NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
(®fficr of lljr &i ri
23 FEB 13 P4 :19
RECEIVED B\
SENATE 
S. No. 1860
(In Substitution of S.B. Nos. 12, 195, 544, 600, 679, 825, 1039, 1113, 1163, 1427, 
and 1477, taking into consideration House Bill No. 6522)
Prepared and submitted jointly by the Committees on Health and Demography, 
Finance, and Ways and Means, with Senators Cayetano (P.), Go, Poe, Zubiri, Estrada, 
Gatchalian, Escudero, Legarda, Ejercito, Revilla Jr., Villanueva and Padilla as authors 
thereof
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:
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ARTICLE I
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TITLE AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES
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SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Center
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for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) Act".
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to protect and
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promote the right to health of all Filipinos and instill health consciousness among
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them. To this end, the State shall adopt an integrated, comprehensive, and
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evidence-informed approach consistent with the direction under Republic Act No.
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11223 or the Universal Health Care Act, and adopt a framework that shall foster a
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whole-of-system, whole-of-government, and whole-of-society approach, ensuring
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clear delineation of tasks among existing agencies and maximizing current
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mandates. The State shall also allot the necessary support and institutional
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resources to provide for effective disease prevention and control through a high-


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level public institution imbued with the capacity, competence, and authority to
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confront global and local public health risks.
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Sec. 3. Objectives. — The objectives of this Act are the following:
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a) Protect the Filipino people from the impact of all diseases of public health
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importance;
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b) Develop policies, plans, and protocols to improve identified areas in the
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International Health Regulations hazards;
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c) Clarify governance, decision-making, communication, and coordination
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processes and protocols related to identifying, diagnosing, forecasting,
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preventing, controlling, eliminating, eradicating, and monitoring all
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diseases of public health importance;
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d) Formulate and implement policies, plans, programs and projects for the
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promotion of scientific and technological activities for both the public and
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private sectors, and ensure that the results of scientific and technological
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activities are properly applied and utilized to uphold technical and
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scientific integrity in decision-making and response;
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e) Ensure swift, coordinated, and data-driven surveillance and response
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through the Department of Health (DOH), epidemiology and surveillance
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units, public health laboratory systems, points of entry, and the Disaster
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Risk Reduction and Management System;
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f) Provide the overall national framework and strategic direction for the
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establishment of a health laboratory system;
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g) Maintain a pool of in-house experts who shall serve as the technical
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authority and shall provide evidence-informed guidance on standards,
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technologies, and analytics for epidemiology, disease control,
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prevention, elimination, eradication, health emergency preparedness,
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and response; and
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h) Ensure the development and implementation of a shared risk and crisis
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communication plan with the DOH, the Food and Drug Administration
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(FDA), and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), to be known
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under this Act as the Philippine Research Institute of Medicine.


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mean:
ARTICLE II
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms shall
a) Commodities for public health emergencies - refer to health products 
necessary for public health emergency response. These may include 
vaccines, therapeutics, medical devices, and ancillary supplies.
b) Disease - refers to pathologic acute or rapidly developing and chronic or 
long-standing conditions that cause harmful deviations from normal 
structure or function and may be due to infectious agents or their toxic 
products, which may be transmitted from a reservoir to a susceptible 
host (either directly from an infected person or animal or indirectly 
through the agency of an intermediate plant or animal host, vector, or 
the inanimate environment, or coming from laboratories intentionally or 
unintentionally) or may be the result of a combination of genetic, 
physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors. This shall refer to 
all diseases, including communicable and non-communicable diseases.
c) 
Disease surveillance - refers to the ongoing systematic collection, 
analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of outcome-specific data for 
use in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health 
practice in terms of epidemics, emergencies, and disasters. A disease 
surveillance system includes the functional capacity for data analysis as 
well as the timely dissemination of these data to persons who can 
undertake effective prevention and control activities.
d) Health Research - refers to research or research-related activities that 
seek to provide timely and quality evidence to address knowledge gaps 
in areas related to identifying, diagnosing, forecasting, preventing, 
controlling, eliminating and eradicating, and monitoring diseases of 
public health importance.
e) International Health Regulations - refers to an international agreement 
managed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is focused on 
addressing serious public health threats that have the potential to spread


