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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 2699

Introduced by Rep. FERDINAND ALEXANDER A. MARCOS
1* District, Ilocos Norte

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Philippine Constitution mandates that “The State shall 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. There
shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled, women, and
children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers.” (Art. XIII, Sec.
11). Further, the fundamental charter provides that “The State shall protect and promote
the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.” (Art. Il, Sec.
15)

The recent COVID-19 pandemic revealed our country’s systemic vulnerabilities in
managing health emergencies ~ from fragmented surveillance and delays in coordinated
response to the overdependence on foreign supply chains for critical medicines and
supplies. To address these institutional gaps, there is a need to enact the proposed Center
for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) Act which seeks to establish a dedicated agency
under the DOH that will lead in disease surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, public health
intelligence and emergency preparedness.

During the 19 Congress, a number of similar bills on the CDC were filed which resulted
in Substitute Bill No. 6522, authored by 177 Members, and which was transmitted to the
Senate as early as 2022 but has not been enacted into law.

In view of the foregoing, the swift passage of this measure is earnestly sought.

Arn an

FERDINAND ALEXANDER A. MARCOS


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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 2699

Introduced by Rep. FERDINAND ALEXANDER A. MARCOS
1" District, locos Norte

AN ACT

CREATING THE PHILIPPINE CENTERS FOR DISEASE PREVENTION AND
CONTROL, DEFINING THEIR POWERS AND FUNCTIONS AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

ARTICLE I
‘TITLE AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Centers 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 all Filipinos and instill health consciousness among them.

To this end, the State shall adopt an integrated, comprehensive, and evidence-informed
approach consistent with the direction enunciated under Republic Act (RA) No. 11223, or
the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, and adopt a framework that shall foster a whole-of-
system, whole-of-government, and whole-of-society approach, ensuring clear delineation
of tasks between existing agencies and maximizing current mandates. The State shall also
allot the necessary support and institutional resources to provide for effective disease
prevention and control through a high-level public institution imbued with the capacity,
competence, and authority to confront global and local public health risks.

SEC. 3. Objectives. - The objectives of this Act are the following:

(a) Protect the Filipino people from the impact of all diseases of public health
importance;

(b) Develop policies, plans, and protocols to improve on all identified areas in the
International Health Regulations (IHR) hazards;

(©) Clarify govemance, decision-making, communication, and coordination processes
and protocols related to identifying, diagnosing, forecasting, preventing,


controlling, eliminating and eradicating, and monitoring diseases of public health
importance;

(d) Ensure swift, coordinated, and data-driven surveillance and response through the
Department of Health (DOH), Epidemiology and Surveillance Units (ESUs), public
health laboratory systems, points of entry, and Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management (DRRM) system;

(e) Provide the overall national framework and strategic direction for the establishment
of a health laboratory system;

(©) Maintain a pool of in-house experts that shall serve as the technical authority who
shall provide evidence-informed guidance on standards, technologies, and analytics
for epidemiology, disease control, prevention, elimination, eradication, health
‘emergency preparedness and response; and

(g) Ensure the development and implementation of a shared risk and crisis
communication plan with the DOH and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

ARTICLE II
DEFINITION OF TERMS

SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. ~ As used in this Act:

(a) Commodities for public health emergencies refer to health products necessary for
the public health emergency response. It may include vaccines, therapeutics,
medical devices, and ancillary supplies;

(b) Disease refers to pathologie acute or rapidly developing and chronic or long-
standing conditions that cause harmful deviations from normal structure or function
and may be due to infectious agents or their toxic products, which may be
transmitted from a reservoir to a susceptible host, either directly from an infected
person or animal or indirectly through the agency of an intermediate plant or animal
host, vector, or the inanimate environment, or coming from laboratories
intentionally or unintentionally, or may be the result of a combination of genetic,
physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors;

(©) Disease control refers to the reduction of disease incidence, prevalence, morbidity,
or mortality to a locally acceptable level as a result of deliberate efforts and
continued intervention measures to maintain the reduction;

(@) Disease surveillance refers to the ongoing systematic collection, analysis,
interpretation, and dissemination of outcome-specific data for use in the planning,
implementation, and evaluation of public health practice in terms of epidemics,
‘emergencies, and disasters. 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 prevention and control activities;

(©) Emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases refer to diseases that are
characterized by the following traits:


1. have not occurred in humans before;

2. have occurred previously but affected only small numbers of people in isolated
areas;

3. are caused by previously undetected or unknown infectious agents;
4, are due to mutant or resistant strains of a causative organism; or
5. were once major health problems in the country, and then declined dramatically,

but are again becoming health problems for a significant proportion of the
population.

