S>ciiate
of tf)c fefrrrliir^
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
25 AUG-7 PI :30
RiiCEIVEi BY:
SENATE
S.B. No. 1098
Introduced by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN
AN ACT
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR DISEASE PREVENTION AND 
CONTROL, DEFINING 1ST POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines has faced significant challenges in responding to public health 
emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic and other previous outbreaks such as 
MINI, SARS, and MERS-Cov. These events have shown the need fora specialized public 
health agency to manage disease surveillance, response, and prevention. The current 
Department of Health (DOH) has shown the need to improve its present structure to 
address several health threats swiftly.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant economic losses. In 2020, the 
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracted by 9.6% year over year, the sharpest decline 
since the government started recording it in 1946.1 The economic losses experienced by 
the country have greatly affected the lives of the Filipino people, especially those who
1 Economic Loses From COVID -19 Cases in the Phiiippines: A Dynamic Modei of Health and Economic Policy Trade- 
Offs, https://archium.ateneo.edu/cqi/viewcontent.cqi?article=1197&context=mathematics-faculty-pubs. Accessed 18 
March 2025


are marginalized. In addition to economic losses, the heavily burdened public health 
system has further contributed to the challenges experienced by the average Filipino - 
financially draining their resources and leading many Filipinos to poverty. Thus, there is 
a pressing need to future-proof and safeguard the country from the perils of the pandemic 
and other public health emergencies.
This bill seeks to establish the Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control 
(CDC) as an independent and science-driven institution. The CDC will serve as the 
country's technical authority on public health security, ensuring a proactive rather than 
reactive approach to disease control, aligned with international health regulations and 
best practices.
This proposed measure also aims to intensify the country's ability to prevent, 
detect, and respond to public health threats, institutionalize a whole-of-government and 
whole-of-society approach in disease control and prevention, improve epidemiology, 
surveillance, laboratory research, and public health communication capacities, establish 
a command structure for managing health emergencies, and facilitate efficient 
coordination between local and international health organizations.
Establishing the CDC is a crucial step toward building a resilient and science-driven 
public health system. This bill will enhance the country's health security framework and 
ensure timely and coordinated responses to health threats by institutionalizing evidence- 
based strategies, streamlining emergency responses, and modernizing disease 
surveillance. This bill reflects the government's commitment to safeguarding the Filipino 
people from current and future public health challenges.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly 
sought.
tHAlEAN


/ ..
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
S.B. No. 1Q98
^ Senate
25 AUG-7 PI 30
RECEIVE! BY:
Introduced by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN
AN ACT
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR DISEASE PREVENTION AND 
CONTROL, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
1 
ARTICLE I
2 
TITLE AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES
3 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Center for
4 
Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) Act".
5 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and promote
6 
the right to health of all Filipinos and instill health consciousness among them. To this
7 
end, the State shall adopt an integrated, comprehensive, and evidence-informed
8 
approach consistent with the direction under Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal
9 
Health Care Act, and adopt a framework that shall foster a whole-of-system, whole-of-
10 
government, and whole-of-society approach, ensuring clear delineation of tasks among
11 
existing agencies and maximizing current mandates. The State shall also allot the


1 
necessary support and institutional resources to provide for effective disease prevention
2 
and control through a high-level public institution imbued with the capacity, competence,
3 
and authority to confront global and local public health risks.
4 
SEC. 3. Objectives. - The objectives of this Act are the following:
5 
a) Protect the Filipino people from the impact of all diseases of public health
6 
importance;
7 
b) Develop policies, plans, and protocols to improve identified areas in the
8 
International Health Regulations hazards;
9 
c) Clarify governance, decision-making, communication, and 
coordination
10 
processes and protocols related to identifying, diagnosing, forecasting,
11 
preventing, controlling, eliminating, eradicating, and monitoring all diseases of
12 
public health importance;
13 
d) Formulate and implement policies, plans, programs, and projects for the
14 
promotion of scientific and technological activities for both the public and
15 
private sectors, and ensure that the results of scientific and technological
16 
activities are properly applied and utilized to uphold technical and scientific
17 
integrity in decision-making and response;
18 
e) Ensure swift, coordinated, and data-driven surveillance and response through
19 
the Department of Health (DOH), epidemiology and surveillance units, public
20 
health laboratory systems, points of entry, and the Disaster Risk Reduction and
21 
Management System;
22 
f) Provide the overall national framework and strategic direction for the
23 
establishment of a health laboratory system;
24 
g) Maintain a pool of in-house experts who shall serve as the technical authority
25 
and shall provide evidence-informed guidance on standards, technologies, and
26 
analytics for epidemiology, disease control, prevention, elimination,
27 
eradication, health emergency preparedness, and response; and
28 
h) Ensure the development and implementation of a shared risk and crisis
29 
communication plan with the DOH, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),


1 
and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RUM), to be known under this
2 
Act as the Philippine Research Institute of Medicine.
3
4 
ARTICLE II
5 
DEFINITION OF TERMS
6 
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:
7 
a) Commodities for public health emergencies - refer to health products
8 
necessary for public health emergency response. These may include vaccines,
9 
therapeutics, medical devices, and ancillary supplies.
10 
b) Disease - refers to pathologic acute or rapidly developing and chronic or long-
11 
standing conditions that cause harmful deviations from normal structure or
12 
function and may be due to infectious agents or their toxic products, which
13 
may be transmitted from a reservoir to a susceptible host (either directly from
14 
an infected person or animal or indirectly through the agency of an
15 
intermediate plant or animal host, vector, or the inanimate environment, or
16 
coming from laboratories intentionally or unintentionally) or may be the result
17 
of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioral
18 
factors. This shall refer to all diseases, including 
communicable and non-
19 
communicable diseases.
20 
c) Disease Surveillance - refers to the ongoing systematic collection, analysis,
21 
interpretation, and dissemination of outcome-specific data for use in the
22 
planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice in terms of
23 
epidemics, emergencies, and disasters. A disease surveillance system includes
24 
the functional capacity for data analysis as well as the timely dissemination of
25 
these data to persons who can undertake effective prevention and control
26 
activities.
27 
d) Health Research - refers to research or research-related activities that seek to
28 
provide timely and quality evidence to address knowledge gaps in areas related
29 
to identifying, diagnosing, forecasting, preventing, controlling, eliminating and
30 
eradicating, and monitoring diseases of public health importance.


