through personal or other means.

The IATF shall also have the power to issue rules and regulations on recognizing
vaccine passports or certificates issued by foreign jurisdictions to holders who wish to
travel to the Philippines.

SEC. 4. Contents of the Vaccine Passport. — For purposes of this Act, the
Vaccine Passport shall be a mobile record or certificate containing the following, among
others:

a) Basic personal information such as full name, present and/or permanent
address. birthdate. aender. etc:


b) Type and Purpose of Vaccine, Batch Number, Date Administered and Person
or Institution that Administered the Vaccine;

c) Other relevant medical information about the person such as his or her
infection history and existing comorbidities.

The information contained in the Vaccine Passport shall be protected at all times
under applicable data privacy laws.

SEC. 5. Use of the Vaccine Passport. — The IATF, in accordance with
evidence-based or internationally-recognized policies, shall list down and regularly
update the exemptions or activities allowed for holders of COVID-19 Vaccine Passport
such as, but not limited to:

a) International and domestic travel, including non-essential travel;

b) Employment abroad;

c) Local checkpoint and quarantine exemptions;

d) Opening of and Access to some business establishments; and

e) Other post-vaccination protocols applicable to Vaccine Passport holders, as
may be determined by the IATF, in relation to rules on public gatherings, use
of face mask and face shield, etc.

In addition to allowing international and domestic travel for COVID-19 Vaccine
Passport holders, the IATF shall also coordinate, especially among airlines and
international and local border authorities, and provide for a contactless app or digital
platform where travelers may input or share their vaccination and other important details
before boarding or entry.

SEC. 6. Vaccination for Other Infectious Diseases. — Nothing in this Act
prohibits the IATF to utilize the Vaccine Passport system to also serve as proof for
vaccination or immunization for other infectious diseases in line with existing or future
epidemics, especially those affecting international and domestic travel.

SEC. 7. Penalties.

a) The penalties in cases of forgery, improper use, multiple possessions, false
statements, and issuances, as provided for under Republic Act No. 8239 or
the Passport Act of 1996, as amended, shall be used accordingly for
violations committed under this Act, without prejudice to other liabilities that
may arise under other laws, rules and regulations.

All individuals involved in the issuance of a fake Vaccine Passport shall be
penalized under this provision.

b) The IATF may deny a vaccine passport application, or revoke an already
issued one, subject to the rules it may provide.

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from
the affactivity of thie Act the IAT narticularly the RAH NAT AFA ATI and NATr in


coordination with other concerned public and private stakeholders, shall promulgate the
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 9. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the initial implementation
of this Act shall be charged against the existing appropriations for the government's
COVID-19 response. Thereafter, the amount needed for the full implementation of this
Act shalll be included under the General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause. — Should any provision herein be declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Act.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations
or other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation in
the Philippines.

Approved,