(0) Epidemiological investigation refers to an inquiry to the incidence, prevalence,
extent, source, mode of transmission, causation of, and other information pertinent
to a disease occurrence;

(g) Health research refers to research or research-related activities that seek to provide
timely and quality evidence to address knowledge gaps on areas related to
identifying, diagnosing, forecasting, preventing, controlling, eliminating and
eradicating, and monitoring diseases of public health importance;

(h) International health regulations (IHR) refer to an intemational agreement
managed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and focused on addressing
serious public health threats that have the potential to spread beyond a country’s
borders to other parts of the world and define the standards that countries must meet
to be able to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats;

(i) Notifiable disease refers to a disease that, by legal requirements, must be reported
to the public health authorities;

(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 Bioterrorism;

ii. Appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicated infectious
agent or biological toxin;

iii, Natural disaster;
iv. Chemical attack or accidental release;
v. Nuclear attack or accident; or

vi. Attack that uses or is caused by an accidental release of radioactive
materials; and


2. Poses a high probability of any of the following:
i. Large number of deaths in the affected population;

ii, 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 citizens of other countries; or

v. Trade and travel restrictions.

(k) Public health event refers to either a public health emergency or a public health
threat due to biological, chemical, radio-nuclear, and environmental agents;

() Public health laboratories refer to facilities responsible for providing timely and
reliable diagnostic results primarily for improvement of patient outcomes, disease
prevention, control, surveillance, population-based interventions, and outbreak
emergency response. They shall perform core public health and environmental
activities, including reference tests for diseases of public health importance;

(m)Public health threat refers to any situation or factor that may present a danger to
the health of the people;

(n) Quarantine refers to the restriction of activities or separation from others of suspect
persons who are not ill, or of suspect baggage, containers, conveyances, or goods,
in such a manner as to prevent the possible spread of infection or contamination;

(0) Response refers to the implementation of specific activities to control the further
spread of infection, outbreaks, or epidemics and prevent reoccurrence. It includes
verification, contact tracing, rapid risk assessment, case measures, treatment of
patients, risk communication, the conduct of prevention activities, and
rehabilitation.

ARTICLE II
CREATION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE PHILIPPINE CENTERS FOR DISEASE
PREVENTION AND CONTROL,

SEC. 5. Creation of the Philippine Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. —
There is hereby established an agency to be known as the Philippine Centers for Disease
Prevention and Control, hereinafter referred to as "CDC." The CDC shall be an agency
directly under the Office of the Secretary of the DOH.

SEC. 6. Functions of the CDC. - The CDC shall be the technical authority on forecasting,
analysis, strategy, and standards development for the prevention and contro! of all diseases


of public health importance and health security events, whether domestic or international
in origin. The CDC shall coordinate with global CDCs and act as the national focal point
of the Philippines for IHR concerns.

The functions of the CDC include the following:
(a) Develop strategies, standards, and policies for disease prevention and control;
(b) Implement disease surveillance and field epidemiology activities;
(©) Perform data collection and analytics;
(d) Establish and strengthen public health laboratories;
(©) Set standards and policies for private laboratories;

( Recommend actions for public health threats to appropriate national government
bodies;

(g) Lead public health and risk communications;
(h) Conduct and manage health research and evidence synthesis;
(i) Build local capacity for surveillance and health research;

()) Promote scientific integrity by ensuring that all its products are technically accurate,
scientifically and ethically sound, and useful to the government and the intended
population through the institutionalization of appropriate mechanisms and bodies.

The CDC shall perform other functions as may be mandated by law or duly delegated by
relevant authorities, as well as those that may be necessary or expedient for the performance
of its functions under this Act.

The CDC shall submit annual detailed cost work plans relating to its functions to the
Secretary of Health (SOH) for approval.

SEC. 7, Structure of the CDC. —

(a) The CDC shall establish component centers that shall lead and coordinate the major
functions of the CDC and in this capacity, establish strategic linkages and
partnerships to fulfill the stated functions. In line with their functions, each of the
following component centers shall be headed by a Deputy Director General:

1. Center for Health Statistics (CHS). The CHS shall provide the national
leadership data analytics and health information systems management services
in the conduct of non-epidemiologic surveys in coordination with the Philippine
Statistics Authority, and shall complement the roles and responsibilities of the
DOH related to sectoral policy and planning by providing relevant health
statistics. It shall likewise progressively develop and expand its methodological
and analytical capacity; its use of informatics, digital tools, innovations, among



others; and expand its portfolio of national health-related surveys to
complement the national health surveys being managed by other national
agencies;

2. Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance (CES). The CES shall lead and
execute a national public health surveillance strategy and shall perform the
functions and obligations of the Epidemiology Bureau (EB) and the DOH under
Sections 5, 6, and 8 of RA No. 11332, otherwise known as the "Mandatory
Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern
Act". Further, it shall progressively enhance its epidemiology and surveillance
functions to further develop its overall analytical capacity; to expand the scope
of surveilled events and diseases; to set standards for and continually expand
tools for data management and surveillance systems; to expand the scope of data
collected; to lead in the development of epidemiology and surveillance
capacities for all diseases and their causes, including social determinants of
health; to lead in implementing International Health Surveillance and IHR
processes; and to expand its technical expertise to include other and emerging
branches and types of epidemiology and relevant epidemiologically-related
approaches;

