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 “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 15 of Article II of the 1987 Constitution declares that the State shall protect and 
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. Section 
11 of Article XIII mandates the adoption of an integrated and comprehensive approach to 
health development. In addition, under the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 of the 
World Health Organization (WHO), the Philippines is committed to build the full spectrum of 
public health capabilities of the country in the event of a public health emergency, disaster, or 
attack.  
With the COVID-19 pandemic, our country was confronted with a myriad of challenges. Aside 
from the economic and socio-cultural consequences of the pandemic, the most glaring 
concern is the inability of our public health system to promptly resolve the COVID-19-related 
issues of the country. Bloomberg’s COVID-19 Resilience Ranking report shows that the 
Philippines has ranked last out of the 53 countries in terms of pandemic resilience.1 
With the lessons from the pandemic and the emergence of monkeypox currently declared by 
the World Health Organization as Public Health Emergency of International Concern2, the 
government must be proactive in preparing the public for any health emergency. 
This bill aims to establish the Philippine Health Security National Action Plan (PHSNAP) to 
strengthen the country’s institutional capacity to implement disease prevention, surveillance, 
control, response systems and contingency plans to deal with public health events and 
emergencies.  
This bill also proposes to create the Philippine Health Security Council which shall be an inter-
agency body administratively attached to the Department of Health (DOH) and tasked to 
1 https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1155073 
2 https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/23-07-2022-who-director-general-declares-the-ongoing-
monkeypox-outbreak-a-public-health-event-of-international-concern 
August 23, 2022
2:00 pm
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formulate and update the PHSNAP. It shall review all existing national programs, plans, and 
activities pertinent to health security and public emergency, identify and prioritize activities, 
and implement evidence-based actions for sustainable capacity development to improve IHR 
capacities in health systems for health security. 
 
Further, this bill aims to establish a Regional Health Security Council (RHSC) in every 
administrative region of the country and Health Security Councils in every province, city, and 
municipality. A Health Security Advisory Group (HSAG) shall also be established to act as an 
advisory body to the PHSC and the President of the Philippines on matters of health security. 
The bill also provided the guidelines for the declaration of state of public health emergency 
and created a Congressional Oversight Committee to monitor and review the proper 
implementation of the proposed measure. 
 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 
 
 
 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.             MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE   
 
 
 
 
TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA  
 
 
NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


3
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 “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
AN ACT  
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE HEALTH SECURITY COUNCIL AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
CHAPTER I 
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Health Security 
Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – Section 15 of Article II of the Constitution of the 
Philippines declares that the State shall protect and promote the right to health of the 
people and instill health consciousness among them. Section 11 of Article XIII of the 
Constitution mandates the adoption of an integrated and comprehensive approach to 
health development. 
By virtue of its obligations under the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 
of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Philippines is required to build its core 
capacities in protecting its citizens, along with the citizens of other countries, from the 
spread of diseases and other health hazards. 
Towards this end, the State shall: 
(a)
Protect the physical and mental health of the Filipinos, limit economic
losses, and preserve confidence in government by strengthening public
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health and health care systems to effectively and swiftly confront the 
devastating consequences of health risks, such as emerging infectious 
diseases that could lead to a pandemic; use of chemical, biological, 
radiological, and nuclear weapons; health-related cyber warfare; and 
catastrophic natural disasters and human-caused incidents, through multi-
sectoral and multidisciplinary approaches for effective alert and response 
systems; 
(b) 
Prepare, mobilize, and coordinate the whole-of-government and whole-of-
society approach to bring the full spectrum of public health capabilities in 
the event of a public health emergency, disaster, or attack. 
 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
(a) 
Cybersecurity refers to the collection of tools, policies, risk management 
approaches, actions, training, best practices, assurance and technologies that 
can be used to protect the cyber environment and organization and user’s assets; 
(b) 
Cyber warfare refers to the use of technology to launch attacks on nations, 
governments and citizens, causing comparable harm to actual warfare using 
weaponry; 
(c) 
Emerging infectious diseases refer to newly identified diseases and previously 
unknown infections that have not occurred in humans before due to mutant or 
resistant strains of a causative organism which cause public health problems 
either locally or internationally; 
(d) 
Health security refers to the activity required, both proactive and reactive, to 
minimize the danger and impact of acute public health events that endanger 
people’s health; 
(e) 
Health security interface refers to public health activities the performance of 
which involves the security sector such as during outbreak response operations 
in times of conflicts and wars, events involving the intentional use of chemical or 
biological agents to cause harm, issues related to mass gatherings like major 
sporting events, festivals, and regular religious migrations; and activities that may 
arise in the course of a natural disease outbreak; 
(f) 
International health regulations (IHR) refer to legally binding instruments of 
international law that set standards and protocols to be observed by states in 
order to prevent the spread of diseases and other health risks, save lives, protect 