2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
e) International Health Regulations - refer to an international agreement 
managed by the World Health Organization (WHO) that is focused on 
addressing serious public health threats that have the potential to spread 
beyond a country's borders to other parts of the world. It defines the standards 
that countries must meet to prevent, detect, and respond to public health 
threats.
f) Public health emergency - refers to an occurrence or imminent threat of an 
illness or health condition that:
i. 
Is caused by any of the following:
1. Bioterrorism;
2. Appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicated 
infectious agent or biological toxin;
3. Natural disaster;
4. Chemical attack or accidental release;
5. Nuclear attack or accident; or
6. Attack that uses or caused by an accidental release of 
radioactive materials; and
ii. 
Poses a high probability of any of the following:
1. Large number of deaths in the affected population;
2. Large number of serious injuries or long-term disabilities in the 
affected population;
3. 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;
4. International exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses 
a significant risk to the health of citizens of other countries; or
5. Trade and travel restrictions.
g) Public health event- refers to either a public health emergency or a public 
health threat due to biological, chemical, radio-nuclear, or environmental 
agents.
4


1 
h) Public health laboratories - refer to facilities responsible for providing timely
2 
and reliable diagnostic results, primarily for improvement of patient outcomes,
3 
disease prevention, control, and surveillance, population-based interventions,
4 
and outbreak emergency response. They shall perform core public health and
5 
environmental activities, including reference tests for diseases of public health
6 
importance.
7 
i) Public health threat -re^ersX.0 any situation orfactorthat may presenta danger
8 
to the health of the people.
9 
j) Notifiable disease - refers to a disease that, by legal requirements, must be
10 
reported to the public health authorities.
11 
k) Quarantine - refers to the restriction of activities and/or separation from others
12 
of suspect persons who are not ill, or of suspect baggage, containers,
13 
conveyances, or goods, in such a manner as to prevent the possible spread of
14 
infection or contamination.
15 
I) Response - refers to the implementation of specific activities to control further
16 
spread of infection, outbreaks, or epidemics and prevent reoccurrence. It
17 
includes verification, contact tracing, rapid risk assessment, case measures,
18 
treatment of patients, risk communication, the conduct of prevention activities,
19 
and rehabilitation.
20 
ARTICLE III
21 
CREATION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR DISEASE
22 
PREVENTION AND CONTROL
23 
SEC. 5. Creation of the Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control. - There
24 
is hereby established an agency to be known as the Philippine Center for Disease
25 
Prevention and Control, hereinafter referred to as "CDC." The CDC shall be an agency
26 
directly under the DOH's Office of the Secretary.
27 
SEC. 6. Functions of the CDC. -The CDC shall be a science-based organization that
28 
shall be the technical authority on forecasting, analysis, strategy, and standards
29 
development for the prevention and control of all diseases of public health importance
30 
and health security events, whether domestic or international in origin. The CDC shall


1 
coordinate with centers for disease control of other countries and act as the National
2 
Focal Point of the Philippines for International Health Regulations concerns.
3 
For purposes of this Act, the "National Focal Point" shall refer to a national office or
4 
center that is accessible at all times for International Health Regulations related
5 
communications with the WHO and relevant sectors within the country.
6 
The functions of the CDC shall include, but not limited to, the following;
7 
a) Develop strategies, standards, and policies for disease prevention and
8 
control;
9 
b) Implement disease surveillance and field epidemiology activities;
10 
c) Perform data collection and analytics;
11 
d) Establish and strengthen public health laboratories;
12 
e) Recommend actions for public health threats to appropriate national
13 
government bodies;
14 
f) Lead public health and risk communications;
15 
g) Conduct and manage health research and evidence synthesis;
16 
h) Build local capacity for surveillance and health research; and
17 
i) Promote scientific integrity by ensuring that all its products are technically
18 
accurate, scientifically and ethically sound, and useful to the government and
19 
the intended population through the institutionalization of appropriate
20 
mechanisms and bodies.
21 
The CDC shall perform other functions as may be mandated by law or duly delegated
22 
by relevant authorities, as well as those that may be necessary or expedient for the
23 
performance of its mandate under this Act.
24 
The CDC shall submit annual detailed cost work plans relating to its functions to the
25 
Secretary of Health for approval.
26 
SEC. 7. Structure of the CDC. -
27 
a) The CDC shall be headed by a Director General.
28 
b) The CDC shall have established component centers that shall lead and
29 
coordinate the major functions of the CDC and establish strategic linkages