3. Center for Health Evidence (CHE). The CHE shall be established to lead
evidence-informed policy-making for the prevention and control of all diseases,
through the synthesis of available evidence, the conduct of high-quality health
research, the development of evidence-informed strategies and standards of
care, the provision of scientific inputs to guide the development, evaluation, and
improvement of public health programs, and the development of science-
informed standards to address public health threats, in partnership with
academe, professional societies, research bodies, National Institutes of Health,
and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST);

4, Center for Health Laboratories (CHL). The CHL shall develop and provide
the overall strategic direction, policies, standards, and plans in the
implementation of the Philippine Health Laboratory System (PHLS) and the
institutionalization of stand-alone CDC public health laboratories, including
national reference laboratories, subnational, and regional public health
laboratories (RPHLs). The Philippine Health Laboratory System shall be
established by streamlining all diagnostic tests and surveillance of diseases of
public health importance into stand-alone laboratories across the nation and by
ensuring an effective and efficient quality management system for all clinical
and other health laboratories in partnership with the DOH. Further, the CHL
shall lead the country's public health laboratory response for rapid detection of
emerging and re-emerging public health threats. It shall promote and develop
innovative science, technologies, and processes that support CDC's ability to
protect the Philippines from health, safety, and security threats, both foreign and
local.

(b) The CDC shall also have three (3) offices directly under the Director General that
shall provide support to all Centers, namely:

1. Office for Health Economics;


2. Office for Policy and Planning;
3. Office for Administration, Finance, and Legal Affairs.

(c) Regional CDCs shall be established, consisting of counterparts of CHL, CHS, and
CES.

(d) Additional offices may be created in accordance with the mandate of the CDC, upon
the assessment and recommendation of the Director General, approval of the SOH,
availability of funds, and to accordingly respond to the emerging needs of the health
sector.

The establishment of regional CDCs and creation of additional offices shall be endorsed by
the DOH to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for review and approval.

ARTICLE IV
OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE, MANAGEMENT, AND STAFF OF THE
CENTER

SEC. 8, Relationship with Existing Agencies and Offices. —

(a) Relationship between CDC and DOH Operations. The CDC shall be an agency
under the Office of the SOH. The DOH shall develop operational and intersectoral
policies to support implementation of strategies and standards developed by the
CDC.

(b) Relationship between CDC and the DOH Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ). The
CDC shall set the standards for international health surveillance and surveillance at
ports of entry and coordinate with the BOQ for operational and stakeholder
management.

(c) Relationship between Regional CDCs and DOH Regional Offices. The CDC
shall have regional counterparts of its CHL, CHS, and CES to form the Regional
CDCs separately from DOH Regional Offices. The DOH, through its regional
offices, shall work closely with CDC, through its regional CDCs to support
implementation of strategies and standards of the CDC.

(d) Relationship between CDC and local government units (LGUs). LGUs shall
adopt and localize standards and guidelines developed by the CDC, as
operationalized by the DOH, in the performance of activities related to disease
prevention and control. Further, LGUs shall allocate funding for the establishment
of functional ESUs based on standards set by the DOH and as provided for by law
including the creation of positions for the necessary Disease Surveillance Officers
(DSOs) and field epidemiologists and in line with the goal of building local capacity
for health surveillance: Provided, That LGUs that do not have the capacity to
achieve these standards shall be eligible to receive resource augmentation from the
National Government.

SEC. 9. Transfer of Agencies. ~


(a) Restructuring of Affected Offices and Units. The following offices, including
their administrative units, shall be restructured to ensure that the CDC and DOH
shall co-exist synergistically and facilitate the smooth operation of the CDC.

1. The different units of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) shall
be absorbed in the different Centers of the CDC:

i The RITM's national reference laboratories shall be absorbed by the
CHL;

ii, Its clinical research units, hospital ancillary services, and research
laboratory departments shall be absorbed by the CHE;

ii, Its biological research and manufacturing units shall be temporarily
absorbed by the CHE until an agency is finally tasked by the government
to handle their role and functions.

2. The Health Laboratory Division, also referred to as the Office for Health
Laboratories of the Health Facility Development Bureau of the DOH and other
identified national reference laboratories shall be absorbed by the CHL.

3. The Epidemiology Bureau (EB) shall be transferred to the CHS and CES in
phases. All previous functions of the EB and all disease and public health
surveillance functions assigned to the DOH by law shall likewise be transferred
to the CES. In line with this, all Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Units
and Field Health Service Information System Units of the DOH Regional
Offices shall be transferred to and placed under the sole supervision and control
of the Regional CDCs upon the effective transfer of the EB to the CDC.

i. The Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service of
the DOH shall restructure and rationalize its functions to eliminate or
minimize overlaps in and duplication of the standards and sectoral
policy function of the CHS.

ii, The CES shall set the standards for international health surveillance and
surveillance at ports of entry and shall coordinate with the BOQ for
operational and stakeholder management. Further, the screening and
quarantine processes for inbound and outbound international travelers
as provided for in Sections 4 and 5 of RA No. 9271 or the “Quarantine
Act of 2004" shall remain with BOQ, aligned to the standards
promulgated by CDC.