 
5
livelihoods and avoid the unnecessary curtailment of international trade and 
travel; 
(g) 
National action plan for health security (NAPHS) refers to a country-owned, multi-
year planning process that can accelerate the implementation of IHR core 
capacities and is based on one health and whole-of-government approach for all 
hazards. It captures national priorities for health security, brings sectors together, 
identifies partners, and allocates resources for health security capacity 
development. The NAPHS also provides an overarching process to capture all 
ongoing preparedness initiatives in a country along with a country’s governance 
mechanism for emergency and disaster risk management; 
(h) 
One-health refers to an approach or design in implementing programs, policies, 
legislation, and research in which multiple sectors communicate and work 
together to achieve better public health outcomes. The areas of work in which a 
one-health approach is particularly relevant include food safety, the control of 
zoonoses, and combatting antibiotic resistance; 
(i) 
Pandemic refers to a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease across 
international boundaries that is usually affecting a very large number of people; 
(j) 
Public health emergency refers to an occurrence or imminent threat of an 
illness or health condition that: 
(1)  Is caused by any of the following: 
(i)    Bio terrorism; 
(ii)   Appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicated 
infectious agent or biological toxin; 
(iii)  A natural disaster; 
(iv)   A nuclear attack or accident; or 
(v)    An attack or accidental release of harmful chemicals or 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; 


 
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(iv)  International exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a 
significant risk to the health of citizens of other countries; or 
(v)   Trade and travel restrictions; 
(k) 
Public health risk refers to an event: 
(a) That might adversely affect the health of human populations; and 
(b) That satisfies any one or more of the following conditions where the 
      health effects of the event might: 
      (i)   spread within the Philippines; 
      (ii)  spread between the Philippines and another country; 
      (iii) spread between two (2) other countries; or, 
      (iv) present a serious and direct danger to public health; 
(l) 
Re-emerging infectious diseases refer to diseases which are known and have 
occurred previously but affected only small numbers of people in isolated areas 
or were once major health problems but have fallen to levels so low that they 
were no longer considered a public health problem. Re-emerging infectious 
diseases often reappear in epidemic proportions; and 
(m)  Zoonoses refer to infectious diseases caused by an infectious agent, such as a 
bacterium, virus, parasite, or prion that has transferred from an animal to a 
human. 
 
SECTION 4. National Action Plan. – There shall be established a Philippine Health 
Security National Action Plan (PHSNAP) to strengthen the country’s institutional 
capacity to implement disease prevention, surveillance, control, response systems 
and contingency plans to deal with public health events and emergencies, including 
deliberate release of biological or chemical agents intended to harm civilian 
populations or attack to the health care delivery system. 
 
CHAPTER II 
PHILIPPINE HEALTH SECURITY COUNCIL 
SECTION 5. Creation. – There is hereby created the Philippine Health Security 
Council (PHSC), which shall be an inter-agency body administratively attached to the 
Department of Health (DOH) and tasked to formulate and update the PHSNAP. It shall 
review all existing national programs, plans, and activities pertinent to health security 
and public emergency, identify and prioritize activities, and implement evidence-based 


 
7
actions for sustainable capacity development to improve IHR capacities in health 
systems for health security. 
 