2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28 
29
and partnerships to fulfill its mandate. In line with the CDC's functions, each 
of the following component centers shall be headed by a Deputy Director 
General:
i. 
Center for Health Statistics. The Center for Health Statistics shall provide 
the national leadership in health statistics, data analytics, and health 
information systems management of non-epidemiologic surveys in 
coordination with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) 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, and innovations, 
among others; and expand its portfolio of national health-related 
surveys that it develops and manages to complement existing national 
health surveys being managed by other national agencies.
ii. 
Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance. The Center for Epidemiology 
and Surveillance shall lead and execute a national public health 
surveillance strategy and shall perform the functions and obligations of 
the Epidemiology Bureau and the DOH under Sections 5, 6, and 8 of 
Republic Act No. 11332, or 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 International Health Regulations processes; and 
to expand its technical expertise to include other and emerging branches


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
and types of epidemiology and relevant epidemiologically related 
approaches.
c) Research Institute for Tropica! Medicine (RUM) - The RITM, which shall 
henceforth be referred to as the Philippine Research Institute of Medicine, 
shall be directly under the CDC and continue to perform its current functions 
through its Clinical Research Division, Laboratory Research Division, and 
Biologies Manufacturing Division. To complement the CDCs functions, the 
Philippine Research Institute of Medicine shall perform the following 
additional functions:
i. 
lead evidence-informed policymaking for the prevention and control of 
all diseases, which as defined in Section 4 of this Act includes 
communicable and non-communicable diseases, through the synthesis 
of available evidence;
ii. 
conduct high-quality health research and develop evidence-informed 
strategies and standards of care, and provide scientific inputs to guide 
the development, evaluation, and improvement of public health 
programs;
iii. 
develop science-informed standards to address public health threats, 
in partnership with academe, professional societies, research bodies, 
the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Science and 
Technology (DOST);
iv. 
develop and provide the overall strategic direction, policies, standards, 
and plans in the implementation of the Philippine Health Laboratory 
System (formerly the RITM's laboratories, DOH's Health Laboratories, 
and other identified national laboratories) and the institutionalization 
of stand-alone CDC public health laboratories, including national 
reference laboratories, subnational, and regional public health 
laboratories, which shall be expanded through the establishment of 
streamlined diagnostic tests and surveillance of diseases of public 
health importance into stand-alone laboratories across the nation and
8


2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
by ensuring an effective and efficient quality management system for 
all clinical and other health laboratories in partnership with the DOH: 
Provided, That the Philippine Research Institute of Medicine shall lead 
the country's public health laboratory response for rapid detection of 
emerging and reemerging public health threats;
V. promote and develop innovative science, technologies, and processes 
in support of CDC's ability to protect the country from health, safety, 
and security threats, both foreign and local;
vi. 
manufacture vaccines and biologicals, consistent with the self-reliance 
action plan, subject to a positive recommendation issued by an 
independent study or body commissioned by relevant national 
government agencies;
vii. 
develop and implement, together with other agencies, such as DOST 
and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), programs for vaccine 
and biologies capacity building on human resources, infrastructures, 
and technology, among others;
viii. 
coordinate, oversee, and lead the development of the vaccine self- 
reliance national action plan, including sustainability models and plans 
on local vaccine development and involvement of the manufacturing 
industry;
ix. promote and advocate technology transfers and cross-border 
exchanges of scientific information, data, physical samples both at the 
vaccine and biologies research and development, and other steps in 
manufacturing and trade value chain;
X. establish linkages with local and international public and private 
partners and industries in vaccine and biologies development and 
manufacturing initiatives and collaborations; and
xi. perform such other necessary functions mandated under this Act, or 
as may be mandated by law, or as may be delegated by the Secretary 
of Health and/or the President.


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
Provided, That nothing in this Act shall prohibit the CDC from 
establishing additional divisions, bureaus, and offices under the Philippine 
Research Institute of Medicine.
d) The CDC shall have three (3) offices directly under the Director General to 
support the Center for Health Statistics, Center for Epidemiology and 
Surveillance, and the Philippine Research Institute of Medicine, namely:
Office for Health Economics;
Office for Policy and Planning; and 
Office for Administration, Finance, and Legal Affairs.
e) Technical committees, boards, commissions, councils, conferences, task 
forces, or similar groups shall be established to provide technical expert 
advice, ideas, and diverse opinions to the CDC. Advisory committees shall be 
composed of experts from different sectors with specific expertise necessary 
to fulfill their mandate: Provided, That membership to the advisory committee 
shall be renewed every three (3) years, but may be terminated earlier as 
deemed necessary.
f) Regional Centers of the CDC shall be established to strengthen local technical 
capacity for epidemiology and surveillance, health statistics, laboratory, and 
research that would support DOH regional offices and local government units 
(LGUs).
g) Additional offices may be created in accordance with the mandate of the CDC 
with the recommendation of the Director General and approval of the 
Secretary of Health in view of emerging needs of the health sector.
ARTICLE IV
OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE, MANAGEMENT, AND STAFF OF THE
CENTER
27 
SEC. 8. Reiationship with Existing Agencies and Offices. -
28 
a) Relationship between CDC and DOH Operations. The CDC shall be an agency
29 
under the DOH's Office of the Secretary. The DOH shall develop operational
10


