1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session  
House Bill No. ____________ 
Introduced By Representative LORENZ R. DEFENSOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Consistent with the priority bills of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his 
State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 25, 2022, this bill seeks to modernize the 
country’s public health system and strengthen our health emergency response to 
prevent the spread of various communicable diseases in the country such as COVID-
19.  
The author proposes to consolidate all or select functions of the following 
divisions and units of the Department of Health to streamline and modernize our 
public health system: Epidemiology Bureau; Research Institute for Tropical Medicine; 
Sexually Transmitted Disease – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Cooperative 
Central Laboratory; International Health Surveillance Division of the Bureau of 
Quarantine; and Disease Prevention and Control Bureau. 
The bill further seeks to enhance collaboration and coordination between 
concerned agencies of the government and the private sector to develop a 
modernization program that will strengthen the human health resource of the CDC. 
The modernization program shall include the acquisition and upgrading of 
appropriate technologies, laboratories, facilities, equipment, other needed resources, 
and the promotion of researches, fellowships, workshops, seminars, including training 
opportunities in reputable foreign CDCs. 
Under this bill, the CDC shall establish a new, state-of-the-art facility that will 
serve as the National Reference Laboratory (NRL), unifying all NRLs for biological, 
chemical, nuclear and radiologic emergencies under one roof, within 5 years from its 
effectivity which shall provide technical recommendations, laboratory confirmatory 
services, training, and external quality assurance, and perform surveillance, outbreak 
response, kit evaluation, and research.  
The proposed “Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) 
Act” is a consolidation of the thirteen (13) house bills establishing the CDC that were 
referred to the Committee on Health in the 18th Congress which were authored by 
Representatives Joey Sarte, Teodorico T. Haresco, Jr., Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, 
August 25, 2022
10:31 pm
4100


2 
M.D., Jose Enrique S. Garcia III, Cheryl P. Deloso-Montalla, Joaquin M. Chipeco,
Ferdinand L. Hernandez, Alfred Vargas, Anthony I. Espino, Luis Raymund “LRay” F.
Villafuerte, Joy Myra S. Tambunting, Rufus B. Rodriguez, Estrellita B. Suansing and
Horacio P. Suansing, Jr. and was approved on third reading by the House of
Representatives and transmitted to the Senate.
Thus, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
    LORENZ R. DEFENSOR 
Representative, 3rd District Iloilo 


3 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session  
House Bill No. ____________ 
Introduced By Representative LORENZ R. DEFENSOR 
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 House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Center for Disease 
2 
Prevention and Control (CDC) Act." 
3 
4 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the 
5 
right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. The State also 
6 
mandates the adoption of an integrated and comprehensive approach to health 
7 
development. 
8 
9 
Towards this end, the State shall give high priority to the allocation of material and 
10 
institutional resources to protect public health by ensuring that the Philippine health 
11 
system is well-prepared to forecast, prevent, monitor, and control diseases, injuries, and 
12 
disabilities both of national and international concern. 
13 
14 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms - As used in this Act: 
15 
16 
(a) Communicable disease, also known as a contagious disease, refers to an illness resulting
17 
from an infection, or a disease, which can be transmitted from an infected host
18 
individual or group to a particular individual or group. It spreads through direct,
19 
bodily contact with an infected person, their discharges, or an object or surface
20 
they have contaminated,
21 
(b) Disease refers to an illness due to a specific toxic substance, occupational exposure
22 
or infectious agent, which affects a susceptible individual, either directly or
23 
indirectly, from an infected animal or person, or indirectly through an
24 
intermediate host, vector, or the environment,
25 
(c) Disease surveillance refers to a systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and
26 
dissemination of outcome and specific data for use in the planning,
27 
implementation, and evaluation of public health practice. A disease surveillance
28 
4100


4 
 
system includes the functional capacity for data analysis as well as the timely 
29 
dissemination of these data to persons who can undertake effective disease 
30 
prevention and control activities; 
31 
(d) Epidemic or outbreak refers to an occurrence of more cases of disease than normally 
32 
expected within a specific place or group of people over a given period of time; 
33 
(e) Infectious disease refers to a clinically manifested disease of humans or animals 
34 
resulting from an infection which can be communicable or non-communicable; 
35 
(f) Public health emergency refers to an occurrence or imminent threat of an illness or 
36 
health condition that: 
37 
 
