TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
1264
S. No.
^niaie
(©ftup of rt(f SsriTraiT
25 ftU6 27 A9 25
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH 
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE CAPABILITIES, 
ESTABLISHING FOR THIS PURPOSE THE CENTER FOR DISEASE 
PREVENTION AND CONTROL, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 15, Article II of the 1987 Constitution declares, "The State shall protect 
and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among 
them." Also, Section 11, Article XIII of the same declares that it is the responsibility 
of the State to "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."
The outbreak of the disease caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019- 
nCoV), now officially called by the World Health Organization the Coronavirus Disease 
2019 or "COVID-19," has caused over 7,099,375 reported deaths worldwide as of 27 
July 2025.1 In the Philippines, 66,900 people have died from COVID-19 as of the latest 
WHO report.2
1 World Health Organization. (2025), WHO COVID-19 dashboard: Reported deaths. Retrieved from 
https://data.who.int/dashboards/covidl9/deaths on August 14, 2025.
2 Same as Note No. 1.


The pandemic revealed deep vulnerabilities in the Philippine health care 
system—limited access to services, inadequate facilities, persistent disparities, and 
insufficient capacity to respond in fragile settings. It underscored the urgent need for 
an independent and competent National Center for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC) to strengthen preparedness, surveillance, and coordinated action in times of 
public health emergencies.
Even after the COVID-19, the Department of Health (DOH) continues to face 
other outbreaks such as dengue, influenza-like illnesses, and typhoid fever, as well as 
other novel diseases — all contributing to high and concerning morbidity and mortality 
rates.
On May 31, 2025, the DOH reported that, since 2024, the total monkeypox 
(mpox) cases have reached 911. This highlights the ongoing threat of emerging and 
re-emerging infectious diseases, even as COVID-19 remains a public health priority.3
Under this measure, the functions of the DOH's Disease Prevention and Control 
Bureau, Epidemiology Bureau, and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) 
will be consolidated into the CDC. This reform responds to the urgent need to 
strengthen the government's capacity to manage disease threats and control 
infectious diseases through a centralized, specialized, and fully empowered public 
health institution.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly 
sought.
LOREN LEGARDA
3 GMA Integrated News. (2025, May 31). DOH: Mpox cases actually dipped in May 2025; total cases 
911 since 2024. GMA News Online. Retrieved May 31, 
2025, from
httDs://www.qmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/947931/doh-more-mpox-cases-in-april-2025-
than-in-mav-total-cases-911-since-2024/storv/


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. No. 1264
i?.: v'Vf'l
^^ruafe
of tljc &tz((ta(p
25 AUG 27 A 9 :25
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH 
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE CAPABILITIES, 
ESTABLISHING FOR THIS PURPOSE THE CENTER FOR DISEASE 
PREVENTION AND CONTROL, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1, Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Center for
2 
Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy - It is the policy of the State to protect and
4 
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.
5 
The State also mandates the adoption of an integrated and comprehensive approach
6 
to health development.
7 
Towards this end, the State shall give high priority to the allocation of material
8 
and institutional resources to protect public health, ensuring that the Philippine health
9 
system is well-prepared to forecast, prevent, monitor, and control communicable
10 
diseases of both national and international concern, and to respond to other public
11 
health threats, as defined in Section 4(g) of this Act, arising from hazardous chemicals,
12 
radiological and nuclear events, and other non-infectious hazards, as well as related
13 
injuries and disabilities.
14 
Sec. 3. Scope and Coverage - This Act shall apply to all public health
15 
emergencies, whether arising from infectious diseases, hazardous chemical incidents.