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26 
27
and intersectoral policies to support implementation of strategies and 
standards developed by the CDC.
b) Relationship between CDC and the DOH Bureau of Quarantine. The CDC shall 
set the standards for international health surveillance and surveillance at 
ports of entry and coordinate with the Bureau of Quarantine for 
operationalization and stakeholder management.
c) Relationship between CDC and University of the Philippines - National 
Institute of Health (UP-NIH). The UP-NIH shall provide support to the CDC in 
developing and implementing its research agenda and in implementing 
programs to ensure the continuation of professional, academic, and personal 
capacity development of multisectoral stakeholders that will be engaged with 
the CDC.
d) Relationship between Regional Office of the CDC and DOH Regional Offices. 
The CDC shall have regional counterparts that will maintain technical capacity 
for epidemiology and surveillance, health statistics, laboratory, and research, 
as support to DOH regional offices and LGUs to support implementation of 
strategies and standards of the CDC.
e) Relationship between CDC and LGUs. Provinces, cities, and municipalities 
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 the necessary funding for 
the establishment of functionai Epidemiology and Surveillance Units based on 
standards set by the Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance and as 
provided for by law, including the creation of positions for needed Disease 
Surveillance Officers and field epidemiologists in line with the goal of building 
local capacity for health surveillance: Provided, That the CDC will provide 
technical support to LGUs.
11


1 
SEC. 9. Transfer of Agencies. -
2 
a) Restructuring of Affected Offices and Units. The following offices, including
3 
their administrative units, shall be restructured to ensure synergistic co-
4 
existence of the CDC and DOH to facilitate full operations of the CDC.
5 
i. The Health Laboratory Division of the Health Facility Development
6 
Bureau of the DOH, also referred to as the Office for Health Laboratories,
7 
and other identified national reference laboratories shall be absorbed by
8 
the Philippine Research Institute of Medicine and included in the
9 
Philippine Health Laboratory System.
10 
ii. The Epidemiology Bureau of the DOH shall be transferred to the Center
11 
for Health Statistics and Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance in
12 
phases. The functions of the National Epidemiology Center of the
13 
Epidemiology Bureau and disease and public health surveillance
14 
functions assigned to the DOH by law shall also be transferred to the
15 
Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance. In line with this, the Regional
16 
Epidemiology and Surveillance Units and Field Health Services
17 
Information System Units of the DOH Regional Offices shall be
18 
transferred to and be under the sole supervision and control of the CDC
19 
upon the effective transition of the Epidemiology Bureau to the CDC.
20 
The Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance shall set the
21 
standards for international health surveillance and surveillance at ports
22 
of entry and shall coordinate with the Bureau of Quarantine for
23 
operationalization and stakeholder management: Provided, That the
24 
screening and quarantine processes for inbound and outbound
25 
international travelers as provided under Sections 4 and 5 of Republic
26 
Act No. 9271, or the Quarantine Act of 2004 shall remain with the
27 
Bureau of Quarantine, aligned with the standards promulgated by the
28 
CDC.
29 
ill. The Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service
30 
(KMITS) of the DOH shall be restructured and rationalize its functions to
12


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
eliminate the overlaps and duplication with the standards and sectoral 
policy function of the Center for Health Statistics, 
iv. The Disease Prevention and Control Bureau shall be transformed into 
the Public Health Strategy and Management Bureau, and shall be 
responsible for developing operational strategy and guidelines aligned 
with the CDC's standards, stewarding intersectoral collaboration 
platforms, and ensuring strategic management of national health 
programs. The Disease Prevention and Control Bureau's standards 
development function shall be transferred to the Philippine Research 
Institute of Medicine: Provided, That the DOH Undersecretary for 
Operations and the DOH Regional Offices shall continue to perform their 
role in operational planning, coordination, and performance 
management.
V. The Communications Office of the DOH shall be a shared service among 
DOH offices, including the FDA, CDC, and Philippine Research Institute 
of Medicine, and shall perform the following functions, among others:
1. Develop strategic communication plans, including, but not 
limited to organizational risk and crisis communication plans;
2. 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;
3. Manage and activate crisis communication protocol for health 
risks and hazards, and institutional reputational risks;
4. Develop and implement corresponding capacity-building 
activities in relation to organizational risk and crisis 
communications;
5. Perform internal communication functions within the institution;
6. Develop and facilitate the approval of communication materials 
and policies as aligned with the approved communication plans;
13


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28 
29
7. Manage different platforms of the institution for release of 
communication materials; and
8. Foster, maintain, and continuously build external partnership 
and communication networks with public and private health 
institutions.
b) Transfer of Human Resource and Properties. 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 under Section 24 of this Act.
i. 
As a result of the reorganization under this Act, the DOH shall evaluate 
the credentials, skills, and work experience of all employees in affected 
agencies, offices, or bureaus and shall conduct matching to positions 
within the new offices/bureaus created based on the set qualification 
standards. The DOH shall develop a technical working group to ensure 
that Republic Act No. 6656, or "An Act to Protect the Security of Tenure 
of Civil Service Officers and Employees in the Implementation of 
Government Reorganization" shall be properly observed towards the 
protection of the security of tenure of affected employees and shall 
institute mechanisms for retooling. To this end, 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 within ninety (90) days from the date of 
effectivity of their separation; and
ii. 
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.
14