SECTION 6. Powers and Functions. – The PHSC shall have the following powers 
and functions: 
(a) 
Formulate and operationalize the PHSNAP in collaboration with relevant 
government agencies, civil society organizations (CSOs), and other 
stakeholders; 
(b) 
Establish partnerships with foreign and international organizations that enable 
the generation and exchange of vital information through collaborative activities 
in research, data collection, and the provision of essential services; 
(c) 
Prepare the policies and guidelines for the effective and efficient implementation 
of the PHSNAP; 
(d) 
Institute efficient mechanisms to ensure the security of medical devices and 
hospital networks and prevent cyber-related breaches that may affect the 
operation of medical devices and compromise the integrity of health-related 
information; 
(e) 
Ensure adherence by national government to the Philippines’ commitment to the 
IHR 2005 of the WHO and take appropriate actions based on the IHR Joint 
External Evaluation recommendations and the present situation of the country; 
(f) 
Authorize concerned agencies to purchase, store, or distribute anti-toxins, 
serums, vaccines, immunizing agents, antibiotics, and other pharmaceutical 
agents or medical supplies and devices considered advisable in the interest of 
preparing for or controlling a public health emergency, with the right to take 
immediate possession thereof; 
(g) 
Monitor, assess, and evaluate the implementation of the PHSNAP; 
(h) 
Source funds for the PHSNAP; 
(i) 
Accept donations, whether from local or foreign sources, and ensure that funded 
programs are aligned to the national response; 
(j) 
Recommend to Congress the enactment of policies vital to the maintenance of 
health security and ensure that all executive policy issuances are aligned with 
the PHSNAP; 


 
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(k) 
Assist Local Government Units (LGUs) in the formulation of their respective 
Health Security Local Action Plans (HSLAP) in accordance with Chapter III 
hereof; 
(l) 
Facilitate and support health security initiatives and activities of the LGUs; and 
(m)  Submit an annual report to the Office of the President and the Congress. 
 
The member agencies of the PHSC under Section 7 of this Act shall formulate 
and implement their respective action plans pursuant to the PHSNAP. 
The Chairperson of the PHSC may call upon any government office or 
instrumentality, including government-owned or -controlled corporations, government 
financial institutions, LGUs, nongovernment organizations, and the private sector for 
assistance during public health emergencies or as the circumstances may require. 
The Chairperson of the PHSC may recommend to the President the enlistment 
of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to supplement the Philippine National Police 
and other law enforcement agencies for the purpose of enforcing the quarantine of 
specific areas or facilitating the transport of emerging infectious disease patients, and 
for such other purposes for the effective implementation of this Act. 
 
SECTION 7. Membership and Composition. – The PHSC shall be composed of the 
following: 
(a) Secretary of Health; 
(b) Secretary of National Defense; 
(c) Executive Secretary; 
(d) National Security Advisor; 
(e) Secretary of Foreign Affairs; 
(f) Secretary of Interior and Local Government; 
(g) Secretary of Justice; 
(h) Secretary of Budget and Management; 
(i) Secretary of Trade and Industry; 
(j) Secretary of Agriculture; 
(k) Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources; 
(l) Secretary of Tourism; 
(m) Secretary of Transportation; 
(n) Secretary of Information and Communications Technology; 


 
9
(o) Secretary of Labor and Employment; 
(p) Secretary of Science and Technology; 
(q) Secretary of Public Works and Highways; 
(r) Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education; 
(s) Secretary of Education; 
(t) Secretary of Agrarian Reform; 
(u) Director General of National Economic and Development Authority; 
(v) Secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Service; 
(w) Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; 
(x) Chief of the Philippine National Police; 
(y) Director of the National Bureau of Investigation; 
(z) Director General of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency; 
(aa) 
Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development 
     Authority; 
(bb) 
Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission; 
(cc) 
Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs; 
(dd) 
Director General of the Philippine Information Agency; 
(ee) 
Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Health Research and 
     Development; 
(ff)      President of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation; 
(gg) 
Director General of the Food and Drug Administration; 
(hh) 
Director of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine; 
(ii)      President of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines; 
(jj)      President of the League of Provinces of the Philippines; 
(kk) 
President of the League of Cities of the Philippines; 
(ll)      President of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines; 
(mm) President of the Liga ng mga Barangay; 
(nn) 
President of the Government Service Insurance System; 
(oo) 
President of the Social Security System; 
(pp) 
Chairperson of the National Anti-Poverty Commission; 
(qq) 
Chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating 
     Council; 
(rr)      Chairperson of the National Commission of Senior Citizens; 
(ss) 
Chairperson of the National Council on Disability Affairs; 


 
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(tt)       Chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Women; 
(uu) 
Presidential Adviser for Religious Affairs; 
(vv) 
Secretary General of the Philippine Red Cross; 
(ww) Four (4) representatives from the CSOs; 
(xx) 
Four (4) representatives from the private sector; 
(yy) 
Four (4) representatives from the health sector; and 
(zz) 
Four (4) representatives from the academe. 
 