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beyond a country's borders to other parts of the world, and defines the 
standards that countries must meet to be able 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 is 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.
h) Public health laboratories - refer to facilities responsible for providing 
timely and reliable diagnostic results primarily for improvement of patient 
outcomes, disease prevention, control, and surveillance, population- 
based interventions, and outbreak emergency response. They shall


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perform core public health and environmental activities, including
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reference tests for diseases of public health importance.
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i) Public health threat- refers to any situation or factor that may present a
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danger to the health of the people.
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j) Notifiable disease - refers to a disease that, by legal requirements, must
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be reported to the public health authorities.
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k) Quarantine - refers to the restriction of activities and/or separation from
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others of suspect persons who are not ill, or of suspect baggage,
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containers, conveyances, or goods, in such a manner as to prevent the
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possible spread of infection or contamination.
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I) Response - refers to the implementation of specific activities to control
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further spread of infection, outbreaks, or epidemics and prevent
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reoccurrence. It includes verification, contact tracing, rapid risk
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assessment, case measures, treatment of patients, risk communication,
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the conduct of prevention activities, and rehabilitation.
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ARTICLE III
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CREATION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR DISEASE
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PREVENTION AND CONTROL
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Sec. 5. Creation of the Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
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— There is hereby established an agency to be known as the Philippine Center for
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Disease Prevention and Control, hereinafter referred to as "CDC." The CDC shall be
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an agency directly under the DOH's Office of the Secretary.
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Sec. 6. Functions of the CDC. — The CDC shall be a science-based organization
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that shall be the technical authority on forecasting, analysis, strategy, and standards
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development for the prevention and control of all diseases of public health importance
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and health security events, whether domestic or international in origin. The CDC shall
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coordinate with centers for disease control of other countries and act as the National
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Focal Point of the Philippines for International Health Regulations concerns.
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For purposes of this Act, the "National Focal Point" shall refer to a national
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office or center that is accessible at all times for International Health Regulations
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related communications with the WHO and relevant sectors within the country.
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The functions of the CDC shall include, but not limited to, the following:


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a) Develop strategies, standards, and policies for disease prevention and
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control;
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b) Implement disease surveillance and field epidemiology activities;
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c) Perform data collection and analytics;
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d) Establish and strengthen public health laboratories;
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e) Recommend actions for public health threats to appropriate national
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government bodies;
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f) Lead public health and risk communications;
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g) Conduct and manage health research and evidence synthesis;
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h) Build local capacity for surveillance and health research; and
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i) 
Promote scientific integrity by ensuring that all its products 
are
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technically accurate, scientifically and ethically sound, and useful to the
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government and the intended population through the institutionalization
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of appropriate mechanisms and bodies.
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The CDC shall perform other functions as may be mandated by law or duly
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delegated by relevant authorities, as well as those that may be necessary or
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expedient for the performance of its mandate under this Act.
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The CDC shall submit annual detailed cost work plans relating to its functions
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to the Secretary of Health for approval.
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Sec. 7. Structure of the CDC. —
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a) The CDC shall be headed by a Director General.
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b) The CDC shall have established component centers that shall lead and
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coordinate the major functions of the CDC and establish strategic
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linkages and partnerships to fulfill its mandate. In line with the CDC's
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functions, each of the following component centers shall be headed by a
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Deputy Director General:
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i) Center for Health Statistics. The Center for Health Statistics shall
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provide the national leadership in health statistics, data analytics,
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and health information systems management of non-epidemiologic
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surveys in coordination with the Philippine Statistics Authority and
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shall complement the roles and responsibilities of the DOH related to


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sectoral policy and planning by providing relevant health statistics. It 
shall likewise progressively develop and expand its methodological 
and analytical capacity; its use of informatics, digital tools, 
innovations, among others; and expand its portfolio of national 
health-related surveys 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 and 
types of epidemiology and relevant epidemiologically related 
approaches.
c) Research Institute for Tropica! Medicine (RITM) - 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 CDC's functions, the Philippine Research Institute of Medicine shall 
perform the following additional functions:


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i) 
lead evidence-informed policy-making 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;
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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. National Institutes of Health, and the Department 
of Science and Technology (DOST);
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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 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 re- 
emerging public health threats;
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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


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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, and physical samples 
both at the vaccine and biologies research and development, and 
other steps in the 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.
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:
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Office for Health Economics;
ii) Office for Policy and Planning; and
iii) 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


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be composed of experts from different sectors with specific expertise
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necessary to fulfill their mandate: Provided, That membership to the
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advisory committee shall be renewed every three (3) years, but may be
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terminated earlier as deemed necessary,
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f) Regional Centers of the CDC shall be established to strengthen local
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technical capacity for epidemiology and surveillance, health statistics,
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laboratory, and research that would support DOH regional offices and
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local government units (LGUs).
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g) Additional offices may be created in accordance with the mandate of the
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CDC with the recommendation of the Director General and approval of
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the Secretary of Health in view of emerging needs of the health sector.
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ARTICLE IV
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OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE, MANAGEMENT, AND STAFF OF THE CENTER
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Sec. 8. Relationship with Existing Agencies and Offices. -
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a) Reiationship between CDC and DOH Operations. The CDC shall be an
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agency under the DOH's Office of the Secretary. The DOH shall develop
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operational and intersectoral policies to support implementation 
of
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strategies and standards developed by the CDC.
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b) Relationship between CDC and the DOH Bureau of Quarantine. The CDC
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shall set the standards for international health surveillance and
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surveillance at ports of entry and coordinate with the Bureau of
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Quarantine for operationalization and stakeholder management.
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c) Relationship between CDC and University of the Philippines-National
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Institute of Health (UP-NIH). The UP-NIH shall provide support to the
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CDC in developing and implementing its research agenda and in
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implementing programs to ensure the continuation of professional,
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academic, and personal capacity development of multisectoral
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stakeholders that will be engaged with the CDC.
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d) Relationship between Regional Office of the CDC and DOH Regional
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Offices. The CDC shall have regional counterparts that will maintain
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technical capacity for epidemiology and surveillance, health statistics.
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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 functional 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.
Sec. 9. Transfer of Agencies. —
a) Restructuring of Affected Offices and Units. The following offices, 
including their administrative units, shall be restructured to ensure 
synergistic co-existence of the CDC and DOH to facilitate full operations 
of the CDC.
i) The Health Laboratory Division of the Health Facility Development 
Bureau of the DOH, also referred to as the Office for Health 
Laboratories, and other identified national reference laboratories 
shall be absorbed by the Philippine Research Institute of Medicine 
and included in the Philippine Health Laboratory System.
ii) The Epidemiology Bureau of the DOH shall be transferred to the 
Center for Health Statistics and Center for Epidemiology and 
Surveillance in phases. The functions of the National Epidemiology 
Center of the Epidemiology Bureau and disease and public health 
surveillance functions assigned to the DOH by law shall also be 
transferred to the Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance. In line 
with this, the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Units and Field 
Health Services Information System Units of the DOH Regional 
Offices shall be transferred to and be under the sole supervision and
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control of the CDC upon the effective transition of the Epidemiology 
Bureau to the CDC.
The Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance shall set the 
standards for international health surveillance and surveillance at 
ports of entry and shall coordinate with the Bureau of Quarantine for 
operationalization and stakeholder management: Provided, That the 
screening and quarantine processes for inbound and outbound 
international travelers as provided under Sections 4 and 5 of Republic 
Act No. 9271, or the Quarantine Act of 2004 shall remain with the 
Bureau of Quarantine, aligned with the standards promulgated by 
the CDC.
iii) The Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service 
(KNITS) of the DOH shall be restructured and rationalize its functions 
to 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, but not limited to, the 
following functions:
1) Develop strategic communication plans, including, but not 
limited to organizational risk and crisis communication plans;
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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;
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
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employees. Affected employees may opt for voluntary separation
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from service within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act and
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shall be entitled to receive separation and early retirement benefits
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and other benefits under applicable laws and issuances within ninety
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(90) days from the date of effectivity of their separation; and
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ii) Transfer of human resource, applicable funds and appropriations,
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records, equipment, and property to the CDC, among others, shall
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commence within two (2) years from effectivity of this Act to enable
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the smooth transfer of the same from the DOH.
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Sec. 10. Salary, Staffing Pattern and Qualifications. — The CDC staffing
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requirement shall be supported to ensure its role as the technical authority in the
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prevention and control of all diseases of public health importance. Subject to the
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review and approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the
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Secretary of Health shall determine the organizational structure and staffing pattern
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of the CDC, in accordance with existing Civil Service Commission laws, rules and
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regulations: Provided, That the existing law on salary scales of government
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employees shall not apply in determining the salary scale of scientific and highly
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technical staff.
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Members of advisory committees shall receive a per diem allowance for each
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meeting attended. The CDC shall include a summary of the amounts deemed
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necessary for the expenses of advisory committees in its budget recommendations:
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Provided, That all in-house technical and scientific staff, expert pools, and members
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of advisory committees shall be allowed to practice their profession and receive
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additional compensation from such engagements: Provided, further, That all
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employed staff and engaged in-house experts shall submit declaration of conflict-of-
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interest, non-disclosure agreement, and other pertinent documentary requirements
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as may be deemed necessary.
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All CDC personnel shall be authorized to undergo secondment to local and
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international academic and science-based organizations, local and international
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academic or technical training and capacity-building, or other similar knowledge
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exchange mechanisms to maintain the technical expertise necessary to implement
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the roles and responsibilities assigned to them: Provided, That the mechanisms for
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return of service are implemented, to be determined by the CDC and approved by
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the Secretary of Health.
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Sec. 11. Director General, Deputy Director Generals, and Directors. —
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1) Appointment of the Director General. The Director General shall be
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appointed by the President, with the rank of Undersecretary, upon the
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recommendation of the Secretary of Health, based on technical
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expertise, academic background, and appropriate work experience.
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2) Appointment of the Deputy Director Generals. The Director General shall
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be assisted by Deputy Director Generals, with the rank of Assistant
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Secretary. They shall oversee the functions of the Offices and Centers,
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and any additional offices created in accordance with Section 7 of this
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Act. The Deputy Director Generals shall likewise be appointed by the
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President, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Health, based
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on technical expertise, academic background, and appropriate
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experience.
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3) Appointment of Directors. The Director General shall be assisted by the
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following:
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a) Director for Health Economics Service with the rank of Director IV;
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b) Director for Policy and Planning with the rank of Director IV; and
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c) Director for Administration, Finance, and Legal Affairs with the rank
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of Director IV.
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4) Qualifications and Eligibilities.
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a) The Director General shall be a public health professional, must be a
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licensed medical doctor, with at least 15 years of combined post-
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graduate experience in relevant fields of medicine, public health,
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research, and management;
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b) The Deputy Director General of each Center shall possess a
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postgraduate degree, preferably a doctorate, in fields related to
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medicine, public health or research, with management experience in
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such fields; and
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c) The Directors directly under the Office of the Director General shall
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possess third level service eligibility with educational background in
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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;
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 to 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
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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, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health 
Events of Public Health Concern Act
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, 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 to 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 or the 
National Bureau of Investigation to locate any patients or persons 
suspected of contracting a communicable disease;
g) Certify to the President of the Philippines, through the Secretary of 
Flealth, 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 Flealth:
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
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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, 
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.
i) 
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 of2004)
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;
18