4. The Disease Prevention and Control Bureau (DPCB) shall be transformed into
the Public Health Strategy and Management Bureau, and shall be responsible
for developing operational strategy and guidelines that are aligned with CDC's
standards, setting up intersectoral collaboration platforms, and ensuring
strategic management of national health programs. The DPCB's previous
standards development function shall be transferred to the CDC's CHE. The
DOH Undersecretary for Operations and the DOH Regional Offices shall


continue to perform their roles in operational planning, coordination and
performance management.

The Communications Office of the DOH shall be a shared service among all
DOH offices, including the FDA and CDC, and shall perform the following
functions:

i, Develop strategic communication plans, including, but not limited to,
corporate risk and crisis communication plans;

ii, Manage and implement risk communication activities and initiatives,
such as the development and issuance of information and education
communication materials, events, stakeholder meetings, and other
media engagement activities;

Manage and activate crisis communication protocol for health risks and
hazards, and institutional reputational risks;

iv. Develop and implement corresponding capacity-building activities in
relation to corporate risk and crisis communications;

ve Perform internal communication functions within the institution;

vi, Develop and facilitate the approval of communication materials and
policies as aligned with the approved communication plans;

vii, Manage different platforms of the institution for release of
communication materials; and

viii, Foster, maintain, and continuously build extemal partnerships and
communication networks with public and private health institutions.

(b) Transfer of Human Resource and Material. The offices affected by the transfer
of agencies shall also transfer human resource, applicable funds and appropriations,
records, equipment, and property to the CDC subject to a multi-year transition plan.

As a result of the reorganization under this Act, the DOH shall evaluate the
credentials, skills, and work experience of all employees in affected
offices/bureaus and shall conduct matching to positions within the new
offices/bureaus created based on the set qualification standards. The
Department shall develop a technical working group to ensure that RA 6656,
entitled "An Act to Protect the Security Tenure of Civil Service Officers and
Employees in the Implementation of Government Reorganization", shall be
properly observed towards the protection of tenure of affected employees and
shall institute mechanisms for retooling. There shall be no diminution of salaries
and benefits of affected employees. Affected employees may opt for voluntary
separation from service within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act
and shall be entitled to receive separation, and early retirement benefits and
other benefits under applicable laws and issuances such as RA No. 6656 within
ninety (90) days from the date of effectivity of their separation. Provided they

10


are not entitled to said benefits, employees concerned shall be paid a separation
gratuity in the amount equivalent to one (1) month salary for every year of
service;

2. The CDC shall employ scientific, technical, and non-technical staff, where a
compensation and accountability mechanism shall be created for all in-house
experts employed in highly technical positions. Correspondingly, the DOH shall
determine the organization and plantilla of the CDC in accordance with the
salary and compensation for positions developed for the CDC to the DBM for
review and approval.

i. The salary and compensation of all employed staff under managerial,
technical, and administrative positions shall be subject to existing
compensation and position classification system and prevailing
‘qualification standards and regulations of the Civil Service Commission
(CSC).

ii, The compensation mechanism for the expert pool shall be in accordance
with the rules and regulations in this Act and its IRR and shall be exempt
from existing qualification standards and regulations of the CSC

iii, All in-house experts shall be allowed to practice their profession and
receive additional compensation from such engagements,

iv. All employed staff and in-house experts shall submit a declaration of
conflict-of-interest (COI), a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), and other
pertinent documents requirements as may be deemed necessary.

3. The transfer of human resource, applicable funds and appropriations, records,
equipment, and property to the CDC, among others, shall commence within two
(2) years from effectivity of this Act to enable the smooth transfer of the same
from the DOH.

SEC. 10. Structure and Staffing Pattern. — Subject to the review and approval of the
DBM, the SOH shall determine the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the
CDC, in accordance with existing civil service laws, rules and regulations.

SEC. 11. Director General (DG), Deputy Directors General, and Directors. —

(a) Appointment of the Director General (DG). The CDC shall be headed by a DG
who shall hold the rank of Undersecretary. The DG shall be appointed by the
President, upon the recommendation of the SOH, based on technical expertise,
academic background, and appropriate work experience.

(b) Appointment of the Deputy Directors General. The DG shall be assisted by
Deputy Directors General who shall hold the rank of Assistant Secretary. They shall
oversee the performance of the Offices and Centers and any additional offices
created in accordance with Sec. 7 (d) of this Act. The Deputy Directors General
shall likewise be appointed by the President, upon the recommendation of the SOH,

u


based on technical expertise, academic background, and appropriate work
experience.

(©) Appointment of Directors. The DG shall likewise be assisted by the following:

1

2.