38 
(1) Is caused by any of the following: 
39 
(i) 
Bio-terrorism; 
40 
(ii) 
Appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicated infectious 
41 
agent or biological toxin; 
42 
(iii) 
A natural disaster; 
43 
(iv) 
A chemical attack or accidental release, 
44 
(v) 
A nuclear attack or accident; or 
45 
(vi) 
An attack or accidental release of radioactive materials; and, 
46 
 
47 
(2) Poses a high probability of any of the following: 
48 
(i) 
A large number of deaths in the affected population; 
49 
(ii) 
A large number of serious injuries or long-term disabilities in the 
50 
affected population; 
51 
(iii) 
Widespread exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a 
52 
significant risk of substantial harm to a large number of people in the 
53 
affected population; 
54 
(iv) 
International exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a 
55 
significant risk to the health of citizens of other countries; or 
56 
(v)      Trade and travel restrictions, 
57 
 
58 
(g) Quarantine refers to the physical separation and confinement of an individual or 
59 
group of individuals, who are or may have been exposed to a contagious or 
60 
possibly contagious disease and who do not show signs or symptoms of a 
61 
contagious disease, from non- quarantined individuals, to prevent or limit the 
62 
transmission of the disease. 
63 
 
64 
SEC. 4. Creation of the Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control. - The 
65 
Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) is hereby created as an 
66 
attached agency to the Department of Health (DOH) for policy and program 
67 
coordination. 
68 
 
69 
SEC. 5. Powers, Functions, and Duties. - The CDC shall be the technical authority on all 
70 
matters regarding disease prevention and control. To carry out the provisions of this Act, 
71 
the CDC shall have the following powers, functions, and duties: 
72 
 
73 
(a) Policy and Standards Development: 
74 
 
75 


5 
 
(1) Provide technical guidance to the development of policies, programs, 
76 
standards, guidelines, and monitoring and evaluation systems on the 
77 
forecasting, prevention, monitoring, and control of diseases, injuries, and 
78 
disabilities both of national and international concern, 
79 
(2) Set the standards and the process for the establishment of Epidemiology and 
80 
Surveillance Units or its corresponding surveillance reporting units, pursuant 
81 
to law; 
82 
(3) Provide quality assurance programs to ensure the quality of testing for 
83 
laboratories; 
84 
(4) Conduct researches for development in support of the CDC mandate to 
85 
forecast, prevent, monitor, and control diseases, injuries, and disabilities both 
86 
of national and international concern, 
87 
(5) Recommend to the President, through the DOH Secretary, the declaration of a 
88 
state of public health emergency, in case of an epidemic of national or 
89 
international concern, and, 
90 
(6) Set the parameters for the declaration of the existence as well as the end of an 
91 
epidemic. 
92 
 
93 
(b) Capacity Building and Technical Assistance: 
94 
(1) Develop, implement, and maintain training programs on specialized fields 
95 
such as Held epidemiology, health emergency of biological concern, 
96 
laboratory services, infectious and tropical diseases, and non-communicable 
97 
diseases; 
98 
(2) Assess and support the capabilities of health facilities and local government 
99 
units (LGUs) on forecasting, preventing, monitoring, and controlling diseases, 
100 
injuries, and disabilities both of national and international concern, and, 
101 
(3) Provide technical assistance and expert services to DOH offices and 
102 
collaborating and implementing agencies or offices on matters pertaining to 
103 
forecasting, preventing, monitoring, and controlling diseases, injuries, and 
104 
disabilities both of national and international concern. 
105 
 
106 
(c) Sectoral and Local Engagements: 
107 
(1) Promote coordination and collaboration with partner agencies and 
108 
organizations on matters pertaining to CDC mandate; 
109 
(2) Coordinate, collaborate, and disseminate relevant scientific and technical 
110 
information in a timely manner with partner agencies and international and 
111 
local organizations on matters pertaining to CDC mandate; and, 
112 
(3) Disseminate relevant scientific and technical information in a timely manner 
113 
with partner agencies, and international and local organizations on matters 
114 
pertaining to CDC mandate. 
115 
 
116 
(d) Surveillance: 
117 
(1) Develop, implement, and maintain an integrated surveillance system of 
118 
diseases, injuries, and disabilities; 
119 
(2) Provide technical guidance on the development, implementation and 
120 
maintenance, and monitoring of health system capacity such as operational 
121 
capacities of health facilities, and performance management of the response 
122 


