NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 600
of tl)p
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RECEIVED BV:
Introduced by SENATOR JUAN MIGUEL "MIGZ" F. ZUBIRI
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY 
PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE CAPABILITIES, ESTABLISHING FOR THIS 
PURPOSE THE CENTER FOR DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The COVID-19 virus triggered an unprecedented global health crisis from which 
the Philippines was not spared. Largely unprepared for the pandemic, the country faced 
major challenges across various sectors: hospitals and health workers were overburdened 
and left unable to keep up with the massive numbers of critical cases; schools were forced 
to convert to a remote-learning setup that not all families had the capability to support; 
and businesses large and small were downsized or completely shuttered, causing a rise 
in unemployment and poverty.
The pandemic has revealed to us the structural gaps in our government institutions 
that we now need to address, with the hard-won lessons of hindsight. Accordingly, this 
bill proposes the establishment of the Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and 
Control (CDC), to lead the country's efforts in forecasting, preventing, monitoring, and 
controlling diseases.
With the CDC, the Department of Health (DOH) will have an arm dedicated solely 
to disease control, which is highly necessary, as the globe continues to grow more 
connected, and thus more susceptible to another global plague.
The CDC will be dedicated to spearheading our research and development for 
communicable and non-communicable diseases; improving the operational capacity of 
our health laboratories and facilities; developing and managing effective communications 
and response systems; and providing capacity building and technical assistance to local 
governments, among others.
To centralize and strengthen the country's disease prevention efforts, the DOH 
shall also transfer some of its units and divisions over to the CDC, namely the 
Epidemiology Bureau, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, and the Sexually 
Transmitted Disease - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Cooperative Central 
Laboratory, as well as some functions of the International Health Surveillance Division of 
the Bureau of Quarantine.


Additionally, the CDC will also have Regional Centers for Disease Prevention and 
Control, to intensify protective and containment measures at the regional level, and 
ensure that diseases within our own borders and our own communities are properly 
managed and cut down at the root.
In less than three years since COVID hit our shores, the virus has claimed over 
sixty thousand lives in the country. This bill is our move to protect the health and the life 
of every Filipino, and to ensure that no pandemic ever manages to result in such 
devastating numbers again.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is requested.
IGUEL F. ZUBIRI


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 600
Peltate
of tl)e
*22 JUL 14 PI 51
\
RECElVhD BY,__
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY 
PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE CAPABILITIES, ESTABLISHING FOR THIS 
PURPOSE THE CENTER FOR DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in 
Congress assembied:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act hall be known as the "Philippine Center for 
Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) Act."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and 
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. 
The State also mandates the adoption of an integrated and comprehensive approach to 
health development.
Towards this end, the State shall give high priority to the allocation of material and 
institutional resources to protect public health by ensuring that the Philippine health 
system is well-prepared to forecast, prevent, monitor, and control diseases, injuries and 
disabilities both of national and international concern.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
(a) Communicabie disease, also known as contagious disease, refers to 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. It spreads 
through direct, bodily contact with an infected person, their discharges, or an 
object or surface they have contaminated;
(b) Disease refers to an illness due to a specific toxic substances, occupational 
exposure or infectious agent, which affects a susceptible individual, either


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directly or indirectly, from an infected animal or person, or indirectly through 
an intermediate host, vector or the environment;
(c) Disease surveillance refers to a systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, 
and dissemination of outcome and 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 disease 
prevention and control activities;
(d) Epidemic or 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;
(e) Infectious disease refers to a clinically manifested disease of humans or animals 
resulting from an infection which can be communicable or non-communicable;
(f) Public health emergency refers to an occurrence or imminent threat of an 
illness or health condition that:
(1) Is caused by the following:
(i) 
Bio terrorism;
(ii) 
Appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicated 
infectious agent or biological toxin;
(iii) 
A natural disaster;
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A chemical attack or accidental release;
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A nuclear attack or accident; or
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An attack or accidental release of radioactive materials; and
(2) Poses a high probability of any of the following;
(i) 
A large number of deaths in the affected population;
(ii) 
A large number of serious injuries or long-term disabilities in the 
affected population;
(iii) 
Widespread exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a 
significant risk of substantial harm to a large number of people in the 
affected population;
(iv) 
International exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a 
significant risk to the health of citizen of other countries; or
(v) 
Trade and travel restrictions
(g) Quarantine refers to 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