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radiological and nuclear events, or other emergencies that pose a significant threat to
2 
public health.
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Sec. 4. Definition of Terms - As used in this Act:
4 
(a) Communicable disease, also known as a contagious disease, refers
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to an illness resulting from an infection, or a disease, which can be
6 
transmitted from an infected host individual or group to a particular
7 
individual or group. It spreads through direct bodily contact with an
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infected person, their discharges, or an object or surface they have
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contaminated;
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(b) Disease refers to an illness caused by a specific infectious agent
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affecting a susceptible individual, either directly or indirectly from an
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infected animal or person, or indirectly through an intermediate host,
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vector, or the environment, and includes conditions arising from
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hazardous chemical, radiological, or nuclear incidents that pose a
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significant threat to public health;
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(c) Disease surveillance refers to a systematic collection analysis,
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interpretation, and dissemination of outcomes and specific data for
18 
use in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health
19 
practice. A disease surveillance system includes the functional
20 
capacity for data analysis as well as the timely dissemination of these
21 
data to persons who can undertake effective disease prevention and
22 
control activities;
23 
(d) Epidemic or outbreak refers to an occurrence of more cases of
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disease than normally expected within a specific place or group of
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people over a given period of time;
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(e) Infectious disease refers to a clinically manifested disease of humans
27 
or animals resulting from an infection which can be communicable.
28 
(f) Public health emergency refers to an occurrence or imminent threat
29 
of an illness or health condition that:
30 
(1) Is caused by any of the following:
31 
(i) Bioterrorism;


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(ii) 
Appearance of a novel or previously controlled or 
eradicated infectious agent or biological toxin;
(iii) 
A natural disaster
(iv) 
A chemical attack or accidental release;
(v) 
A nuclear attack or accident; or
(vi) 
An attack or accidental release of radioactive materials; 
and,
(2) Poses a high probability of any of the following:
(i) 
A large number of deaths in the affected population;
(ii) 
A large number of serious injuries or long-term 
disabilities in the affected population;
(iii) 
Widespread exposure to an infectious or toxic agent 
that poses a significant risk of substantial harm to a 
large number of people in the affected population;
(iv) 
International exposure to an infectious or toxic agent 
that poses a significant risk to the health of citizens of 
other countries; or
(v) 
Trade and travel restrictions;
(g) Public Health Threat refers to any condition, event, or situation that 
poses, or is likely to pose, a significant risk to the health of the 
population, including but not limited to infectious diseases of national 
or international concern, hazardous chemical incidents, radiological 
or nuclear events, environmental or climatic factors, and other 
biological, physical, or technological hazards that may compromise 
health security.
(h) Quarantine refers to the physical separation and confinement of an 
individual or groups of individuals, who are or may have been 
exposed to a contagious or possibly contagious disease and who do 
not show signs or symptoms of a contagious disease, from non- 
quarantined individuals, to prevent or limit the transmission of the 
disease.


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Sec. 5. Creation of the Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control -
2 
The Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) is hereby created as
3 
an attached agency to the Department of Heaith (DOH) for poiicy and program
4 
coordination.
5 
Sec. 6. Powers, Functions, and Duties. —The CDC shail be the technicai
6 
authority on all matters regarding disease prevention and control. It shall exercise its
7 
mandate for the prevention, surveiilance, preparedness, and response to ail public
8 
health emergencies, whether arising from communicable diseases, hazardous
9 
chemicals, radiological and nuclear incidents, or other events posing significant risk to
10 
health security. To carry out the provisions of this Act, the CDC shall have the following
11 
powers, functions, and duties:
12 
(a) Policy and Standards Development:
13 
(1) Provide technical guidance to the deveiopment of policies,
14 
programs, standards, guidelines, and monitoring and evaluation
15 
systems on the forecasting, prevention, monitoring, and control of
16 
communicable diseases and related public health threats of both
17 
national and international concern, as defined under Section 4(g)
18 
of this Act;
19 
(2) Set the standards and the process for the establishment of
20 
Epidemiology and Surveillance Units or its corresponding
21 
surveillance reporting units, pursuant to law;
22 
(3) Provide quaiity assurance programs to ensure the quaiity of testing
23 
for iaboratories;
24 
(4) Conduct researches for deveiopment in support of the CDC
25 
mandate to forecast, prevent, monitor, and control communicable
26 
diseases and reiated public heaith threats of both nationai and
27 
international concern;
28 
(5) Recommend to the President through the DOH Secretary, the
29 
declaration of a state of a pubiic health emergency, in case of an
30 
epidemic of national or international concern; and,
31 
(6) Set the parameters for the declaration of the existence as well as
32 
the end of an epidemic.