1 
SEC. 10. Salary, Staffing Pattern and Qualifications. -The CDC staffing requirement
2 
shall be supported to ensure its role as the technical authority in the prevention and
3 
control of all diseases of public health importance. Subject to the review and approval of
4 
the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Secretary of Health shall
5 
determine the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the CDC, in accordance
6 
with existing Civil Service Commission (CSC) laws, rules, and regulations: Provided, That
7 
the existing law on salary scales of government employees shall not apply in determining
8 
the salary scale of scientific and highly technical staff.
9 
Members of advisory committees shall receive a per diem allowance for each
10 
meeting attended. The CDC shall include a summary of the amounts deemed necessary
11 
for the expenses of advisory committees in its budget recommendations: Provided, That
12 
all in-house technical and scientific staff, expert pools, and 
members of advisory
13 
committees shall be allowed to practice their profession and receive additional
14 
compensation from such engagements: Provided, further, That all employed staff and
15 
engaged in-house experts shall submit declaration of conflict-of-interest, non-disclosure
16 
agreement, and other pertinent documentary requirements as may be deemed necessary.
17 
All CDC personnel shall be authorized to undergo secondment to local and
18 
international academic and science-based organizations, local and international academic
19 
or technical training 
and capacity-building, or other similar knowledge exchange
20 
mechanisms to maintain the technical expertise necessary to implement the roles and
21 
responsibilities assigned to them: Provided, That the mechanisms for return of service
22 
are implemented, to be determined by the CDC and approved by the Secretary of Health.
23 
SEC. 11. Director General, Deputy Director Generals, and Directors. -
24 
1) Appointment of the Director General. The Director General shall be appointed
25 
by the President, with the rank of Undersecretary, upon the recommendation
26 
of the Secretary of Health, based on technical expertise, academic
27 
background, and appropriate work experience.
28 
2) Appointment of the Deputy Director Generals. The Director General shall be
29 
assisted by Deputy Director Generals, with the rank of Assistant Secretary.
30 
They shall oversee the functions of the Offices and Centers, and any
15


2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
additional offices created in accordance with Section 7 of this Act. The Deputy 
Director Generals shall likewise be appointed by the President, upon the 
recommendation of the Secretary of Health, based on technical expertise, 
academic background, and appropriate experience.
3) Appointment of Directors. The Director General shall be assisted by the 
following:
a) Director for Health Economics Service with the rank of Director IV;
b) Director for Policy and Planning with the rank of Director IV; and
c) Director for Administration, Finance, and Legal Affairs with the rank of 
Director IV.
4) Qualifications and Eligibilities.
a) The Director General shall be a public health professional, must be a 
licensed medical doctor, with at least 15 years of combined post­
graduate experience in relevant fields of medicine, public health, 
research, and management;
b) The Deputy Director General of each Center shall possess a 
postgraduate degree, preferably a doctorate, in fields related to 
medicine, public health or research, with management experience in 
such fields; and
c) The Directors directly under the Office of the Director General 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.
5) Powers and Functions of the Director General.
a) Provide leadership, policy guidance, coordination, technical expertise, 
and services to promote the development and implementation of the 
CDC's national programs;
16


2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
b) Determine the occurrence of a public health emergency and with the 
concurrence of the Secretary of Health, certify to the President of the 
Philippines the occurrence of a public health emergency;
c) Notify the WHO and other focal points of any public health emergency 
or incident in accordance with International Health Regulations 
guidelines, and lead in the coordination of public health response with 
said bodies and National Focal Points;
d) Institute public health surveillance programs in accordance with 
Republic Act No. 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable 
Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act and as such, 
impose the following:
i. Require all public and private hospitals, clinics, health facilities, 
laboratories, institutions, workplaces, schools, prisons, ports, 
airports, establishments, communities, other government 
agencies, and non-governmental organizations to accurately 
and immediately report notifiable disease and public health 
events to CDC;
ii. Require all public and private hospitals, clinics, health facilities, 
and laboratories to submit health and health-related data, 
which shall include administrative, public health, medical, 
pharmaceutical, and financing data to CDC; and
iii. Direct Disease Surveillance Officers, Epidemiology and 
Surveillance Units, CDC Laboratories, Philippine Health 
Laboratory System, pharmacies, and those employed by the 
LGUs involved in surveillance and response to report 
information required by the CDC at all times and as soon as 
practicable.
Failure of said establishments to report to the CDC shall 
constitute as a violation of Section 9 (d) and (e) of Republic Act 
No. 11332.
17


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
e) Coordinate with the relevant agencies to furnish the 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.
For purposes of this Act, "epidemiological investigation" shall 
refer to an inquiry on the incidence, prevalence, extent, source, mode 
of transmission, causation of, and other information pertinent to a 
disease occurrence;
f) Request the assistance of the Philippine National Police (PNP) or the 
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to locate any patients or 
persons suspected of contracting a communicable disease;
g) Certify to the President of the Philippines, through the Secretary of 
Health, the termination of a public health emergency, which may serve 
as basis for the de-escalation and eventual termination of emergency 
response activities;
h) Develop policies with provisions on penalties for local implementation 
and enforcement, in consultation with the Secretary of Health:
i. 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. Provide public health preventive measures and intervention 
strategies such as health education, promotion and advisories, 
isolation, quarantine, inspections, fumigation, disinfection.
18


2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
i)
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 such as 
veterinary quarantine, plant quarantine, and other measures as 
may be necessary.
Develop and coordinate with the Secretary of Health the containment 
strategies for inland contagion or community transmission of public 
health threats. During public health emergencies, the DOH shall 
coordinate with the Bureau of Quarantine in controlling, directing, and 
managing all quarantine stations, grounds, and anchorages, and in 
designating their boundaries in accordance with Section 6 of Republic 
Act No. 9271 or the Quarantine Act of 2004;
j) Provide or obtain technical assistance to or from regional and local 
health departments, private agencies, and international and 
supranational agencies before, during, and after public emergencies;
k) Develop a shared risk communication plan in coordination with the 
DOH and the FDA;
l) Liaise with other government agencies, non-governmental 
organizations, international 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;
m) Coordinate with appropriate DOH Offices regarding administrative and 
program matters;
n) Appoint eligible persons in accordance with Civil Service Law, rules and 
regulations, and this Act;
o) Delegate the powers vested under this Act to the Deputy Director 
Generals; and
p) Perform such other functions as may be mandated by law, or as may 
be delegated by the Secretary of Health and/or the President.
19