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contagious disease, from non-quarantined individuals, to prevent or limit the
transmission of the disease.
SEC. 4. Creation of the Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and 
Control. -The Philippine Center for Disease and Prevention and Control (CDC) is hereby 
created as an attached agency to the Department of Health (DOH) for policy and program 
coordination.
SEC. 5. Powers, Functions and Duties. - The CDC shall be the technical 
authority on all matters regarding disease prevention and control. To carry out the 
provisions of this Act, the CDC shall have the following powers, functions and duties:
(a) Policy and Standards Development:
(1) Provide technical guidance to the development of policies, programs, 
standards, guidelines, and monitoring and evaluation systems on the 
forecasting, prevention, monitoring, and control of diseases, injuries, and 
disabilities both of national and international concern;
(2) Set the standards and the process for the establishment of Epidemiology 
and Surveillance Units or it corresponding surveillance reporting units, 
pursuant to law;
(3) Provide quality assurance programs to ensure the quality of testing for 
laboratories;
(4) Conduct researches for development in support of the CDC mandate to 
forecast, prevent, monitor, and control diseases, injuries and disabilities 
both of national and international concern; and
(5) Recommend to the President, through the DOH Secretary, the declaration 
of a state of public health emergency, in case of an epidemic of national or 
international concern; and
(6) Set the parameters for the declaration of the existence as well as the end 
of an epidemic.
(b) Capacity Building and Technical Assistance:
(1) Develop, implement, and maintain training programs on specialized fields 
such as field epidemiology, health emergency of biological concern, 
laboratory services, infectious and tropical diseases, and non-communicable 
diseases;


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(2) Assess and support the capabilities of health facilities and local government 
units (LGUs) on forecasting, preventing, monitoring, and controlling 
diseases, injuries, and disabilities both of national and international 
concern; and,
(3) Provide technical assistance and expert services to DOH offices, and 
collaborating and implementing agencies or offices on matters pertaining to 
forecasting, preventing, monitoring, and controlling diseases, injuries, and 
disabilities both of national and international concern.
(c) Sectoral and Local Engagements:
(1) Promote coordination and collaboration with partner agencies and 
organizations on matters pertaining to CDC mandate;
(2) Coordinate, collaborate, and disseminate reievant scientific and technical 
information in a timely manner with partner agencies and international and 
local organizations on matters pertaining to CDC mandate; and,
(3) Disseminate relevant scientific and technical information in a timely manner 
with partner agencies, and international and local organizations on matters 
pertaining to CDC mandate.
(d) Surveillance:
(1) Develop, implement, and maintain an integrated surveillance system of 
diseases, injuries and disabiiities;
(2) Provide technicai guidance on the deveiopment, implementation and 
maintenance, and monitoring of health system capacity such as operationai 
capacities of health facilities, and performance management of the 
response systems, in terms of contact tracing, quarantine, isolation, and 
other significant popuiation-based heaith services;
(3) Investigate and respond through surveillance and disease notification, 
investigation, and conduct of field studies and research to outbreaks, 
epidemics, and other public health threats as the need arises;
(4) Develop and maintain a network of public health laboratories in support of 
epidemiology and surveillance activities;
(5) Facilitate the issuance of appropriate warnings to the regional CDC and 
health facilities in anticipation of impending pubiic health threats and 
infectious disease outbreak;
(6) Utilize various information and communication technologies (ICT) in 
management of data and dissemination of early warning and other 
appropriate information to stakeholders and the public; and.


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(7) Develop communication methods for wider and more effective and unified 
delivery of critical public health information with national or international 
Importance.
(e) Provide technical guidance on the procurement of vaccines, drugs, and 
diagnostics;
(f) Provide technical guidance on the monitoring and evaluation framework for 
disease prevention and control;
(g) Certify the existence of an epidemic which shall be treated as a public health 
emergency and,
(h) Perform such other functions as may be mandated by law, or as may be duly 
delegated by relevant authorities.
SEC. 6. Director General. - The CDC shall be headed by a Director General 
with a rank of Undersecretary, who shall be assisted by two (2) Deputy Directors General 
with a rank of Assistant Secretary. The Director General and the Deputy Directors General 
shall be appointed by the President from a list of at least three (3) nominees for each 
position to be submitted by the DOH Secretary. The Director General and Deputy 
Directors General shall have at least ten (10) years of relevant experience and proven 
expertise in the fields of public health and epidemiology.
The Director General shall have the following powers and functions:
(a) Manage and direct the activities and functions of the CDC;
(b) Advise the DOH Secretary on policy matters concerning the Center's activities;
(c) Recommend to the President, through the DOH Secretary, the exercise of special 
powers in case of an epidemic, including the declaration of a public health 
emergency;
(d) Act as the national International Health Regulations Focal Point, subject to 
consultation with DOH; and,
(e) Perform other functions and powers that may be assigned by the DOH Secretary.
SEC. 7. Transfer of DOH Units and Functions. -The following DOH units and 
their concerned divisions and functions are hereby transferred to the CDC:
(a) Epidemiology Bureau;
(b) Research Institute for Tropical Medicine;
(c) Sexually Transmitted Disease - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome 
Cooperative Central Laboratory;