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(7) Formulate and implement strategies for the prevention, risk 
reduction, and mitigation of public health threats arising from 
infectious, chemical, radiological, or other hazardous events, in 
coordination with relevant government agencies and local 
government units.
(b) Capacity Building and Technical Assistance:
(1) Develop, implement, and maintain training in specialized fields 
such as field epidemiology, health emergencies of biological 
concern, laboratory services, and infectious and tropical diseases;
(2) Assess and support the capabilities of health facilities and local 
government units (LGUs) on forecasting, preventing, monitoring, 
and controlling communicable diseases and related public health 
threats of both national and international concern; and,
(3) Provide technical assistance and expert services to DOH offices 
and collaborating and implementing agencies or offices on matters 
pertaining to forecasting, preventing, monitoring, and controlling 
communicable diseases and related public health threats of both 
national and international concern;
(c) Sectoral and Local Coordination:
(1) Promote coordination and collaboration with partner agencies and 
international and local organizations on matters pertaining to the 
CDC mandate, and ensure the timely dissemination of relevant 
scientific and technical information.
(2) Coordinate with the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources (DENR) for hazardous chemical events, the Philippine 
Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) for radiological and nuclear 
incidents, and other competent agencies to ensure integrated 
health emergency management.
(d) Surveillance:
(1) Develop implement and maintain an integrated surveillance 
system of communicable diseases, related public health threats, 
and other hazards covered under this Act;


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(2) Provide technical guidance on the development, implementation 
and maintenance, and monitoring of health system capacity such 
as operational capacities of health facilities, and performance 
management of the response systems, in terms of contact tracing, 
quarantine isolation, and other significant population-based health 
services;
(3) Investigate respond through surveillance and disease notification, 
investigation and conduct of field studies and research to 
outbreaks, epidemics, and other public health threats as the need 
arises;
(4) Develop and maintain a network of public health laboratories in 
support of epidemiology and surveillance activities;
(5) Facilitate the issuance of appropriate warnings to the regional CDC 
and health facilities in anticipation of impending public health 
threats and infectious disease outbreak;
(6) Utilize various information and communication technologies (ICT) 
in the management of data and dissemination of early warning 
and other appropriate information to stakeholders and the public; 
and,
(7) Develop communication methods for wider and more effective and 
unified delivery of critical public health information with national 
or international importance.
(e) Provide technical guidance on the procurement of vaccines, drugs, and 
diagnostics;
(f) 
Provide technical guidance on the monitoring and evaluation 
framework for disease prevention and control;
(g) Certify to the existence of an epidemic which shall be treated as a 
public health emergency; and
(h) Develop and disseminate timely, accurate, and accessible information 
to the public on all types of public health threats, ensuring proactive 
community engagement in preparedness and response.