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28 
29
b)
c)
Sec. 12. Special Powers of the President - Upon the certification of the existence of 
a public health emergency, in accordance with Section ll(5)(b) of this Act, the President 
may exercise the special powers, including mobilization of the governmental and 
nongovernmental agencies, including the private sector. The President shall respond to 
the threats and be authorized to do the following functions:
a) Develop and initiate the implementation of national policies to prevent and 
mitigate further transmission of diseases of public health importance;
Direct the DILG, for proper information dissemination to LGUs of all rules, 
regulations, and directives issued by the National Government pursuant to this 
Act: Provided, That all LGUs are authorized to develop localized policies and 
interventions provided these are aligned with the national policy, rules and 
regulations;
Direct the DOH to ensure adequate and equitable distribution of health 
workers during public health emergencies and the provision of social benefits 
and protection of health workers and their families and other household 
members against discrimination;
d) 
Ensure that concerned government agencies implement measures to protect 
the people from hoarding, profiteering, injurious speculations, manipulation of 
prices, 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 and 
devices, 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;
e) 
Ensure through concerned government agencies that the donations intended 
to address 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 and commodities for 
donation duly certified by the national regulatory authorities or their accredited
20


1 
third party from countries with established regulation shall be automatically
2 
cleared; and
3 
f) Perform such other functions and activities, as deemed necessary.
4 
ARTICLE V
5 
RESPONSE ACTION
6 
SEC. 13, Response Cascade. - In case of public health emergencies due to
7 
biological, chemical, and toxic events:
8 
a) The CDC, through the Philippine Research Institute of Medicine, shall prepare
9 
and disseminate to the public and private sector the relevant technical
10 
information and guidance;
11 
b) The DOH, through the Public Health Strategy and Management Bureau, shall
12 
develop operational and intersectoral strategies guided by the strategies and
13 
standards developed by the CDC;
14 
c) The DOH, through its regional offices, shall work closely with CDC, through its
15 
regional CDCs to immediately respond to the public health emergency. When
16 
necessary, the DOH shall tap into the Disaster Risk Reduction and
17 
Management System to effectively respond to public health emergencies;
18 
d) The CDC, through the Philippine Research Institute of Medicine, shall activate
19 
the public health laboratory response network and continuously provide
20 
guidance for core laboratory programs in quality management, laboratory
21 
medicine and safety and security programs, laboratory information
22 
management and surveillance, research and development, and training;
23 
e) The CDC, through the Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance, shall certify
24 
the veracity of the official data to be used as basis for response and for public
25 
reporting, and provide standards and overall guidance to the Bureau of
26 
Quarantine for the institutionalization of disease surveillance at all points of
27 
entry and exit;
28 
f) The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and any
29 
telecommunications entity as defined under Republic Act No. 7925 or the
21


2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
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, in coordination with the CDC, may undertake the 
following functions in case of public health events:
1) 
Hire, transfer, and deploy health personnel;
2) Implement a whole-of-government and whole-of-society public health 
emergency preparedness and response, in cooperation with the DILG, 
LGUs, and the private sector;
3) 
Strictly enforce and augment border control and surveillance, in 
coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Bureau of 
Quarantine, Bureau of Immigration, Philippine Ports Authority, 
Department of Agriculture, and Bureau of Customs;
4) Commission research in coordination with DOST;
5) 
Promote treatment, 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 with the Department 
of Justice;
6) 
Decontaminate any facility or decontaminate or destroy any material 
when the CDC reasonably suspects that the same may endanger public 
health, subject to the payment of just compensation guaranteed under 
the Constitution;
7) 
Issue and enforce measures for safe handling and disposal of human 
and animal remains; and
8) 
Require any health or funeral facility authorized by law to perform such 
services as are reasonable and necessary to respond to a public health 
emergency.
22


1 
ARTICLE VI
2 
SPECIAL POWERS/AUTHORITY TO ENABLE RESPONSE
3 
SEC. 14. Authority for Other Professions to Administer, Dispense, and Provide
4 
Commodities for Public Heaith Emergencies. - Notwithstanding any law to the contrary,
5 
the Secretary of Health, with the recommendation of the CDC, shall allow other health
6 
and allied medical professionals, such as pharmacists and midwives, who are duly trained
7 
by the DOH or its authorized representatives, to administer, dispense, and provide
8 
commodities considered as vital for public health emergencies with special authorization
9 
or regular certificate of registration from the FDA.
10 
SEC. 15. Issuance of Special Regulatory Authorizations. - The CDC shall recommend
11 
to the Secretary of Health the implementation of interventions under special regulatory
12 
authorization issued by the FDA, pursuant to Section 4 of Republic Act No. 3720, as
13 
amended by Republic Act No. 9711, or the FDA Act of 2009. In consultation with the
14 
Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC), the FDA shall be authorized to issue
15 
special authorizations for commodities during public health emergencies, provided that
16 
the following are complied with:
17 
a) The special regulatory authorization is based on the totality of available
18 
scientific evidence, including data from adequate and well-documented
19 
controlled trials, and it is reasonable to believe that the health product may
20 
be effective to prevent, diagnose, or treat the disease/s of concern;
21 
b) The potential benefits of the health product when used to diagnose, prevent,
22 
or treat disease/s of concern outweigh the known and potential risks, if any;
23 
and
24 
c) There is no adequate, approved, and available alternative to the health
25 
product for diagnosing, preventing, or treating disease/s of concern.
26 
In the event that the declared public health emergency is lifted, special
27 
authorizations issued by the FDA shall have provisional validity for a period of one (1)
28 
year from the date of lifting of the declaration for the sole purpose of exhausting
29 
remaining supplies.
23