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o) Delegate the powers vested under this Act to the Deputy Director
2 
Generals; and
3 
p) Perform such other functions as may be mandated by law, or as may
4 
be delegated by the Secretary of Health and/or the President.
5 
Sec. 12. Special Powers of the President - Upon the certification of the
6 
existence of a public health emergency, in accordance with Section 11 (5)(b) of this
7 
Act, may exercise the special powers, including mobilization of the governmental and
8 
nongovernmental agencies, including the private sector. The President shall respond
9 
to the threats and be authorized to do the following functions:
10 
a) Develop and initiate the implementation of national policies to prevent
11 
and mitigate further transmission of diseases of public health
12 
importance;
13 
b) Direct the DILG, for proper information dissemination to LGUs of all rules,
14 
regulations, and directives issued by the National Government pursuant
15 
to this Act: Provided, That all LGUs are authorized to develop localized
16 
policies and interventions provided these are aligned with the national
17 
policy, rules and regulations;
18 
c) Direct the DOH to ensure adequate and equitable distribution of health
19 
workers during public health emergencies and the provision of social
20 
benefits and protection of health workers and their families and other
21 
household members against discrimination;
22 
d) Ensure that concerned government agencies implement measures to
23 
protect the people from hoarding, profiteering, injurious speculations,
24 
manipulation of prices, monopolistic practices, other acts in restraint of
25 
trade, or other pernicious practices affecting the supply, distribution, and
26 
movement of food, clothing, hygiene and sanitation products, medicines
27 
and medical supplies and devices, machinery equipment and spare parts
28 
required in agriculture, industry, other essential services, and other
29 
articles of prime necessity, whether imported or locally produced or
30 
manufactured;
31 
e) Ensure through concerned government agencies that the donations
32 
intended to address public health emergencies, the acceptance thereof.
19