1 
(i) Perform such other functions as may be mandated by law, or as may
2 
be duly delegated by relevant authorities.
3 
Sec 7. Director General. -The CDC shall be headed by a Director General with
4 
a rank of Undersecretary who shall be assisted by two (2) Deputy Directors General
5 
with a rank of Assistant Secretary. The Director General and the Deputy Directors
6 
General shall be appointed by the President from a list of at least three (3) nominees
7 
for each position to be submitted by the DOH Secretary. The Director General and
8 
Deputy Directors General shall have at least ten (10) years of relevant experience and
9 
proven expertise in the fields of public health and epidemiology.
10 
The Director General shall have the following powers and functions:
11 
(a) Manage and direct the activities and functions of the CDC;
12 
(b) Advise the DOH Secretary on policy matters concerning the Center's
13 
activities;
14 
(c) Recommend to the President, through the DOH Secretary, the exercise
15 
of special powers in case of an epidemic, including the declaration of
16 
a public health emergency;
17 
(d) Act as the national International Health Regulations Focal Point subject
18 
to consultation with DOH; and,
19 
(e) Perform other functions and powers that may be assigned by the DOH
20 
Secretary.
21 
Sec. 8. Transfer DOH Units Functions. — The following DOH units and their
22 
concerned divisions and functions are hereby transferred to the CDC:
23 
(a) Epidemiology Bureau;
24 
(b) Research Institute for Tropical Medicine;
25 
(c) Sexually Transmitted Disease - Acquired Immune Deficiency
26 
Syndrome Cooperative Central Laboratory;
27 
(d) Select functions of the International Health Surveillance Division of the
28 
Bureau of Quarantine as follows:
29 
(1) Passive international health surveillance; and,
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(2) Development of communication methods for wider and more
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effective delivery of critical public health information with
32 
international importance; and.


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(e) Technical and standard-setting functions of the Disease Prevention
2 
and Control Bureau related to communicable and epidemic-prone
3 
diseases.
4 
All powers, functions, assets, capital, records, funds, receivables, equipment,
5 
and facilities of the transferred DOH units or its division or function enumerated herein
6 
shall be transferred to the CDC. The Department of Health shall conduct an audit and
7 
inventory of assets, liabilities, and human resources of the transferred agencies to
8 
CDC without the need of conveyance or transfer of assignments.
9 
Sec. 9. Regional Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. - There shall be
10 
established Regional Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (RCDCs) in all regions
11 
of the country. Each Regional CDC shall be headed by a Regional Director, who shall
12 
be under the supervision of the CDC Director General.
13 
The functions of RCDCs include:
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(a) Prevention, control, and surveillance of diseases;
15 
(b) Provision of laboratory services for detection and identification of
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infectious disease agents from human, environmental samples, and
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food;
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(c) Maintenance of an integrated data management system;
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(d) Implementation of quality assurance programs for clinical 
and
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environmental laboratories through training consultation, certification,
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and proficiency testing;
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(e) Policy development;
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(f) Emergency response;
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(g) Public health-related research;
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(h) Training and education;
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(i) Maintenance of infectious disease hospitals for referral 
and
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management of cases;
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(j) Establishment of strong communication networks; and,
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(k) Other functions that may be assigned by the Director General.
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The RCDCs shall be composed of specialists in the fields of infectious diseases,
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public health, epidemiology, and similar fields.
32 
Sec. 10. Structure Staffing Pattern -
8


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(a) The CDC shall initially have the following offices, each to be headed by
2 
an officer with the salary and rank of Director IV:
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(1) Center for Epidemic Intelligence and Disease Surveillance;
4 
(2) Center for Research, Training, and Reference Laboratory;
5 
(3) Center for Infectious Disease Emergency Preparedness and
6 
Response;
7 
(4) Center for Policy and Program Development;
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(5) Communications Office; and
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(6) Administrative and Finance Office.
10 
(b) The CDC Director General, subject to the issuance of an executive
11 
order by the President and approval of the Department of Budget and
12 
Management (DBM), may create or abolish units, offices, and centers
13 
as needed to carry out all provisions of this Act.
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(c) (c)The CDC Director General, in consultation with the DOH and the
15 
DBM, shall:
16 
(1) Develop the organizational structure of the CDC at the national,
17 
regional, and local levels;
18 
(2) Determine the divisions and specific functions of each unit, center,
19 
or office of the CDC; and
20 
(3) Determine the staffing 
pattern, qualification standards,
21 
compensation, and position classification plan for the CDC subject
22 
to the approval of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the
23 
DBM.
24 
Sec. 11. Qualifications Standards for Appointment and Promotion. -The DOH
25 
shall, in consultation with the CSC, and pertinent agencies as may be necessary,
26 
develop the qualification standards in terms of education, training, and experience for
27 
all technical and non-technical positions in the CDC, and the system for promotion and
28 
succession plan in the CDC.
29 
Sec. 12. Continuing Competency Development Program. - The CDC shall
30 
through the Director General, devise and implement a continuing competency
31 
development program whereby all core personnel shall be required
32 
to update and enrich competencies through attendance in programs, studies.