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(d) Select functions of the International Health Surveillance Division of the Bureau of 
Quarantine as follows:
(1) Passive international health surveillance; and
(2) Development of communication methods for wider and more effective delivery 
of critical public health information with international Importance; and
(e) Technical and standard setting functions of the Disease Prevention and Control 
Bureau including that of the Mental Health Division, Cancer Division and Oral 
Health Division.
All powers, functions, assets, capital, records, funds, receivables, equipment and 
facilities of the transferred DOH units or its division or function enumerated herein 
shall be transferred to the CDC. The Department of Health shall conduct an audit and 
inventory of assets, liabilities and human resources of the transferred agencies to CDC 
without need of conveyance or transfer of assignments.
SEC. 8. Regional Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. -There shall 
be established Regional Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (RCDCs) in all regions 
of the country. Each Regional CDC shall be headed by a Regional Director, who shall be 
under the supervision of the CDC Director General.
The functions of RCDCs include:
(a) Prevention, control, and surveillance of diseases;
(b) Provision of laboratory services for detection and identification of infectious 
disease agents from human, environmental samples, and food;
(c) Maintenance of an integrated data management system;
(d) Implementation of quality assurance programs for clinical and environmental 
laboratories through training, consultation, certification, and proficiency 
testing;
(e) Policy development;
(f) Emergency response;
(g) Public health-related research;
(h) Training and education;
(i) Maintenance of infectious disease hospitals for referral and management of 
cases;
(j) Establishment of strong communication networks; and,
(k) Other functions that may be assigned by the Director General.


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The RCDCs shall be composed of specialists in the fields of infectious diseases, public 
health, epidemiology and similar fields.
SEC. 9. Structure and Staffing Pattern. -
(a) The CDC shall initially have the following offices, each to be headed by an 
officer with the salary and rank of Director IV:
(1) Center for Epidemic Intelligence and Disease Surveillance;
(2) Center for Research, Training, and Reference Laboratory;
(3) Center for Infectious Disease Emergency Preparedness and Response:
(4) Center for Policy and Program Development;
(5) Communications Office; and
(6) Administrative and Finance Office.
(b) The CDC Director General, subject to the issuance of an executive order by the 
President and approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), 
may create or abolish units, offices, or centers as needed to carry out all 
provisions of this Act,
(c) The CDC Director General, in consultation with the DOH and the DBM shall:
(1) Develop the organization structure of the CDC at the national, regional, and 
local levels;
(2) Determine the divisions and specific functions of each unit, center or office 
of the CDC; and
(3) Determine the staffing pattern, qualification standards, compensation, and 
position classification plan for the CDC subject to the approval of the Civil 
Service Commission (CSC) and the DBM.
SEC. 10. Qualifications Standards for Appointment and Promotion.-The 
DOH shall, in consultation with the CSC, and pertinent agencies as may be necessary, 
develop the qualification standards in terms of education, training and experience for all 
technical and non-technical positions in the CDC, and the system for promotional and 
succession plan in the CDC.
SEC. 11. Continuing Competency Development Program. The CDC shall, 
through the Director General, devise and implement a continuing competency 
development program whereby all core personnel shall be required to update and enrich 
competencies through attendance in programs, studies, researches, fellowships, 
workshops, seminars, including training opportunities in reputable foreign CDCs.