1 
SEC. 16. Inter-agency Cooperation and Confidentiality. - For the purpose of
2 
expediting the review of evidence, product authorization or registration, and the
3 
appropriate release of recommendations and supporting policies, the DOH, FDA, HTAC,
4 
and other relevant government agencies shall, without need for notice or demand,
5 
immediately provide each other with any and all needed information: Provided, That
6 
proprietary submissions of data, which include non-disclosure agreements with
7 
manufacturers, traders, distributors, or other sources, shall also be subject of non-
8 
disclosure agreements with other concerned agencies.
9 
SEC. 17. Procurement of Commodities and Services for Public Health Emergencies
10 
by the DOH. - The CDC shall recommend to the Secretary of Health the procurement of
11 
essential commodities and services during public health emergencies. The DOH and
12 
authorized parties, such as the LCDs and private entities, shall be allowed to procure
13 
commodities for public health emergencies that are recommended by any of the
14 
following:
15 
a) HTAC, pursuant to Section 34 of Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal
16 
Health Care Act;
17 
b) WHO; or
18 
c) Similar emergency authorizations from reputable and stringent regulatory
19 
authorities of other countries.
20 
To this end, the President may authorize the DOH and other parties to enter into
21 
alternative modes of expedited procurement with United Nations Agencies, international
22 
organizations, or international financing institutions and their operational arms, such as,
23 
but not limited to, the WHO, United Nations Office for Project Services, United Nations
24 
Children's Fund, and other third parties, subject to the rules and policies set by the
25 
Department of Finance (DOF).
26 
Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the DOH may disburse funds as advance
27 
payment if required by the manufacturer, trader, or distributor: Provided, That the
28 
authority to make advance payment shall be for the procurement of commodities for
29 
public health emergencies and to secure other goods and services necessary for their
24


1 
storage, transport, deployment, and administration: Provided further, That the
2 
distribution and administration of unauthorized commodities for public health
3 
emergencies shall be prohibited.
4 
Health Technology Assessment shall not be required for repurposing or stock
5 
realignment of commodities during public health emergencies that have already been
6 
procured by the DOH, LGUs, and private sector entities: Provided, That repurposing or
7 
stock realignment shall be in accordance with the indication of its use as approved by the
8 
FDA.
9 
SEC. 18. Authority to Direct the Operations of Private Estabiishments During Pubiic
10 
Health Emergencies. - Consistent with Section 17, Article XII of the Constitution, when
11 
public interest so requires, the President, during public health emergencies, may direct
12 
the operations of any privately-owned hospitals and medical and health facilities,
13 
including passenger vessels, and other establishments, to perform functions and provide
14 
support services for public health emergency response, including housing health workers;
15 
serving as quarantine areas, quarantine centers, medical relief and aid distribution
16 
locations, or other temporary medical facilities; and ferrying health, emergency, and
17 
frontline personnel and other persons: Provided, That the management and operation of
18 
such establishments shall be retained by the owners: Provided further, That reasonable
19 
compensation for any additional damage or costs incurred by the owner or the possessor
20 
of the subject property solely on account of complying with the directive shall be given
21 
to the person entitled to the possession of such private properties or businesses after the
22 
situation has stabilized or at the soonest time practicable: Provided finally. That if the
23 
foregoing establishments unjustifiably refuse or signify that they are no longer capable
24 
of operating their enterprises for the purpose stated herein, the President may take over
25 
their operations subject to the limits and safeguards enshrined in the Constitution.
26 
SEC. 19. Transition to Regular Authorization. - The FDA shall be authorized to
27 
develop specific guidelines on the transition of the regulatory authorization of
28 
commodities for public health emergencies from special use authorization to regular
29 
certificate of registration. This is in consideration of the time needed to process
30 
applications of health products for public health emergencies. The granting of a regular
25


1 
certificate of registration by the FDA to the first brand deemed suitable for such
2 
registration shall not immediately revoke all other special authorizations granted by the
3 
FDA to other brands, any law to the contrary notwithstanding: Provided, That once the
4 
DOH and the FDA had determined that the suppliers granted with regular certificate of
5 
registration have enough capacity to supply the country's projected needs, all other
6 
special authorizations issued shall be deemed revoked by this Act, without prejudice to
7 
their holders completing the process to obtain a regular certificate of registration;
8 
Provided further, That any remaining stocks with a valid shelf-life but with a special
9 
authorization revoked pursuant to this provision shall either be donated to a country
10 
where its use is still authorized by its national regulatory authorities, or held in storage
11 
until it is registered or disposed of appropriately upon the termination of its shelf-life.
12 
SEC. 20. Immunity from Liabiiity. - Notwithstanding any law to the contrary,
13 
program implementors, public officials and employees, health care workers and non-
14 
health care workers, whether public or private, who are authorized to carry out and are
15 
actually involved in public health emergency response shall be immune from suit and
16 
liability under Philippine laws with respect to all claims arising out of, related to, or
17 
resulting from the administration or use of covered countermeasures under the public
18 
health emergency response in the discharge of the abovementioned covered persons'
19 
official duties, except those arising from willful misconduct and gross negligence.
20 
The members of the FDA and the National Adverse Events Following Immunization
21 
Committee and its regional counterparts during the conduct of monitoring for probable
22 
adverse effects from the commodities for public health emergency shall similarly enjoy
23 
the privileges given under this section, waiving any liability unless the said members'
24 
actions are tantamount to gross negligence or willful misconduct.
25 
SEC. 21. Enabiing Locai Vaccine Manufacturing. - The DOH and the CDC, together
26 
with the DOST and DTI and other entities concerned, shall develop initiatives for
27 
strengthening scientific and technological capabilities in responding to public health
28 
emergencies, including promoting vaccine self-reliance in the country. The Vaccine Self-
29 
Reliance National Action Plan shall serve as a roadmap for all stakeholders at all levels to
30 
guide the development of policies, strategies, and initiatives, such as but not limited to.
26