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research, fellowships, workshops, and seminars, including training opportunities in
2 
reputable foreign CDCs. Compliance with the Continuing Competency Development
3 
Program shall be the mandatory basis for promotion within the CDC. The CDC shall
4 
develop mechanisms to tap funding opportunities to implement its Continuing
5 
Competency Development Program.
6 
Sec. 13. Modernization Program. - The Director General shall, in consultation
7 
with the DOH and other concerned agencies of government and the private sector,
8 
develop a modernization program that will strengthen the human health resource of
9 
the CDC which is the key component of the country's disease prevention and control
10 
policy. The modernization program shall include the acquisition and upgrading of
11 
appropriate technologies, laboratories, facilities, equipment, and other needed
12 
resources, and the needed relocation and acquisition of additional land or location that
13 
would house the CDC.
14 
Within one hundred eighty (180) days after the effectivity of this Act, the
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Director General shall, upon the recommendation of the DOH and DBM Secretaries,
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submit the modernization program for the consideration and approval of Congress in
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a joint resolution of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
18 
The modernization program shall be implemented over a period of five
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(5) years. Appropriations for the modernization program shall be provided in the
20 
annual General Appropriations Act (GAA). The modernization program shall likewise
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cover the development of surveillance and control capacity, workforce, and integrated
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data systems for communicable diseases, hazardous chemical incidents, radiological
23 
and nuclear events, and other public health threats covered by this Act.
24 
Sec. 14. Strengthened Epidemioiogy, Pubiic Heaith Surveiiiance,
25 
and Research Capacities. - To ensure that epidemiology and public health surveillance
26 
services are efficient and responsive, and public health surveillance and research
27 
capacities are strengthened and updated to international standards, the CDC shall:
28 
(a) Prioritize investments in upgrading of ICT and adequate and
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capacitated human resources for epidemiology, public health
30 
surveillance, and public health and clinical research;
10


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(b) Have a premier facility for clinical laboratory, epidemiologic and
2 
implementation research and training on infectious and tropical
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diseases and other health threats covered by this Act;
4 
(c) Develop performance-based incentives to private health facilities with
5 
established epidemiology and surveillance functions;
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(d) Re-nationalize local epidemiology and surveillance units (LESUs) that
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will solely provide epidemiology and disease surveillance services and
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provide assistance to the LCDs in the establishment and maintenance
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of surveillance systems, data management, and generation of strategic
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epidemiologic information. Provided, That the DOH, CDC, and DBM,
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shall develop the staffing pattern and qualification standards:
12 
Provided, further. That LESUs shall be under the direct supervision and
13 
control of the Regional CDCs;
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(e) Retain and provide incentives to technical experts, practitioners, and
15 
scientists, whereby the scientific career system is adopted, allowing
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them to continue their respective clinical and professional practice to
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pursue research studies and receive grants and honoraria, in
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consultation with the CSC. Qualified employees of the CDC and its
19 
attached units shail be covered by Republic Act No. 8439, otherwise
20 
known as Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers, and
21 
Other Science and Technology Personnel in Government;
22 
(f) Develop and implement training and research programs to develop
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more experts and practitioners in the field of epidemiology, and
24 
disease prevention and control; and,
25 
(g) Develop a mechanism to ensure interoperability and accessibility of
26 
surveillance systems.
27 
Sec. 15. Strengthened Disease Surveiiiance and Response. - The CDC shall
28 
establish integrated disease surveillance and response systems utilizing
29 
whenever necessary all technological means available while ensuring that data privacy
30 
and patient confidentiality are maintained. The CDC and authorized public authorities
31 
shall have complete access and right to collect personal information and other data,
32 
as may be deemed necessary in the fulfillment of their mandate. All data or information
11