3.

(4) Qualifications and Eligibi

1.

Director for Health Economics Service with the rank of Director IV;
Director for Policy and Planning with the rank of Director IV;

Director for Administration, Finance, and Legal Affairs with the rank of
Director IV;

The DG shall be a public health professional, must be a licensed medical doctor,
with at least 15 years of combined post-graduate work experience in relevant
fields of medicine, public health, research, and management.

The Deputy Director General of each Center shall possess a postgraduate
degree, preferably a doctorate degree in fields related to medicine, public health,
or research, with management experience in such fields. And

‘The Directors directly under the Office of the DG shall possess third level
service eligibility with educational background in relevant fields of medicine,
public health, accounting, management, economics or any business course, and
must have management experience in the aforesaid fields.

(e) Powers and Functions of the Director General.

1.

Provide leadership, policy guidance, coordination, technical expertise, and
services to promote the development and implementation of the CDC’s national
programs;

Certify to the SOH the presence of a public health emergency;

Notify the WHO and other focal points of any public health emergency or
incident in accordance with IHR guidelines, and coordinate public health
response with the WHO, IHR and national focal points;

Recommend to the President, through the SOH, the exercise of special powers
in the case of public health emergencies, including mobilization of the
governmental and nongovernmental agencies, including the private sector, to
respond to the threat in performing the following functions:

i. Develop and implement national policies to prevent and mitigate further
transmission of diseases of public health importance;

ii, Ensure that LGUs follow all rules, regulations, and directives issued by
the National Government pursuant to this Act: Provided, That all LGUs

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iii,

iv.

vi.

vii.

are authorized to develop localized policies and interventions provided
these are aligned with national policy, rules and regulations;

Develop and implement flexibilities in procurement of essential
commodities and implement programs in response to a public health
emergency;

Ensure the adequate and equitable distribution of health workers during
public health emergencies and the provision of social benefits and
protection to health workers and their families and other household
members against discrimination;

Enforce measures to protect the people from hoarding, profiteering,
injurious speculations, manipulation of prices, product deceptions,
monopolistic practices, other acts in restraint of trade, or other
pernicious practices affecting the supply, distribution, and movement of
food, clothing, hygiene and sanitation products, medicines and medical
supplies devices, implements, machinery, equipment and spare parts
required in agriculture, industry, other essential services, and other
articles of prime necessity, whether imported or locally produced or
manufactured;

Ensure that donations intended to address the public health emergencies,
the acceptance thereof, and distribution of donated health products and
commodities are not unnecessarily delayed considering their shelf-life,
and that health products for donation that are duly certified by the
national regulatory authorities (NRA) or their accredited third party
representatives from countries with established regulations shall be
automatically cleared; and

Perform such other functions and activities, as deemed necessary.

, Institute public health surveillance programs in accordance with RA 11332 and
as such, impose the following:

i)

iii)

All public and private hospitals, clinics, health facilities, laboratories,
institutions, workplaces, schools, prisons, ports, _airports,
establishments, communities, other government agencies, and non-
governmental organizations are required to accurately and immediately
report notifiable disease and public health events to CDC;

All public and private hospitals, clinics, health facilities, laboratories
shall be required to submit health and health-related data, which shall
include administrative, public health, medical, pharmaceutical, and
financing data to the CDC;

DSOs, ESUs, CDC laboratories, PHLs, pharmacies and those employed
by the LGUs to perform surveillance and response activities shall
furnish information required by the CDC at all times and as soon as
practicable; and

13


10.

iv) Failure of said establishments to report to the CDC shall constitute a
violation of Section 9, paragraphs (d) and (e) of Republic Act No. 11332,
or the “Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events
of Public Health Concern Act.”

Issue an order requiring any person or institution to furnish CDC any sample of
any substance or matter in the possession or control of that person, whether
taken pursuant to this Act or otherwise, as may be considered necessary or
appropriate, or any information as may be required by the CDC, within the
period it requires for the purpose of any public health surveillance program,
epidemiological investigation, or survey conducted pursuant to this Act;

Request the Philippine National Police or the National Bureau of Investigation
to locate any patients or persons suspected of contracting a communicable
disease;

Certify the termination of a public health emergency which may serve as basis
for the de-escalation and eventual termination of emergency response activities;

Develop policies with provisions on penalties for local implementation and
enforcement:

i, The Director General, upon consultation with the SOH, shall provide
recommendations on the corresponding rules and regulations, as well as
penalties, for local implementation and enforcement that are necessary
to control and prevent diseases within the country and to prevent the
introduction, transmission, or spread of communicable diseases from
other countries into the Philippines or from one domestic seaport/airport
to another; and

ii, For purposes of implementing these regulations, the Director General
upon consultation with the SOH, shall provide public health preventive
measures and intervention strategies such as health education,
promotion, and advisories, isolation, veterinary and plant quarantine,
inspections, fumigation, disinfection, disinfestation, vector control, pest
extermination, and destruction of animals or articles found to be infected
or contaminated as to be sources of infection to human beings, in
coordination with other concerned quarantine agencies and other
‘measures as may be necessary.