1 
and distribution of donated health products and commodities are not
2 
unnecessarily delayed considering their shelf-life, and that health
3 
products and commodities for donation duly certified by the national
4 
regulatory authorities or their accredited third party from countries with
5 
established regulation shall be automatically cleared; and
6 
f) Perform such other functions and activities, as deemed necessary.
7 
ARTICLE V
8 
RESPONSE ACTION
9 
Sec. 13. Response Cascade. — In case of public health emergencies due to
10 
biological, chemical, and toxic events:
11 
a) The CDC, through the Philippine Research Institute of Medicine, shall
12 
prepare and disseminate to the public and private sector the relevant
13 
technical information and guidance;
14 
b) The DOH, through the Public Health Strategy and Management Bureau,
15 
shall develop operational and intersectoral strategies guided by the
16 
strategies and standards developed by the CDC;
17 
c) The DOH, through its regional offices, shall work closely with CDC,
18 
through its regional CDCs to immediately respond to the public health
19 
emergency. When necessary, the DOH shall tap into the Disaster Risk
20 
Reduction and Management System to effectively respond to public
21 
health emergencies;
22 
d) The CDC, through the Philippine Research Institute of Medicine, shall
23 
activate the public health laboratory response network and continuously
24 
provide guidance for core laboratory programs in quality management,
25 
laboratory medicine and safety and security programs, laboratory
26 
information management and surveillance, research and development,
27 
and training;
28 
e) The CDC, through the Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance, shall
29 
certify the veracity of the official data to be used as basis for response
30 
and for public reporting, and provide standards and overall guidance to
31 
the Bureau of Quarantine for the institutionalization of disease
32 
surveillance at all points of entry and exit;
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f) 
The National Telecommunications Commission and any 
telecommunications entity as defined under Republic Act No. 7925, or 
the Public Telecommunications Policy Act of the Philippines, shall provide 
location information of patients or persons suspected of contracting a 
disease upon request of the CDC: Provided, That the CDC shall ensure 
confidentiality of such information;
g) The Secretary of Health, 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 of 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.
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ARTICLE VI
2 
SPECIAL POWERS/AUTHORITY TO ENABLE RESPONSE
3 
Sec. 14. Authority for Other Professions to Administer, Dispense, and Provide
4 
Commodities for Pubiic Health Emergencies. — Notwithstanding any law to the
5 
contrary, the Secretary of Health, with the recommendation of the CDC, shall allow
6 
other health and allied medical professionals, such as pharmacists and midwives,
7 
who are duly trained by the DOH or its authorized representatives, to administer,
8 
dispense, and provide commodities considered as vital for public health emergencies
9 
with special authorization or regular certificate of registration from the FDA.
10 
Sec. 15. Issuance of Special Regulatory Authorizations. — The CDC shall
11 
recommend to the Secretary of Health the implementation of interventions under
12 
special regulatory authorization issued by the FDA, pursuant to Section 4 of Republic
13 
Act No. 3720, as amended by Republic Act No. 9711, or the FDA Act of 2009. In
14 
consultation with the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC), the FDA shall
15 
be authorized to issue special authorizations for commodities during public health
16 
emergencies, provided that 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
20 
may 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,
22 
prevent, or treat disease/s of concern outweigh the known and potential
23 
risks, if any; 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
28 
(1) year from the date of lifting of the declaration for the sole purpose of exhausting
29 
remaining supplies.
30 
Sec. 16. Inter-agency Cooperation and Confidentiaiity. For the purpose of
31 
expediting the review of evidence, product authorization or registration, and the
32 
appropriate release of recommendations and supporting policies, the DOH, FDA,
22


