Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _________
Introduced by: Hon. Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF ADDITIONAL QUARANTINE STATIONS,
GROUNDS AND ANCHORAGES IN ALL STRATEGIC AREAS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Joint External Evaluation of the IHR Core Capacities of the Republic of the Philippines
Mission report dated 10-14 September 2018 reveals that “The Philippines, similar to other countries in
the Region, continues to face threats from disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies. In
recent years, the Philippines National IHR Focal Point has reported several public health events to the
WHO, including human infection with MERS-CoV, Henipah virus, Zika Virus and Avian Influenza
A/H5N6.”
The emergence of the COVID-19 has likewise caught the country and many nations in the globe
by surprise.
In times like these, quarantine facilities serve as a control measure to curb the spread of
contagious diseases like MERS-CoV, Henipah virus, Zika Virus, Avian Influenza A/H5N6, and COVID-19.
It aims to prevent the exposure of healthy persons to potentially infected persons. Quarantine is used
to separate persons who, while not ill, have been exposed to an infectious agent and therefore may
become infectious.
In this light, this measure seeks to preempt the spread of communicable diseases and to
prepare for the spread of infectious diseases that may occur in the future by establishing additional
quarantine facilities in order to accommodate and contain infectious diseases that pose a significant
threat to public health.
Republic Act No. 9271, otherwise known as the “Quarantine Act of 2004” provides in Section 6
that “The Director of the Bureau shall control direct and manage all quarantine stations, grounds and
anchorages, and designate their boundaries. With the approval of the Secretary of Health, he shall
establish such additional quarantine stations, grounds and anchorages if, in his judgment, these are
necessary to prevent the introduction of diseases of international concern into the country. The
Director, in the same manner may also order the closure of non-functional quarantine, stations,
grounds and anchorages (emphasis supplied).
Although the power to establish such additional quarantine facilities was already lodged upon
the discretion of the Director of the Bureau of Quarantine, such authority may, however, be
constrained by the inadequacy of funds notwithstanding the provision that “The Bureau of Quarantine
shall be authorized to use at least fifty percent (50%) of the income generated, subject to accounting
and auditing rules and regulations” (Section 9).
According to the Department of Health, there are eighteen (18) provincial quarantine stations
in the country today. Such facilities are usually established along ports of entry into the country in
coordination with the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration, and the Philippine Ports Authority.
That quarantine stations are few and far between is not helped by the fact that the Philippines is one
of the world’s largest archipelago with vast shorelines and built-in geographic susceptibility.
July 4, 2022
3:42 pm
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Hence, this bill serves as an enabling legislation for the establishment of additional quarantine
stations, grounds and anchorages in all strategic areas throughout the country to contain the spread of
COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
In view thereof, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought.
Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan
4th District, Quezon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _________
Introduced by: Hon. Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF ADDITIONAL QUARANTINE STATIONS,
GROUNDS AND ANCHORAGES IN ALL STRATEGIC AREAS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. There shall be established pursuant to Section 6 of Republic Act No. 9271, otherwise
known as the “Quarantine Act of 2004”, additional quarantine stations, grounds and anchorages in all
strategic areas throughout the country.
SEC. 2. The Secretary of Health shall include in the Department's programs the establishment of
additional quarantine stations, grounds and anchorages, including the expansion of existing quarantine
facilities, as may be deemed necessary by the Director of the Bureau of Quarantine, the funding of
which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 3. The Secretary of Health shall establish adequate, effective, responsive and enabling
mechanisms and support systems that shall strengthen the coordination of relevant agencies of
government and the private sector to ensure the safety of persons under investigation, health workers,
and the community.
SEC. 4 The Secretary of Health, in consultation with appropriate government agencies, shall
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act within sixty (60)
days from its effectivity.
SEC. 5. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter of instruction,
administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in
a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
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