The Secretary of Health shall be the permanent Chairperson of the PHSC and 
the Secretary of National Defense its Co-Chairperson. 
The PHSC, upon the vote of 2/3 of all members present comprising a quorum, 
shall be allowed to include additional members as it may deem necessary. 
The President shall, upon the recommendation of the PHSC, appoint the 
representatives of the CSOs and private sector based on a short list to be provided by 
the members, in accordance with the criteria and mechanism to be established by the 
PHSC. They shall serve for a term of three (3) years, renewable upon the 
recommendation of the PHSC for a maximum of two (2) consecutive terms. 
The Secretary of the member agencies shall designate a permanent alternate 
member to the PHSC, preferably an Undersecretary who is a certified career service 
officer. 
The PHSC may invite the Administrator of the Supreme Court, the Chairperson 
of the Committee on Health and Demography of the Senate of the Philippines and the 
Chairperson of the Committee on Health of the House of Representatives to its 
meetings. 
The PHSC shall convene not later than thirty (30) days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. It shall meet at least once every quarter on dates and in places 
it shall determine. The Chairperson of the PHSC may call for a special meeting as the 
need arises. The PHSC shall formulate internal rules to govern the conduct of its 
meetings. 
 
SECTION 8. Secretariat. – The Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB) of 
the DOH shall serve as the Secretariat of the PHSC and perform the following 
functions: 
(a) 
Coordinate and manage the day-to-day affairs of the PHSC; 


 
11
(b) 
Assist in the formulation, monitoring, and evaluation of the policies to the 
PHSNAP; 
(c) 
Provide technical assistance, support, and advisory services to the PHSC 
and its external partners; 
(d) 
Assist the PHSC in identifying and building internal and external networks 
and partnerships; 
(e) 
Coordinate and support the efforts of the PHSC and its members to 
mobilize resources; 
(f) 
Serve as repository of health security information; 
(g) 
Disseminate updated, accurate, relevant, and comprehensive information 
about the country’s health security situation to PHSC members, policy 
makers, and the media; and 
(h) 
Provide administrative support to the PHSC. 
The Secretary of Health, as Chairperson of the PHSC, may assign other staff 
from the DOH to assist the HEMB in the performance of its functions as Secretariat of 
the PHSC. 
 
CHAPTER III 
HEALTH SECURITY AT THE REGIONAL AND LOCAL LEVEL 
SECTION 9. Health Security Management and Organization at the Regional 
Level. – There shall be established a Regional Health Security Council (RHSC) in 
every administrative region of the country which shall be responsible in the 
development and implementation of the Health Security Regional Action Plan. 
The RHSC shall establish an operating facility to be known as the Regional 
Health Security Management Operations Center whenever necessary. 
The Regional Directors of the DOH shall serve as Chairpersons of the RHSC. Its 
Vice Chairpersons shall be elected by the members. In the case of the Bangsamoro 
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the Chief Minister shall be the 
RHSC Chairperson. The existing regional offices of the DOH shall serve as secretariat 
of the RHSCs. The RHSCs shall be composed of the executives of the regional offices 
and field stations at the regional level of the government agencies and concerned 
institutions and authorities including representatives from the CSOs, private sector, 
the academe, and the health sector. 


 
12
 
SECTION 10. Organization at the Local Level. – Provincial, City, and Municipal 
Health Security Councils shall be established. The Local Health Security Council shall 
be composed of the Local Health Emergency Response Team and concerned 
institutions and authorities, including representatives from the CSOs, private sector, 
the academe, and the health sector. 
(a)  Composition. The local health security councils shall be composed of the 
following members: 
(1) Local Chief Executive, as chairperson; 
(2) Highest ranking officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines assigned in 
the province, city, municipality, or barangay, respectively; 
(3) Head of the Local Health Office; 
(4) Local Planning and Development Officer; 
(5) Head of the local Social Welfare and Development Office; 
(6) Head of the local Agriculture Office; 
(7) Head of the local Veterinary Office; 
(8) Head of the local Engineering Office; 
(9) Head of the local Budget Office; 
(10) Head of the Business Permit and Licensing Office; 
(11) Head of the Transportation Office; 
(12) Head of the Communication Affairs Office; 
(13) Head of the local Community Relations Department; 
14) Head of General Services Department; 
(15) Head of Cultural and Tourism Affairs Office; 
(16) Head of Office of the Building Official; 
(17) Head of Public Order and Safety Office; 
(18) Head of Environmental Protection and Waste Management Office; 
(19) Head of the Housing and Community Development and Resettlement 
Office; 
(20) Division or Superintendent of Schools of the DepEd, respectively; 
(21) Provincial Director/City/Municipal chief of the Philippine National Police; 
(22) President of the Association of Barangay Captains; 
(23) Philippine National Red Cross; 