1 
incentivizing investment and maintenance of vaccine manufacturing infrastructure, both
2 
public and private.
3 
The National Government, through the DOF, shall ensure the provision of incentives,
4 
such as tax exemptions, tax breaks, or remittance, and other financing mechanisms, as
5 
applicable, to promote and enable the establishment of local vaccine manufacturing in
6 
the Philippines.
7 
ARTICLE VII
8 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
9 
SEC. 22. Funding Mechanism for Scientific Projects and Activities. - The CDC shall
10 
establish a grant mechanism to allow direct transfer of funds to eligible public or private
11 
institutions to perform approved scientific projects and activities, including primary and
12 
secondary research and clinical practice guideline development, as well as increased
13 
training and capacity-building opportunities for CDC personnel, in support of the priorities
14 
of the CDC.
15 
SEC. 23. Intergovernmental Coiiaborative Activities. -The CDC shall recommend to
16 
the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of Flealth multilateral and bilateral
17 
agreements that the country may adopt to strengthen its collaborative mechanisms with
18 
other countries.
19 
SEC. 24. Transitory Provision. - The CDC, in coordination with the DOFI and LGUs,
20 
shall craft a multi-year plan to ensure the timely implementation of this Act. To this end,
21 
the multi-year plan shall include, but not limited to the following:
22 
a) Phased expansion of the capacity of the CDC to cover other health conditions or
23 
threats in view of the needs of the Philippine health sector;
24 
b) Transfer of human resource and properties;
25 
c) Requirement that every province and city-wide health system have full-time
26 
Disease Surveillance Officers, without prejudice to the need for Disease
27 
Surveillance Officers in municipalities, as may be deemed necessary;
28 
d) Establishment of sub-national laboratories and regional public health
29 
laboratories;
27


1 
e) Emergency funding and procurement of commodities and hiring during public
2 
health emergencies; and
3 
f) Establishment of infrastructure and acquisition of parcels of land to house the
4 
national offices under the CDC.
5 
The DOH, upon coordination with the CDC, shall submit the funding requirements
6 
with corresponding annual targets for the implementation of the multi-year plan to the
7 
DBM and concerned agencies, for the determination of appropriate national budget
8 
allocation: Provided, That for local budget allocation, the LGUs shall also appropriate the
9 
necessary funds to ensure the proper implementation of this Act, in relation to their
10 
devolved functions under Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act, and
11 
other existing laws.
12 
SEC. 25. Modernization Program. -The Director General shall, in consultation with
13 
the DOH, other concerned agencies of government and the private sector, develop a
14 
modernization program that will strengthen the human resource of the CDC, which is the
15 
key component of the country's disease prevention and control policy. The modernization
16 
program shall include, but not limited to, the acquisition and upgrading of appropriate
17 
technologies, laboratories, facilities, equipment, other needed resources, and the needed
18 
relocation and acquisition of additional land or location that would house the CDC.
19 
Within one hundred eighty (180) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Director
20 
General shall, with the recommendation of the DOH and DBM, submit the modernization
21 
program for the consideration and approval of Congress.
22 
The modernization program shall be immediately implemented and completed within
23 
five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act. Appropriations for the modernization
24 
program shall be charged against the annual General Appropriations Act.
25 
SEC. 26. Authority to Solicit, Negotiate, and Receive Donations, Grants, Gifts,
26 
Legacies, Endowments, and Contributions. - The CDC may solicit, negotiate with, and
27 
receive from any public or private domestic or foreign sources legacies, gifts, donations,
28 
grants, endowments, contributions or other transfers of ownership and/or possession of
29 
real or personal properties of all kinds for use in its operations, such as, but not limited
30 
to, upgrading of its facilities and equipment outlay, development and expansion of human
28


2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
resource, and acquisition of the appropriate office spaces to improve the delivery of its 
services to the public.
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 or other transfers of ownership and/or possession of real or personal 
properties 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: Provided, That the same, in addition to the annual budget of the CDC, shall 
be deposited and maintained in a separate account or fund, which may be used or 
disbursed directly by the Director General to fulfill 5 the original purpose of the funds.
SEC. 27. 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 the same shall be considered as allowable deduction from 
gross income for purposes of computing the taxable income of the donor, in accordance 
with the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended: Provided, That such other 
transfers of ownership and/or possession of all kinds of real or personal properties shall 
be exempt from all taxes.
SEC. 28. AnnuaiReport. -The CDC shall submit to Congress and the Office of the 
President an annual report containing the following:
a) Evaluation of the current and emerging threats to health in the country;
b) Progress in International Health Regulation commitments, as well as 
initiatives undertaken; and
c) Proposed legislative measures to address these threats.
SEC. 29. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of 
this Act shall be charged against the current year appropriations of the offices and 
agencies concerned. Thereafter, the funding requirements for the ensuing years shall be 
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
29


1 
SEC. 30. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOH shall promulgate the
2 
necessary implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) working days from the
3 
effectivity of this Act.
4 
SEC. 31. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
5 
unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall not be
6 
affected thereby.
7 
SEC. 32. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, other
8 
issuances, or parts thereof, inconsistent with any provision of this Act, are hereby
9 
repealed or modified accordingly.
10 
SEC. 32. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
11 
in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
30