. Develop containment strategies for inland contagion or community

transmission of public health threats and shall coordinate these with the SOH.
During public health emergencies, the DOH Health Emergency Management
Bureau shall coordinate with DOH BOQ in controlling, directing, and managing
all quarantine stations, grounds, and anchorages, and in designating their
boundaries in accordance with Section 6 of RA No. 9271, or the “Quarantine
Act of 2004”;

14


LL, Provide or obtain technical assistance for regional and local health departments,
private agencies, and international and supranational agencies before, during,
and after public health emergencies;

12. Develop a shared risk communication plan in coordination with the DOH and
the FDA;

13. Liaise with other government agencies, NGOs, intemational organizations,
including the WHO, learning and academic institutions, and other pertinent
groups or entities in the conduct of activities relating to disease prevention and
control;

14. Coordinate with appropriate DOH Offices regarding administrative and
program matters;

15. Appoint eligible persons in accordance with civil service laws, rules and
regulations, and this Act;

16. Delegate the powers vested under this Act to the Deputy Directors General; and

17. Perform such other functions as may be mandated by law, or as may be
delegated by the SOH or the President.

ARTICLE V
RESPONSE ACTION

SEC. 12. Response Caseade. — In case of public health emergencies due to biological,
chemical, and toxic events:

(a) The CDC shall, through the CHE, prepare and disseminate to the public and private
sector the relevant technical information and guidance;

(b) The DOH shall, through the PHSMB, develop operational and intersectoral
strategies guided by the strategies and standards developed by the CDC;

(c) The DOH shall, through its regional offices, work closely with CDC, through its
regional CDCs to immediately respond to the public health emergency. When
necessary, the DOH shall tap into the DRRM system to effectively respond to public
health emergencies;

(@) The CHL shall activate the public health laboratory response network and
continuously provide guidance for core laboratory programs in quality
management, laboratory medicine and safety and security programs, laboratory
information management and surveillance, research and development and training;

(©) The CES shall certify to the veracity of the official data to be used as basis for

response and for public reporting, and provide standards and overall guidance to the
BOQ for the institution of disease surveillance at all points of entry and exit;

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(©) The National Telecommunications Commission and any telecommunications entity
as defined under RA No. 7925 or the “Public Telecommunications Policy Act of
the Philippines,” shall provide location information of patients or persons suspected
of contracting a disease upon request of the CDC: Provided, That the CDC shall
ensure confidentiality of such information;

(g) The Secretary of Health may undertake the following functions in case of public
health events;

1) Hiring, transfer, and deployment of health personnel;

2) Implementation of whole-of-government and whole-of-society public health
emergency preparedness and response in cooperation with the Department of
the Interior and Local Government, LGUs, and private sector;

3) Strict enforcement and augmentation of border control and surveillance in
coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs, DOH-BOQ, Bureau of
Immigration, Philippine Ports Authority, Department of Agriculture, and
Bureau of Customs;

4) Commissioning of research in coordination with DOST;

5) Promotion of the treatment of, vaccination, or immunization against a
contagious disease, compelling the isolation or quarantine of persons who are
unable or unwilling, for reasons of health, religion, or conscience, to undergo
immunization or treatment: Provided, That the guidelines for the exercise of
such power shall be formulated in coordination with the Department of Justice;

6) Decontamination of any facility or decontamination or destruction of any
material when the CDC reasonably suspects that such facility or material may
endanger public health, subject to just compensation;

7) Issuance and enforcement of measures for safe handling and disposal of human
and animal remains; and

8) Requiring any health or funeral facility authorized by law to perform such
services as are reasonable and necessary to respond to a public health
emergency.

ARTICLE VI
SPECIAL POWERS / AUTHORITY TO ENABLE RESPONSE.

SEC. 13. Authority for Other Professions to Administer, Dispense, and Provide
Commodities for Public Health Emergencies, — In addition to physicians, other health
and allied medical professionals such as pharmacists and midwives who are duly trained
by the DOH or its authorized representatives may dispense and administer commodities
considered as vital for public health emergencies with special authorization or regular
certificate of registration from the FDA notwithstanding any law to the contrary,

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SEC. 14, Issuance of Special Regulatory Authorizations. — Pursuant to Section 4 of
Republic Act No. 3720, or the “Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act”, as amended by Republic
Act No. 9711 or the "Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Act of 2009," the FDA shall
be given authority to issue special authorizations for commodities for public health
emergencies, Provided, That:

(a) Based on the totality of available scientific evidence, including data from adequate
and well documented controlled trials, it is reasonable to believe that the health
product may be effective to prevent, diagnose, or treat the diseases of concen;

(b) The potential benefits of the health product when used to diagnose, prevent, or treat
diseases of concem outweigh the known and potential risks, if any; and

(c) There is no adequate, approved, and available alternative to the health product for
diagnosing, preventing, or treating disease/s of concern.