 
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(24) Four (4) accredited CSOs; 
(25) Four (4) private sector representatives; 
(26) Four (4) representatives from the academe; and, 
(27) Four (4) representatives from health community. 
 
(b)  The local health security councils shall have the following functions: 
(1) Develop, operationalize, and implement their respective HSLAP in 
accordance with the PHSNAP and the provisions of this Act; 
(2) Localize public health emergency preparedness and ensure efficient local 
response to assess, monitor, contain, control, and prevent the spread of any 
potential epidemic or public health risks; 
(3) Support the health security initiatives of the national government; 
(4) Pass timely and relevant ordinances that will strengthen the provision of 
health security; and 
(5) Convene the local health security council once every three (3) months or as 
necessary. 
 
SECTION 11. Local Government Support and Cooperation. – During a state of 
public health emergency, local government officials are hereby mandated to provide 
all the necessary support and cooperation to the national government in accordance 
with Section 105 of Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code. 
The refusal of local government officials to provide support and cooperation 
during public health emergencies shall constitute an offense and shall be dealt with 
disciplinary action as provided for in the Local Government Code. 
 
CHAPTER IV 
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY 
SECTION 12. Declaration of State of Public Health Emergency. – The President, 
upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Health, may declare a State of Public 
Health Emergency. The basis for such a declaration shall be made public by the PHSC 
through the mass media and a written report shall be submitted to both Houses of 
Congress. 
The State of Public Health Emergency shall last for a period of sixty (60) days, 
unless extended or terminated earlier by the Council. 


 
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During the State of Public Health Emergency, the PHSC may exercise, in 
coordination with national government agencies, local governments, and other 
organizations responsible for the implementation of the PHSNAP, the following 
powers: 
(a)  To direct and compel the evacuation of, or to decontaminate or cause to be 
decontaminated, or to close any facility of which there is reasonable cause to 
believe that it may endanger the public health; 
(b)  To require privately-owned health care facilities to provide services or to allow 
the use of their facilities within reasonable and necessary grounds for 
emergency response to a public health emergency; and, 
(c)  To control, restrict and regulate the use and rationing of pharmaceutical 
agents and/or medical supplies and equipment it considers essential during a 
public health emergency. 
 
CHAPTER V 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
SECTION 13. Creation of Health Security Advisory Group. – A Health Security 
Advisory Group (HSAG) shall be established as an advisory body to the PHSC and 
the President of the Philippines on matters of health security. The HSAG shall consist 
of former health secretaries, public health specialists, Filipino scientists and scholars, 
and other health professionals and experts that the PHSC may deem necessary. All 
members who shall be appointed to the HSAG must be of good moral character and 
of recognized probity and independence, and have no pending case or criminal and 
administrative record. 
 
SECTION 14. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of 
this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
SECTION 15. Annual Report. – The PHSC, through its Chairperson, shall submit an 
annual report to the Office of the President, the Senate, and the House of 
Representatives, within the first quarter of the succeeding year. 
 
SECTION 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Secretary of Health 
shall, in consultation with the members of the PHSC, issue the necessary rules and 


 
15
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within ninety (90) days from its 
effectivity. 
 
SECTION 17. Congressional Oversight Committee. – There is hereby created a 
Congressional Oversight Committee which shall monitor and review the proper 
implementation of this Act composed of five (5) members from the Senate of the 
Philippines and five (5) members from the House of Representatives with the 
Chairpersons of the Committees on Health of both the Senate and the House of 
Representatives as joint Chairpersons of this Committee. The four (4) other members 
from each Chamber are to be designated by the Senate President and the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives, respectively. The minority shall be entitled to 
proportional representation but shall have at least one (1) representative from each 
Chamber. 
 
SECTION 18. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, issuances and rules 
and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 19. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act shall be held 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in 
full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 20. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,