6 
 
systems, in terms of contact tracing, quarantine, isolation, and other significant 
123 
population-based health services, 
124 
(3) Investigate and respond through surveillance and disease notification, 
125 
investigation, and conduct of field studies and research to outbreaks, 
126 
epidemics, and other public health threats as the need arises, 
127 
(4) Develop and maintain a network of public health laboratories in support of 
128 
epidemiology and surveillance activities; 
129 
(5) Facilitate the issuance of appropriate warnings to the regional CDC and health 
130 
facilities in anticipation of impending public health threats and infectious 
131 
disease outbreak, 
132 
(6) Utilize various information and communication technologies (ICT) in 
133 
management of data and dissemination of early warning and other 
134 
appropriate information to stakeholders and the public; and, 
135 
(7) Develop communication methods for wider and more effective and unified 
136 
delivery of critical public health information with national or international 
137 
importance. 
138 
(e) Provide technical guidance on the procurement of vaccines, drugs, and 
139 
diagnostics; 
140 
(f) Provide technical guidance on the monitoring and evaluation framework for 
141 
disease prevention and control, 
142 
(g) Certify to the existence of an epidemic which shall be treated as a public health 
143 
emergency; and, 
144 
(h) Perform such other functions as may be mandated by law, or as may be duly 
145 
delegated by relevant authorities. 
146 
 
147 
SEC. 6. Director General. - The CDC shall be headed by a Director General with a rank 
148 
of Undersecretary, who shall be assisted by two (2) Deputy Directors General with a 
149 
rank of Assistant Secretary. The Director General and the Deputy Directors General shall 
150 
be appointed by the President from a list of at least three (al nominees for each position 
151 
to be submitted by the DOH Secretary. The Director General and Deputy Directors 
152 
General shall have at least ten (10) years of relevant experience and proven expertise in 
153 
the fields of public health and epidemiology. 
154 
 
155 
The Director General shall have the following powers and functions: 
156 
 
157 
(a) Manage and direct the activities and functions of the CDC; 
158 
(b) Advise the DOH Secretary on policy matters concerning the Center's activities; 
159 
(c) Recommend to the President, through the DOH Secretary, the exercise of special 
160 
powers in case of an epidemic, including the declaration of a public health 
161 
emergency; 
162 
(d) Act as the national International Health Regulations Focal Point, subject to 
163 
consultation with DOH; and, 
164 
(e) Perform other functions and powers that may be assigned by the DOH Secretary. 
165 
 
166 
SEC. 7. Transfer of DOH Units and Functions. - The following DOH units and their 
167 
concerned divisions and functions are hereby transferred to the CDC: 
168 
 
169 
(a) Epidemiology Bureau; 
170 


7 
 
(b) Research Institute for Tropical Medicine; 
171 
(c) Sexually Transmitted Disease - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome 
172 
Cooperative Central Laboratory; 
173 
(d) Select functions of the International Health Surveillance Division of the Bureau of 
174 
Quarantine as follows: 
175 
 
176 
(1) Passive international health surveillance; and, 
177 
(2) Development of communication methods for wider and more effective 
178 
delivery of critical public health information with international importance, 
179 
and, 
180 
 
181 
(e) Technical and standard setting functions of the Disease Prevention and Control 
182 
Bureau including that of the Mental Health Division, Cancer Division and Oral 
183 
Health Division. 
184 
 
185 
All powers, functions, assets, capital, records, funds, receivables, equipment and 
186 
facilities of the transferred DOH units or its division or function enumerated herein 
187 
shall be transferred to the CDC. The Department of Health shall conduct an audit 
188 
and inventory of assets, liabilities and human resources of the transferred agencies to 
189 
CDC without need of conveyance or transfer of assignments. 
190 
 
191 
SEC. 8. Regional Centers for Disease Prevention and Control - There shall be established 
192 
Regional Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (RCDCs) in all regions of the 
193 
country. Each Regional CDC shall be headed by a Regional Director, who shall be under 
194 
the supervision of the CDC Director General. 
195 
 