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and samples collected pursuant thereto shall be used for public health concern
2 
purposes only and shall be exempted from the provisions of R.A. No. 10173, otherwise
3 
known as the Data Privacy Act of 2012 on the accessibility of data.
4 
Sec. 16. National Reference Laboratories - The CDC shall establish a new,
5 
state-of-the-art facility that will serve as the National Reference Laboratory (NRL),
6 
unifying all NRLs for biological, chemical, nuclear, and radiologic emergencies under
7 
one roof within five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act. Provided, That the existing
8 
NRLs in the East Avenue Medical Center, Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the
9 
Philippines, National 
Kidney Transplant Institute and San Lazaro Hospital shall
10 
continue to be under the respective hospitals. Provided further, That these existing
11 
NRLs shall serve as 
referral laboratories of the CDC and be included in the
12 
Modernization Program of the CDC.
13 
The NRL shall provide technical recommendations, laboratory confirmatory
14 
services, training, and external quality assurance, and perform surveillance, outbreak
15 
response, kit evaluation, and research. It shall oversee the functions and performance
16 
of the network of subnational laboratories (SNL).
17 
SNLs shall be established in all regions, with the capability of conducting
18 
confirmatory testing for routine surveillance samples and performing specialized tests.
19 
SNLs, whose functions include testing for routine surveillance and specialized
20 
tests, shall be under CDC administratively. Hospitals housing the SNLs shall create a
21 
separate unit for their regular hospital laboratory needs.
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The CDC, through the NRLs and SNLs, shall provide technical guidance and
23 
quality assurance programs to biosafety levels 2, 3, and 4 laboratories in the country,
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which shall be registered with and regulated by the DOH.
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Sec. 17. Emergency Stockpiles. - The CDC shall establish, maintain, and
26 
manage national strategic stockpiles of essential public health emergency supplies,
27 
including but not limited to personal protective equipment, pharmaceuticals, antidotes
28 
for chemical exposures, radiological and nuclear decontamination materials, and other
29 
critical response resources. Such stockpiles shall be regularly Inventoried, replenished,
30 
and prepositioned to ensure timely deployment during emergencies.
31 
Sec. 18. Simulation Exercises - The CDC, in coordination with relevant national
32 
government agencies, local government units, and licensed healthcare facilities, shall
12


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conduct annual all-hazards simulation exercises covering infectious disease outbreaks,
2 
chemical incidents, radiological and nuclear events, and other health emergencies.
3 
The results of such exercises shall be documented, evaluated, and used to improve
4 
national and local preparedness plans.
5 
Such simulation exercises shall be integrated into the National Disaster Risk
6 
Reduction and Management Plan and its sectoral and thematic programs, as
7 
applicable, to ensure alignment with national disaster preparedness and response
8 
strategies.
9 
Sec. 19. Community Preparedness Programs. - The CDC, in partnership with
10 
local government units, shall develop and implement hazard-specific community
11 
education and preparedness programs, tailored to address local vulnerabilities and
12 
capacities. Such programs shall include risk communication, basic response skills, and
13 
public awareness campaigns to strengthen community resilience against public health
14 
threats.
15 
Sec. 20. Authority to Soiicit, Negotiate, and Receive Donations, Grants, Gifts,
16 
Legacies, Endowments, and Contributions. -The CDC may solicit, negotiate with, and
17 
receive from any public or private domestic or foreign sources legacies, gifts,
18 
donations, grants, endowments, contributions, or other transfers of ownership and or
19 
possession of or personal properties of all kinds in favor and for the benefit of the
20 
CDC, which shall all be part of the special account in the general fund managed by
21 
the Bureau of Treasury.
22 
The Director General shall prescribe the measures necessary for the proper use,
23 
maintenance, safekeeping, and compliance with the terms and conditions if any of
24 
said donations, grants, endowments, or contributions transfers in accordance with
25 
pertinent accounting and auditing laws, rules and regulations.
26 
Sec. 21. Tax Exemptions. - Donations grants, gifts, endowments, legacies, and
27 
contributions used actually, directly, and exclusively for the purpose of the CDC shall
28 
be exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be considered as an allowable
29 
deduction from gross income for purposes of computing the taxable income of the
30 
donor in accordance with Sec. 34 (H)(2)(a) of the National Internal Revenue Code of
31 
1997 as amended. Likewise, such other transfers of ownership and or possession of
32 
real or personal properties of all kinds shall be exempt from all taxes.
13