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Compliance with the Continuing Competency Development Program shall be mandatory
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basis for promotion within the CDC. The CDC shall develop mechanisms to tap funding
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opportunities to implement its Continuing Competency Development Program.
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SEC. 12. Modernization Program. -The Director General shall, in consultation
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with the DOH and other concerned agencies of government and the private sector,
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develop a modernization program that will strengthen the human health resource of the
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CDC, which is the key component of the country's disease prevention and control policy.
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The modernization program shall include the acquisition and upgrading of appropriate
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technologies, laboratories, facilities, equipment, other needed resources, and the needed
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relocation and acquisition of additional land or location that would house the CDC.
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Within one hundred eighty (180) days after the effectivity of this Act, the Director
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General shall, upon the recommendation of the DOH and DBM Secretaries, submit the
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modernization program for the consideration and approval of Congress in a joint
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resolution of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
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The modernization program shall be implemented over a period of five (5) years.
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Appropriations for the modernization program shall be provided in the annual
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General Appropriation Act (GAA).
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SEC. 13. Strengthened Epidemiology/ Public Health Surveillance, and
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Research Capacities. - To ensure that epidemiology and public health surveillance
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services are efficient and responsive, and public health surveillance and research
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capacities are strengthened and updated to international standards, the CDC shall:
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(a) Prioritize investments in upgrading of ICT and adequate and capacitated
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human resources for epidemiology, public health surveillance, and public health
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and clinical research;
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(b) Have a premier facility for clinical laboratory, epidemiologic and implementation
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research, and training on infectious and tropical diseases;
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(c) Development performance-based incentives to private health facilities with
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established epidemiology and surveillance functions;
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(d) Re-nationalize local epidemiology and surveillance units (LESUs) that will solely
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provide epidemiology and disease surveillance services and provide assistance
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to the LGUs in the establishment and maintenance of surveillance systems,
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data management, and generation of strategic epidemiologic information:
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Provided, That the DOH, CDC, and DBM shall develop the staffing pattern and


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qualification standards: Provided further, That LESUs shall be under the direct 
supervision and control of the Regional CDCs;
(e) Retain and provide incentives to technical experts, practitioners and scientists, 
whereby the scientific career system is adopted, allowing them to continue 
their respective clinical and professional practice to pursue research studies 
and receive grants and honoraria, in consultation with the CSC. Qualified 
employees of the CDC and its attached units shall be covered by Republic Act 
No. 8439, otherwise known as the "Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, 
Researchers and other Science and Technology Personnel in Government,"
(0 Develop and implement training and research programs to develop more 
experts and practitioners in the field of epidemiology, and disease prevention 
and control; and,
(g) Develop a mechanism to ensure interoperability and accessibility of surveillance 
systems.
SEC. 14. Strengthened Disease Surveillance and Response. - The CDC
shall establish integrated disease surveillance and response systems utilizing, whenever 
necessary, all technological means available while ensuring that data privacy and patient 
confidentiality are maintained. The CDC and authorized public health authorities shall 
have complete access and right to collect personal information and other data, as may 
be deemed necessary in fulfillment of their mandate. All data or information and samples 
collected pursuant thereto shall be used for public health concern purposes only and shall 
exempted from the provisions of R.A. No. 10173, otherwise known as the "Data Privacy 
Act of 2012" on accessibility of data.
SEC. 15. National Reference Laboratories. -The CDC shall establish a new, 
state of the art facility that will serve as the National Reference Laboratory (NRL), unifying 
all NRLs for biological, chemical, nuclear and radiologic emergencies under one roof, 
within 5 years from the effectivity of this Act: Provided, That the existing NRLs in the East 
Avenue Medical Center, Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, National 
Kidney Transplant Institute and San Lazaro Hospital shall continue to be under the 
respective hospitals: Provided further. That these existing NRLs shall serve as referral 
laboratories of the CDC and be included in the Modernization Program of the CDC.
The NRL shall provide technical recommendations laboratory confirmatory 
services, training, and external quality assurance, and perform surveillance, outbreak