196 
The functions of RCDCs include: 
197 
 
198 
(a) Prevention, control, and surveillance of diseases; 
199 
(b) Provision of laboratory services for detection and identification of infectious 
200 
disease agents from human, environmental samples, and food; 
201 
(c) Maintenance of an integrated data management system; 
202 
(d) Implementation of quality assurance programs for clinical and environmental 
203 
laboratories through training, consultation, certification and proficiency testing; 
204 
(e) Policy development; 
205 
(f) Emergency response; 
206 
(g) Public health-related research; 
207 
(h) Training and education; 
208 
(i) Maintenance of infectious disease hospitals for referral and management of cases; 
209 
(j) Establishment of strong communication networks; and, 
210 
(k) Other functions that may be assigned by the Director General. 
211 
 
212 
The RCDCs shall be composed of specialists in the fields of infectious diseases, public 
213 
health, epidemiology and similar fields. 
214 
 
215 
SEC. 9. Structure and Staffing Pattern. –  
216 
 
217 


8 
 
(a) The CDC shall initially have the following offices, each to be headed by an officer 
218 
with the salary and rank of Director IV: 
219 
(1) Center for Epidemic Intelligence and Disease Surveillance; 
220 
(2) Center for Research, Training, and Reference Laboratory; 
221 
(3) Center for Infectious Disease Emergency Preparedness and Response; 
222 
(4) Center for Policy and Program Development; 
223 
(5) Communications Office; and 
224 
(6) Administrative and Finance Office. 
225 
 
226 
(b) The CDC Director General, subject to the issuance of an executive order by the 
227 
President and approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), 
228 
may create or abolish units, offices, or centers as needed to carry out all 
229 
provisions of this Act. 
230 
(c) The CDC Director General, in consultation with the DOI-I and the DBM, shall: 
231 
(1) Develop the organizational structure of the CDC at the national, regional, and 
232 
local levels; 
233 
(2) Determine the divisions and specific functions of each unit, center, or office of 
234 
the CDC; and 
235 
(3) Determine the staffing pattern, qualification standards, compensation, and 
236 
position classification plan for the CDC subject to the approval of the Civil 
237 
Service Commission (CSC) and the DBM. 
238 
 
239 
SEC. 10. Qualification Standards for Appointment and Promotion. - The DOH shall, in 
240 
consultation with the CSC, and pertinent agencies as may be necessary, develop the 
241 
qualification standards in terms of education, training and experience for all technical 
242 
and non-technical positions in the CDC, and the system for promotion and succession 
243 
plan in the CDC. 
244 
 
245 
SEC. 11. Continuing Competency Development Program. - The CDC shall, through the 
246 
Director General, devise and implement a continuing competency development program 
247 
whereby all core personnel shall be required to update and enrich competencies through 
248 
attendance in programs, studies, researches, fellowships, workshops, seminars, 
249 
including training opportunities in reputable foreign CDCs. Compliance with the 
250 
Continuing Competency Development Program shall be the mandatory basis for 
251 
promotion within the CDC. The CDC shall develop mechanisms to tap funding 
252 
opportunities to implement its Continuing Competency Development Program 
253 
 
254 
SEC. 12. Modernization Program. - The Director General shall, in consultation with the 
255 
DOH and other concerned agencies of government and the private sector, develop a 
256 
modernization program that will strengthen the human health resource of the CDC, 
257 
which is the key component of the country's disease prevention and control policy. The 
258 
modernization program shall include the acquisition and upgrading of appropriate 
259 
technologies, laboratories, facilities, equipment, other needed resources, and the needed 
260 
relocation and acquisition of additional land or location that would house the CDC. 
261 
 
262 
Within one hundred eighty (180) days after the effectivity of this Act, the Director 
263 
General shall, upon the recommendation of the DOH and DBM Secretaries, submit the 
264 
modernization program for the consideration and approval of Congress. 
265 


9 
 
 
266 
The modernization program shall be implemented over a period of five (5) years. 
267 
 
268 
Appropriations for the modernization program shall be provided in the annual General 
269 
Appropriations Act (GAA). 
270 
SEC. 13. Strengthened Epidemiology, Public: Health Surveillance, and Research 
271 
Capacities. – To ensure that epidemiology and public health surveillance services are 
272 
efficient and responsive, and public health surveillance and research capacities are 
273 
strengthened and updated to international standards, the CDC shall: 
274 
 