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HTAC, and other relevant government agencies shall, without need for notice or
2 
demand, immediately provide each other with any and all needed information:
3 
Provided, That proprietary submissions of data, which include non-disclosure
4 
agreements with manufacturers, traders, distributors, or other sources, shall also be
5 
subject of non-disclosure agreements with other concerned agencies.
6 
Sec. 17. Procurement of Commodities and Services for Public Health
7 
Emergencies by the DOH. — The CDC shall recommend to the Secretary of Health
8 
the procurement of essential commodities and services during public health
9 
emergencies. The DOH and authorized parties, such as the LGUs and private entities,
10 
shall be allowed to procure commodities for public health emergencies that are
11 
recommended by any of the following:
12 
a) HTAC, pursuant to Section 34 of Republic Act No. 11223, or the Universal
13 
Health Care Act,
14 
b) WHO; or
15 
c) Similar emergency authorizations from reputable and stringent
16 
regulatory authorities of other countries.
17 
To this end, the President may authorize the DOH and other parties to enter
18 
into alternative modes of expedited procurement with United Nations Agencies,
19 
international organizations, or international financing institutions and their
20 
operational arms, such as, but not limited to, the WHO, United Nations Office for
21 
Project Services, United Nations Children's Fund, and other third parties, subject to
22 
the rules and policies set by the Department of Finance (DOF).
23 
Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the DOH may disburse funds as
24 
advance payment if required by the manufacturer, trader, or distributor: Provided,
25 
That the authority to make advance payment shall be for the procurement of
26 
commodities for public health emergencies and to secure other goods and services
27 
necessary for their storage, transport, deployment, and administration: Provided
28 
further, That the distribution and administration of unauthorized commodities for
29 
public health emergencies shall be prohibited.
30 
Health Technology Assessment shall not be required for repurposing or stock
31 
realignment of commodities during public health emergencies that have already been
32 
procured by the DOH, LGUs, and private sector entities: Provided, That repurposing
23


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or stock realignment shall be in accordance with the indication of its use as approved
2 
by the FDA.
3 
Sec. 18. Authority to Direct the Operations of Private Estabiishments During
4 
Pubiic Heaith Emergencies. — Consistent with Sec. 17, Article XII of the Constitution,
5 
when public interest so requires, the President, during public health emergencies,
6 
may direct the operations of any privately-owned hospitals and medical and health
7 
facilities, including passenger vessels, and other establishments, to perform
8 
functions and provide support services for public health emergency response,
9 
including housing health workers; serving as quarantine areas, quarantine centers,
10 
medical relief and aid distribution locations, or other temporary medical facilities;
11 
and ferrying health, emergency, and frontline personnel and other persons:
12 
Provided, That the management and operation of such establishments shall be
13 
retained by the owners: Provided further, That reasonable compensation for any
14 
additional damage or costs incurred by the owner or the possessor of the subject
15 
property solely on account of complying with the directive shall be given to the
16 
person entitled to the possession of such private properties or businesses after the
17 
situation has stabilized or at the soonest time practicable: Provided finaiiy, That if
18 
the foregoing establishments unjustifiably refuse or signify that they are no longer
19 
capable of operating their enterprises for the purpose stated herein, the President
20 
may take over their operations subject to the limits and safeguards enshrined in the
21 
Constitution.
22 
Sec. 19. Transition to Reguiar Authorization. — The FDA shall be authorized
23 
to develop specific guidelines on the transition of the regulatory authorization of
24 
commodities for public health emergencies from special use authorization to regular
25 
certificate of registration. This is in consideration of the time needed to process
26 
applications of health products for public health emergencies. The granting of a
27 
regular certificate of registration by the FDA to the first brand deemed suitable for
28 
such registration shall not immediately revoke all other special authorizations
29 
granted by the FDA to other brands, any law to the contrary notwithstanding:
30 
Provided, That once the DOH and the FDA had determined that the suppliers
31 
granted with regular certificate of registration have enough capacity to supply the
32 
country's projected needs, all other special authorizations issued shall be deemed
24