In the event that the declared public health emergency is lifted, special authorizations issued
by the FDA shall have provisional validity for a period of one year (1) from the date of
lifting of the declaration for the sole purpose of exhausting remaining supplies.

Distribution and administration of unauthorized commodities for public health emergency
shall be prohibited.

SEC. 15. Health Technology Assessment and Evidence Review. ~ The requirement for
a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) shall not be a prerequisite to procurement of
commodities for public health emergencies as an exemption to Section 34 of the RA 11223,
Further, the HTA shall not be required for:

(a) Donated health products;

(b) Unregistered commodities for public health emergency which are qualified for
compassionate use according to the guidelines set by the FDA; and

(c) Repurposing or stock realignment of commodities for public health emergencies
that have already been procured by the DOH, LGUs, private sector entities:
Provided, That repurposing or stock realignment shall be in accordance with the
indication of its use as approved by the FDA.

The DOH, FDA, Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC), and other relevant
offices shall, without need for notice or demand, immediately provide each other with any
and all information, including proprietary submissions of data by manufacturers, traders,
distributors, or other sources, for the purpose of expediting the review of the evidence,
product authorization or registration, and the appropriate release of recommendations and
supporting policies: Provided, That a non-disclosure agreement among all parties involved
shall be executed and enforced prior to the sharing of the said information.

SEC. 16. Procurement of Commodities and Services for Public Health Emergencies
by the DOH. - The DOH and authorized parties such as the LGUs and private entities shall
be allowed to procure commodities for public health emergencies that are recommended
by any of the following:

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(a) WHO;

(b) HTAC;

(©) DOH-approved clinical practice guidelines or interim guidelines; or
(d) Similar emergency authorizations from other stringent NRAs.

For the purposes of this provision, the DOH and authorized parties may immediately enter
into alternative modes of expedited procurement with United Nations agencies,
intemational organizations, or international financing institutions and their operational
arms, such as the WHO, United Nations Office for Project Services, and United Nations
Children’s Fund, subject to the rules and policies set by the DOH.

Section 88 of Presidential Decree No. 1445, as amended, otherwise known as the
“Government Auditing Code of the Philippines”, and any law to the contrary
notwithstanding, the DOH may disburse funds as advance payment if required by the
manufacturer, trader, or distributor: Provided, That the authority to advance payment shall
be for the procurement of commodities for public health emergencies and to secure other
‘goods and services necessary for their storage, transport, deployment, and administration.

Distribution and administration of unauthorized commodities for public health emergencies
shall be prohibited.

SEC. 17. Donation of Excess Supply of Commodities. — In case of an excess supply of
commodities as may be determined by the DOH, the DOH may donate them to other LGUs,
bureaus, agencies, instrumentalities, or private entities. The national government, led by
the DFA, in coordination with the DOH, may also donate the excess supply to other
countries: Provided, That the DOH, DBM, and Commission on Audit shall issue separate
operational guidelines that set forth expedited procedures to facilitate the receipt and
acceptance of any donations pursuant to this provision, any law to the contrary

notwithstanding.

SEC. 18, Authority to Direct the Operations of Private Establishments During Public
Health Emergencies. - The President, during public health emergencies, may direct the
operations of any privately-owned establishment including, among others, hospitals and
medical and health facilities, passenger vessels, and other private enterprises, to perform
functions and provide support services for public health emergency response, including
housing health workers serving in quarantine areas, quarantine centers, medical relief and
aid distribution locations, or other temporary medical facilities, and ferrying health,
emergency, and frontline personnel: Provided, That the management and operation of such
establishments shall be retained by the owners: Provided, further, That reasonable
compensation for any additional damage or costs incurred by the owner or the possessor of
the subject property solely on account of complying with the directive shall be given to the
person entitled to the possession of such private properties or businesses after the conditions
have stabilized or at the soonest time practicable.

SEC. 19. Transition to Regular Authorization. - For this purpose, the FDA shall be
given authority to develop specific guidelines on the transition of the regulatory

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authorization of commodities for public health emergencies from special use authorization
to regular certificate of registration. This is in consideration of the time needed to process.
applications and to avoid a monopoly by a single supplier of health products for public
health emergencies. The granting of a regular certificate of registration by the Philippine
EDA to the first brand deemed suitable for such registration shall not immediately revoke
all other special authorizations granted by the FDA to other brands, any law to the contrary
notwithstanding: Provided, That once the DOH and the FDA had determined that the
suppliers granted with regular certificate of registration have enough capacity to supply the
country’s projected needs, all other special authorizations issued shall be deemed revoked
by this Act, without prejudice to their holders completing the process to obtain a regular
certificate of registration: Provided, further, That remaining stocks covered by a special
authorization that has been revoked pursuant to this provision, but which still have a valid
shelf life, shall either be donated to a country where its use is still authorized by its NRA,
or held in storage until it is disposed of appropriately upon the termination of its shelf-life.