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Sec. 22. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. — There shall be a Joint
2 
Congressional Oversight Committee on Disease Prevention and Control, jointly chaired
3 
by the Chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, and the
4 
House of Representatives Committee on Health. It shall be composed of five (5)
5 
members from the Senate and five (5) members from the House of Representatives,
6 
to be appointed by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of
7 
Representatives, respectively.
8 
Sec. 23. Appropriations. -The initial amount needed for the implementation of
9 
this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the offices and
10 
the RITM herein absorbed by the CDC. Thereafter, the funding of which shall be
11 
included in the annual GAA.
12 
The annual appropriations shall ensure adequate funding for the surveillance
13 
and control of communicable diseases and other public health threats covered by this
14 
Act, including workforce development and integrated data systems.
15 
Sec. 24. Transitory Provisions. —
16 
(a) Upon effectivity of this Act, the CDC shall develop a Framework for
17 
Infectious Diseases and Pandemic Preparedness, and prioritize the
18 
strengthening of the following functions:
19 
(i) 
Integrated disease surveillance and response;
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(ii) 
Sentinel surveillance;
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(iii) 
Laboratory-based surveillance;
22 
(iv) 
Periodic population-based surveillance and,
23 
(v) Preventing transmission of communicable diseases.
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(b) For the year during which this Act was approved, the unexpended
25 
portion of the budget of the offices and units transferred shall be
26 
utilized for establishing the CDC and initiating its operations, including
27 
the formulation of the rules and regulations necessary for the
28 
implementation of this Act;
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(c) To the greatest extent possible and in accordance with existing laws,
30 
all employees of the affected offices, agencies, and units shall be
31 
absorbed by the CDC. Personnel hired on a permanent basis and with
32 
appointments attested by the CSC who may be affected by the
14


1 
transition of DOH units to CDC, or who will not be absorbed in the new
2 
positions of the new staffing pattern of the different offices in the CDC,
3 
shall have the option to:
4 
(1) Be transferred to other units or offices within the DOH without
5 
reduction in pay; or
6 
(2) Avail of the applicable retirement benefits as provided under
7 
R.A. 6656, entitled An Act to Protect the Security of Tenure of
8 
Civil Service Officers and Employees in the Implementation of
9 
Government Reorganization and other relevant laws;
10 
(d) Incumbent DOH officials and employees of affected DOH offices may
11 
apply for and be transferred to the CDC, subject to an
12 
evaluation of their competency and CSC regulations;
13 
(e) Research grants acquired during the transition of DOH transferred
14 
units to CDC shall be utilized solely for the grants' intended purposes
15 
for each of the affected units or offices, and shall not be made available
16 
for budget realignments;
17 
(f) Existing contracts and agreements entered into by the affected offices
18 
with third parties prior to the enactment of this Act shall remain valid.
19 
The DBM, DOH, and CSC shall issue the implementing guidelines to
20 
ensure fair, orderly, and transparent implementation of paragraphs (e)
21 
and (f) of this section.
22 
Sec. 25. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one hundred and
23 
twenty (120) working days from the effectivity of this Act, the DOH Secretary shall
24 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for its implementation.
25 
Sec. 26. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
26 
invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect.
27 
Sec. 27. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or
28 
Other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
29 
repealed or modified accordingly.
30 
Sec. 28. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
31 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
15