1 
revoked by this Act, without prejudice to their holders completing the process to
2 
obtain a regular certificate of registration; Provided further, That any remaining
3 
stocks with a valid shelf-life but with a special authorization revoked pursuant to this
4 
provision shall either be donated to a country where its use is still authorized by its
5 
national regulatory authorities, or held in storage until it is registered or disposed of
6 
appropriately upon the termination of its shelf-life.
7 
Sec. 20. Immunity from Liability. — Notwithstanding any law to the contrary,
8 
program implementors, public officials and employees, health care workers and non-
9 
health care workers, whether public or private who are authorized to carry out and
10 
are actually involved in public health emergency response shall be immune from suit
11 
and liability under Philippine laws with respect to all claims arising out of, related to,
12 
or resulting from the administration or use of covered countermeasures under the
13 
public health emergency response in the discharge of the abovementioned covered
14 
persons' official duties, except those arising from willful misconduct and gross
15 
negligence.
16 
The members of the FDA and the National Adverse Events Following
17 
Immunization Committee and its regional counterparts during the conduct of
18 
monitoring for probable adverse effects from the commodities for public health
19 
emergency shall similarly enjoy the privileges given under this section, waiving any
20 
liability unless the said members' actions are tantamount to gross negligence or
21 
willful misconduct.
22 
Sec. 21. Enabling Local Vaccine Manufacturing. — The DOFI and the CDC,
23 
together with the DOST and DTI and other entities concerned, shall develop
24 
initiatives for strengthening scientific and technological capabilities in responding to
25 
public health emergencies, including promoting vaccine self-reliance in the country.
26 
The Vaccine Self-Reliance National Action Plan shall serve as a roadmap for all
27 
stakeholders at all levels to guide the development of policies, strategies, and
28 
initiatives, such as but not limited to, incentivizing investment and maintenance of
29 
vaccine manufacturing infrastructure, both public and private.
30 
The National Government, through the DOF, shall ensure the provision of
31 
incentives, such as tax exemptions, tax breaks, or remittance, and other financing
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1 
mechanisms, as applicable, to promote and enable the establishment of local
2 
vaccine manufacturing in the Philippines.
3 
ARTICLE VII
4 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
5 
Sec. 22. Funding Mechanism for Scientific Projects and Activities. — The CDC
6 
shall establish a grant mechanism to allow direct transfer of funds to eligible public
7 
or private institutions to perform approved scientific projects and activities, including
8 
primary and secondary research and clinical practice guideline development,
9 
increased training and capacity-building opportunities for CDC personnel, in support
10 
of the priorities of the CDC.
11 
Sec. 23. Intergovernmentai Coiiaborative Activities. — The CDC shall
12 
recommend to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of Health
13 
multilateral and bilateral agreements which the country may adopt to strengthen its
14 
collaborative mechanisms with other countries.
15 
Sec. 24. Transitory Provision. — The CDC, in coordination with the DOH and
16 
LCDs, shall craft a multi-year plan to ensure the timely implementation of this Act.
17 
To this end, the multi-year plan shall include, but not limited to the following:
18 
a) Phased expansion of the capacity of the CDC to cover other health
19 
conditions or threats in view of the needs of the Philippine health sector;
20 
b) Transfer of human resource and properties;
21 
c) Require that every province and city-wide health system have full-time
22 
Disease Surveillance Officers, without prejudice to the need for Disease
23 
Surveillance Officers in municipalities, as may be deemed necessary;
24 
d) Establishment of sub-national laboratories and regional public health
25 
laboratories;
26 
e) Emergency funding and procurement of commodities and hiring during
27 
public health emergencies; and
28 
f) Establishment of infrastructure and acquisition of parcels of land to house
29 
the national offices under the CDC.
30 
The DOH, upon coordination with the CDC, shall submit the funding
31 
requirements with corresponding annual targets for the implementation of the multi-
32 
year plan to the DBM and concerned agencies, for the determination of appropriate
26