275 
(a) Prioritize investments in upgrading of ICT and adequate and capacitated human 
276 
resources for epidemiology, public health surveillance, and public health and 
277 
clinical research; 
278 
(b) Have a premier facility for clinical laboratory, epidemiologic and implementation 
279 
research, and training on infectious and tropical diseases; 
280 
(c) Develop performance-based incentives to private health facilities epidemiology 
281 
and surveillance functions; 
282 
(d) Re-nationalize local epidemiology and surveillance units (LESUs) that will solely 
283 
provide epidemiology and disease surveillance services and provide assistance to 
284 
the LGUs in the establishment and maintenance of surveillance systems, data 
285 
management, and generation of strategic epidemiologic information: Provided, 
286 
That the DOH, CDC, and DBM, shall develop the staffing pattern and 
287 
qualification standards: Provided, further, That LESUs shall be under the direct 
288 
supervision and control of the Regional CDCs; 
289 
(e) Retain and provide incentives to technical experts, practitioners and scientists, 
290 
whereby the scientific career system is adopted, allowing them to continue their 
291 
respective clinical and professional practice to pursue research studies and receive 
292 
grants and honoraria, in consultation with the CSC. Qualified employees of the 
293 
CDC and its attached units shall be covered by Republic Act No. 8439, otherwise 
294 
known as "Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and Other Science and 
295 
Technology Personnel in Government,"; 
296 
(f) Develop and implement training and research programs to develop more experts 
297 
and practitioners in the field of epidemiology, and disease prevention and 
298 
control; and, 
299 
(g) Develop a mechanism to ensure interoperability and accessibility of surveillance 
300 
systems. 
301 
 
302 
SEC. 14. Strengthened Disease Surveillance and Response. - The CDC shall establish 
303 
integrated disease surveillance and response systems utilizing, whenever necessary, all 
304 
technological means available while ensuring that data privacy and patient 
305 
confidentiality are maintained. The CDC and authorized public health authorities shall 
306 
have complete access and right to collect personal information and other data, as may be 
307 
deemed necessary in fulfillment of their mandate. All data or information and samples 
308 
collected pursuant thereto shall be used for public health concern purposes only and 
309 
shall be exempted from the provisions of R.A. No. 10173, otherwise known as the "Data 
310 
Privacy Act of 2012" on accessibility of data. 
311 
 
312 


10 
 
SEC. 15. National Reference Laboratories - The CDC shall establish a new, state of the 
313 
art facility that will serve as the National Reference Laboratory (NRL), unifying all NRLs 
314 
for biological, chemical, nuclear and radiologic emergencies under one roof, within 5 
315 
years from the effectivity of this Act: Provided, That the existing NRLs in the East Avenue 
316 
Medical Center, Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, National 
317 
Kidney Transplant Institute and San Lazaro Hospital shall continue to be under the 
318 
respective hospitals: Provided further, That these existing NRLs shall serve as referral 
319 
laboratories of the CDC and be included in the Modernization Program of the CDC. 
320 
 
321 
The NRL shall provide technical recommendations, laboratory confirmatory services, 
322 
training, and external quality assurance, and perform surveillance, outbreak response, 
323 
kit evaluation, and research. It shall oversee the functions and performance of the 
324 
network of subnational laboratories (SNL). 
325 
 
326 
SNLs shall be established in all regions, with the capability of conducting confirmatory 
327 
testing for routine surveillance samples and performing specialized tests. SNLs, whose 
328 
functions include testing for routine surveillance and specialized tests, shall be under 
329 
CDC administratively. Hospitals housing the SNLs shall create a separate unit for their 
330 
regular hospital laboratory needs. 
331 
 
332 
The CDC, through the NRLs and SNLs, shall provide technical guidance and quality 
333 
assurance programs to biosafety levels 3 and 4 laboratories in the country, which shall be 
334 
registered with, and regulated by the DOH. 
335 
 
336 
SEC. 16. Authority to Solicit, Negotiate, and Receive Donations, Grants, Gifts, Legacies, 
337 
Endowments, and Contributions. - The CDC may solicit, negotiate with, and receive 
338 
from any public or private domestic or foreign sources legacies, gifts, donations, grants, 
339 
endowments, contributions or other transfers of ownership and/or possession of real or 
340 
personal properties of all kinds in favor and for the benefit of the CDC, which shall all be 
341 
part of the special account in the general fund managed by the Bureau of Treasury. 
342 
 
343 
The Director General shall prescribe the measures necessary for the proper use, 
344 
maintenance safekeeping, and compliance with the terms and conditions, if any, of said 
345 
donations, grants, endowments, contributions or transfers in accordance with per 
346 
eminent accounting and auditing laws, rules and regulations. 
347 
 