SEC. 20. Authority for Other Professions to Administer, Dispense, and Provide
Commodities for Public Health Emergencies. ~ In addition to physicians, other health
and allied medical professionals such as pharmacists and midwives who are duly trained
by the DOH or its authorized representatives may administer, dispense and provide
commodities for public health emergencies with special authorization or regular certificate
of registration from the FDA.

SEC. 21. Immunity from Liability. — Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, program
implementers, public officials and employees, health care workers and non-health care
workers, whether public or private who are authorized to carry out and are actually carrying
out the public health emergency response shall be immune from suit and liability under
Philippine laws with respect to all claims arising out of, related to, or resulting from the
administration or use of commodities and counter measures under the public health
emergency response and in the discharge of the authorized person’s official duties, except
those arising from willful misconduct and gross negligence.

The members of the FDA and the National Adverse Events Following Immunization and
its regional counterparts during the conduct of monitoring for probable adverse effects from
the commodities for public health emergency shall similarly enjoy the privileges given
under this section, unless the said members” actions are tantamount to gross negligence or
willful misconduct.

ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SEC. 22, Intergovernmental Collaborative Activities. — The Secretary of Foreign Affairs
and the SOH are jointly mandated to review and recommend to the CDC multilateral and
bilateral agreements which the country may adopt to strengthen its collaborative
mechanisms with other countries.

SEC. 23. Transitory Provision. ~ The CDC shall, in coordination with the DOH and

LGUs, craft a multi-year plan to ensure the timely implementation and progressive
realization of this Act. To this end, the multi-year plan shall include:

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(a) Phased expansion of the capacity of the CDC to cover other health conditions or
threats in view of the needs of the Philippine health sector;

(b) Requiring that every province and city-wide health system have full-time DSOs,
without prejudice to the need for the designation of DSOs in municipalities when
necessary;

(c) Establishing Sub-National Laboratories and Regional Public Health Laboratories;

(@ Emergency funding and procurement of commodities and hiring during public
health emergencies; and

(¢) Establishment of infrastructure and acquisition of parcels of land to house the
national offices under the CDC.

‘The DOH shall, upon coordination with CDC, submit the funding requirements with
corresponding annual targets for the implementation of the multi-year plan to the DBM and
concerned agencies, for the determination of appropriate national budget allocation:
Provided, That in relation to their devolved functions under the UHC Act and other existing
laws, LGUs shall appropriate the necessary funds to ensure the proper implementation of
this Act.

SEC. 24. Modernization Program. — The Director General shall, in consultation with the
DOH and other concemed agencies of government and the private sector, develop a
modernization program that will strengthen the human health resource of the CDC, which
is the key component of the country's disease prevention and control policy. The
modernization program shall include the acquisition and upgrading of appropriate
technologies, laboratories, facilities, equipment, other needed resources, and the needed
relocation and acquisition of additional land or location that would house the CDC.

Within one hundred eighty (180) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Director General
shall, upon the recommendation of the DOH and DBM Secretaries, submit the
modernization program for the consideration and approval of Congress.

The modernization program shall be implemented over a period of five (5) years. The
funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).

SEC. 25. 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
or personal properties of all kinds for use in its operations such as the upgrading of its
facilities, equipment outlay, human resource development and expansion, and the
ion of the appropriate office space to improve the delivery of its services to the

The Director General shall be authorized to retain, without need of a separate approval from
any government agency, and subject only to existing accounting and auditing rules and
regulations, all the legacies, gifts, donations, grants, endowments, contributions which shall
be deposited and maintained in a separate account or fund in addition to the annual budget

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of the CDC which may be used or disbursed directly by the Director General for the purpose
of which the fund was originally intended,

The Director General shall likewise be authorized to retain other transfers of ownership and
possession of real or personal property of all kinds solicited, negotiated, and received by
the CDC under this Act and other laws that it is mandated to administer based on the
immediately prior year of operations.

SEC. 26. Tax Exemptions. - Donations, grants, gifis, endowments, legacies, and
contributions used actually, directly and exclusively for the purpose of the CDC shall be
exempt from the donor's tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deduction from
gross income for purposes of computing the taxable income of the donor, in accordance
with Sec. (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. 27. Annual Report. ~ The CDC shall submit to Congress and the Office of the
President an annual report containing an evaluation of the current and emerging threats to
health in the country and the progress made with respect to IHR commitments and the
initiatives undertaken to address these, and recommendations for legislation, if necessary.

SEC. 28. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this
act shall be charged against the current year appropriations of the offices and agencies
concemed. Thereafter, the funding requirements for the ensuing years shall be included in
the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 29. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The DOH shall promulgate the
necessary implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) working days from the
effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 30. 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.

SEC. 31, Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, other
issuances, or parts thereof, inconsistent with any provision of this Act, are hereby repealed
or modified accordingly.

SEC. 32. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

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