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response, kit evaluation, and research. It shall oversee the functions and performance of 
the network of subnational laboratories (SNL).
SNLs shall be established in ail regions, with the capability of conducting 
confirmatory testing for routine surveillance samples and performing specialized tests. 
SNLs, whose functions include testing for routine surveillance and specialized tests, shall 
be under CDC administratively. Hospitals housing the SNLs shall create a separate unit 
for their regular laboratory needs.
The CDC, through the NRLs and SNLs, shall provide technical guidance and quality 
assurance programs to biosafety levels 2,3, and 4 laboratories in the country, which shall 
be registered with, and regulated by the DOH.
SEC 16. Authority to Solicit, Negotiate, and Receive Donations, Grants, 
Gifts, Legacies, Endowments, and Contributions. -The CDC may solicit, negotiate 
with, and receive from any public or private domestic or foreign sources legacies, gifts, 
donations, grants, endowments, contributions or other transfers of ownership and/or 
possession of real and personal properties of all kinds in favor and for the benefit of the 
CDC, which shall all be part of the special account in the general fund managed by the 
Bureau of Treasury.
The Director General shall prescribe the measures necessary for the proper use, 
maintenance, safekeeping, and compliance with the terms and conditions, if any, of said 
donations, grants, endowments, contributions or transfers in accordance with pertinent 
accounting and auditing laws, rules and regulations.
SEC. 17. Tax Exemptions. - Donations, grants, gifts, endowments, legacies 
and contributions used actually, directly and exclusively for the purpose of the CDC shall 
be exempt from donor's tax and same shall be considered as allowable deduction from 
gross income for purposes of computing the taxable income of the donor, in accordance 
with Sec. 34 (H)(2)(a) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended. 
Likewise, such other transfers of ownership and/or possession of real or personal 
properties of all kinds shall be exempt from all taxes.
SEC. 18. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. —There shall be a Joint 
Congressional Oversight Committee on Disease Prevention and Control, jointly chaired by 
the Chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, and the House 
of Representatives Committee on Health. It shall be composed of five (5) members from
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the Senate and five (5) members from the House of Representatives, to be appointed by
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the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively.
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SEC. 19. Appropriations. The initial amount needed for the implementation of
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this Act shall be charged against the current years appropriations of the offices and the
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RITM herein absorbed by the CDC. Thereafter, the funding of which shall be included in
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the annual GAA.
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SEC. 20. Transitory Provisions. -
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(a) Upon effectivity of this Act, the CDC shall develop a Framework for Infectious
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Diseases and Pandemic Preparedness, and prioritize the strengthening of the
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following functions:
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i. 
Integrated disease surveillance and response;
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ii. 
Sentinel surveillance;
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Laboratory-based surveillance;
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Period population-based surveillance; and
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V. 
Preventing transmission of communicable diseases.
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(b)The CDC shall initially prioritize disease surveillance and prevention and control of
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infectious diseases. Within five (5) years from its creation, and upon positive
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recommendation by an independent study or body commissioned by the DOH, the
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surveillance, prevention and control and non-communicable diseases shall be
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included in its mandate;
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• (c) For the year during which this Act was approved, the unexpended portion of the
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budget of the offices and units transferred shall be utilized for establishing the CDC
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and initiating its operations, including the formulation of the rules and regulations
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necessary for the implementation of this Act;
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(d)To the greatest extend possible and in accordance with existing laws, all
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employees of the affected offices, agencies and units shall be absorbed by the
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CDC. Personnel hired on a permanent basis and with appointments attested by the
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CSC who may be affected by the transition of DOH units to CDC, or who will not
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be absorbed in the new positions of the new staffing pattern of the different offices
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in the CDC, shall have the option to:
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(1) Be transferred to other units or offices within the DOH without reduction
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in pay; or
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(2) Avail of the applicable retirement benefits as provided under R.A. 6656,
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entitled "An Act to Protect the Security of Tenure of Civil Service Officers
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and Employees in the Implementation of Government Reorganization: 
and other relevant laws;
(e) Incumbent DOH officials and employees of affected DOH offices may apply for and 
be transferred to the CDC, subject to an evaluation of their competency and CSC 
regulations;
(f) Research grants acquired during the transition of DOH transferred units to CDC 
shall be utilized solely for the grants' intended purposes for each of the affected 
units or offices, and shall not be made available for budget realignments;
(g) Existing contracts and agreements entered into by the affected offices with third 
parties prior to the enactment of this Act shall remain valid.
The DBM, DOH, and CSC shall issue the implementing guidelines to ensure fair,
orderly, and transparent implementation of paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section.
SEC. 21. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one hundred twenty 
(12) working days from the effectivity of this Act, the DOH Secretary shall promulgate 
the necessary rules and regulations for its implementation.
SEC. 22. Separability Clause, -If an portion of provision of this Act is declared 
invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect.
SEC. 23. Repealing Clause. -All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or 
other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 24. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette ox in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
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