1 
national budget allocation: Provided, That for local budget allocation, the LGUs shall
2 
also appropriate the necessary funds to ensure the proper implementation of this
3 
Act, in relation to their devolved functions under Republic Act No. 11223, or the
4 
Universal Health Care Act, and other existing laws.
5 
Sec. 25. Modernization Program. —The Director General shall, in consultation
6 
with the DOH, other concerned agencies of government and the private sector,
7 
develop a modernization program that will strengthen the human resource of the
8 
CDC, which is the key component of the country's disease prevention and control
9 
policy. The modernization program shall include, but not limited to, the acquisition
10 
and upgrading of appropriate technologies, laboratories, facilities, equipment, other
11 
needed resources, and the needed relocation and acquisition of additional land or
12 
location that would house the CDC.
13 
Within one hundred eighty (180) days from the effectivity of this Act, the
14 
Director General shall, with the recommendation of the DOH and DBM, submit the
15 
modernization program for the consideration and approval of Congress.
16 
The modernization program shall be immediately implemented and
17 
completed within five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act. Appropriations for
18 
the modernization program shall be charged against the annual General
19 
Appropriations Act.
20 
Sec. 26. Authority to Solicit, Negotiate, and Receive Donations, Grants, Gifts,
21 
Legacies, Endowments, and Contributions. —The CDC may solicit, negotiate with,
22 
and receive from any public or private domestic or foreign sources legacies, gifts,
23 
donations, grants, endowments, contributions or other transfers of ownership
24 
and/or possession of real or personal properties of all kinds for use in its operations,
25 
such as, but not limited to, upgrading of its facilities, and equipment outlay,
26 
development and expansion of human resource, and acquisition of the appropriate
27 
office spaces to improve the delivery of its services to the public.
28 
The Director General shall be authorized to retain, without need of a separate
29 
approval from any government agency, and subject only to existing accounting and
30 
auditing rules and regulations, all the legacies, gifts, donations, grants,
31 
endowments, contributions or other transfers of ownership and/or possession of
32 
real or personal properties of all kinds solicited, negotiated, and received by the CDC
27


1 
under this Act and other laws that it is mandated to administer based on the
2 
immediately prior year of operations: Provided, That the same, in addition to the
3 
annual budget of the CDC, shall be deposited and maintained in a separate account
4 
or fund, which may be used or disbursed directly by the Director General to fulfill
5 
the original purpose of the funds.
6 
Sec. 27. Tax Exemptions. — Donations, grants, gifts, endowments, legacies,
7 
and contributions used actually, directly and exclusively for the purpose of the CDC
8 
shall be exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be considered as allowable
9 
deduction from gross income for purposes of computing the taxable income of the
10 
donor, in accordance with the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended:
11 
Provided, That such other transfers of ownership and/or possession of all kinds of
12 
real or personal properties shall be exempt from all taxes.
13 
Sec. 28. Annuai Report. — The CDC shall submit to Congress and the Office
14 
of the President an annual report containing the following:
15 
a) Evaluation of the current and emerging threats to health in the country;
16 
b) Progress in International Health Regulation commitments, as well as
17 
initiatives undertaken; and
18 
c) Proposed legislative measures to address these threats.
19 
Sec. 29. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the initial
20 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year appropriations
21 
of the offices and agencies concerned. Thereafter, the funding requirements for the
22 
ensuing years shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
23 
Sec. 30. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. — The DOH shall promulgate
24 
the necessary implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) working days
25 
from the effectivity of this Act.
26 
Sec. 31. Separabiiity Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared
27 
unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall not be
28 
affected thereby.
29 
Sec. 32. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations,
30 
other issuances, or parts thereof, inconsistent with any provision of this Act, are
31 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
28


1 
Sec. 33. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
2 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
3 
circulation.
Approved,
29