348 
SEC. 17. Tax Exemptions. - Donations, grants, gifts, endowments, legacies, and 
349 
contributions used actually, directly, and exclusively for the purpose of the CDC shall be 
350 
exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be considered as an allowable deduction 
351 
from gross income for purposes of computing the taxable income of the donor, in 
352 
accordance with Sec. 34 (H)(2)(a) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as 
353 
amended. Likewise, such other transfers of ownership and/or possession of real or 
354 
personal properties of all kinds shall be exempt from all taxes. 
355 
 
356 
SEC. 18. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee - There shall be a joint Congressional 
357 
Oversight Committee on Disease Prevention and Control, jointly chaired by the 
358 
Chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, and the House of 
359 
Representatives Committee on Health. It shall be composed of five (5) members from the 
360 


11 
 
Senate and five (5) members from the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the 
361 
Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. 
362 
 
363 
SEC. 19. Appropriations. - The initial amount needed for the implementation of this Act 
364 
shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the offices and the RITM 
365 
herein absorbed by the CDC. Thereafter, the funding of which shall be included in the 
366 
annual GAA. 
367 
 
368 
SEC. 20. Transitory Provisions. – 
369 
 
370 
(a) Upon effectivity of this Act, the CDC shall develop a Framework for Infectious 
371 
Diseases and Pandemic Preparedness, and prioritize the strengthening of the 
372 
following functions: 
373 
 
374 
(i) 
Integrated disease surveillance and response; 
375 
(ii) 
Sentinel surveillance; 
376 
(iii) 
Laboratory-based surveillance; 
377 
(iv) 
Periodic population-based surveillance; and, 
378 
(v) 
Preventing transmission of communicable diseases. 
379 
 
380 
(b) The CDC shall initially prioritize disease surveillance and prevention and control 
381 
of infectious diseases. Within five (5) years from its creation, and upon positive 
382 
recommendation by an independent study or body commissioned by the DOH, 
383 
the surveillance, prevention and control of non-communicable diseases shall be 
384 
included in its mandate; 
385 
 
386 
(c) For the year during which this Act was approved, the unexpended portion of the 
387 
budget of the offices and units transferred shall be utilized for establishing the 
388 
CDC and initiating its operations, including the formulation of the rules and 
389 
regulations necessary for the implementation of this Act; 
390 
 
391 
(d) To the greatest extent possible and in accordance with existing laws, all 
392 
employees of the affected offices, agencies and units shall be absorbed by the 
393 
CDC. Personnel hired on a permanent basis and with appointments attested by 
394 
the CSC who may be affected by the transition of DOH units to CDC, or who will 
395 
not be absorbed in the new positions of the new staffing pattern of the different 
396 
offices in the CDC, shall have the option to: 
397 
 
398 
(1) Be transferred to other units or offices within the DOH without reduction in 
399 
pay; or 
400 
(2) Avail of the applicable retirement benefits as provided under R.A. No. 6656, 
401 
entitled "An Act to Protect the Security of Tenure of Civil Service Officers and 
402 
Employees in the Implementation of Government Reorganization" and other 
403 
relevant laws; 
404 
(e) Incumbent DOH officials and employees of affected DOH offices may apply for 
405 
and be transferred to the CDC, subject to an evaluation of their competency and 
406 
CSC regulations; 
407 


12 
 
(f) Research grants acquired during the transition of DOH transferred units to CDC 
408 
shall be utilized solely for the grants' intended purposes for each of the affected 
409 
units or offices, and shall not be made available for budget realignments; 
410 
(g) Existing contracts and agreements entered into by the affected offices with third 
411 
parties prior to the enactment of this Act shall remain valid. 
412 
 
413 
The DBM, DOH, and CSC shall issue the implementing guidelines to ensure fair, 
414 
orderly, and transparent implementation of paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section. 
415 
 
416 
SEC. 21. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one hundred and twenty (120) 
417 
working days from the effectivity of this Act, the DOH Secretary shall promulgate the 
418 
necessary rules and regulations for its implementation. 
419 
 
420 
SEC. 22. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared invalid 
421 
or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect. 
422 
 
423 
SEC. 23. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or other 
424 
issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
425 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
426 
 
427 
SEC. 24. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect Fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
428 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
429 
 
430 
Approved. 
431