' FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
Firsf Regular Session 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
7 JUL -3 P: 
:?A 
S E N A T E  
S No. 
797 
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Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to establish the Center for Animal Vaccine and Disease 
Diagnostic Research and Development for the detection, control and eradication 
of the foot and mouth Disease (FMD), rabies, hemorrhagic septicemia, hog 
cholera,bovine spongiform encephalomyelitis (mad cow disease) and other 
animal diseases. 
The FMD was introduced into the Philippines in 1902 from Hong Kong. 
Since then, FMD has been reported virtually every year in the Philippines, 
reaching epidemic proportions in Luzon in 1995, threatening some 5.6 million 
heads of cattle, carabao and pigs. On June 5, 1995, President Fidel Ramos issed 
E.O. 251, declaring Luzon as a Calamity Area as a result of the Foot and Mouth 
Disease, rationalizing Public Safety Measures for the eradication of the Foort and 
Mouth Disease in the country. The economic losses incurred by the livestock 
industry is estimated at P2 billion. 
Many opportunities for our domestic livestock enterprises to export meat 
and livestock products to other countries have been frustrated by the fact that 
some parts of the Philippines, particularly Luzon is still to be declared as FMD- 
free by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE). 
The programs of the Department of Agriculture to provide regular massive 
vaccination as one of the main components of animal disease prevention and 
control is constrained by its total dependence on imported animal vaccines, In 
1995 alone, total imports of vaccines reached U.S$3.1 million. This bill seeks to 
re-enforce the programs and efforts of the Department of Agriculture (DA) jointly 
with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to develop our domestic 
capability to produce livestock vaccines and offer better diagnostic research and 
services to our livestock farms all over the country. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 


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S No. 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CENTER FOR ANIMAL 
VACCINE AND DISEASE DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Represenfatives of the 
SECTION 1. Establishment of the Center for Animal Vaccine and 
Disease Diagnostic Research and Development, -There shall be established, 
under the supervision of the Department of Agriculture, a Center for Animal 
Vaccine and Disease Diagnostic Research and Development, hereinafter 
referred to as the Center. 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
Sec. 2. Purpose of the Center. -The Center shall have the following 
purposes: 
a) Develop and contract the local manufacture of Foot and Mouth Disease 
(FMD) viral vaccine for the prevention of FMD; 
b) Develop modified live hog cholera viral vaccine for the prevention of 
classical swine fever; 
c) Develop Pasteurella Multodica Bacerin for the prevention of 
hemorrhagic septiciemia in cattle, carabao, goat, and sheep; 
d) Develop other animal vaccines such as rabies viral vaccine, 
pseudorabies viral vaccine, swine respiratory and poultry vaccine; 


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e) Develop bacterial vaccine for the prevention of swine respiratory disease 
complex and enteric diseases; 
9 Develop animal disease diagnostics for laboratory and field use; 
g) Provide continuing education and training in animal health management 
systems; and 
h) Develop print and video-audio information guides for the livestock industry 
in support of viral and bacterial vaccines developed and manufactured 
throughout the Center. 
Sec. 3. 
Board of Trustees. - The Center shall be administered by a 
Board of Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board, to be headed by the 
Secretary of Agriculture as Chairman, and the Secretary of Science and 
Technology as Vice-chairman, and five members, three of whom shall come from 
the private veterinary medical sector who shall be appointed by the President of 
the Philippines. The Director of the Center shall also serve as an ex-officio 
member. No person shall be appointed Chairman, Vice-chairman or member of 
the Board unless he is a natural-born Filipino citizen, or good moral character and 
unquestionable integrity, 
and of recognized competence in the veterinary 
profession. 
The appointive members of the Board shall serve a term of five (5) years. 
Of the first appointed, two shall serve for five (5) years, the other two (2) members 
for four (4) years, and the last member, for three (3) years, which terms shall be 
specified in their respective appointments. 
In case of vacancy among the 
appoiritive members, the sllccessor shall be appointed to serve the unexpired 
term of the member replaced. 
The compensation of the appointed member shall be fixed by the President 
of the Philippines. 
Sec. 4. 
Powers and Functions of the Board. - The Board shall 
have the following powers and functions: 


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a) Formulate policies and adopt measures which are necessary to carry out 
the provisions of this Act; 
b) Prescribe, amend and repeal with the approval of the Secretary, rules and 
regulations governing the operation of the Center: 
c) Provide for the appointment and removal of such personnel as may be 
necessary for the effective operation of the Center: and 
d) Perform such other functions as may be necessary to achieve the 
purposes of this Act. 
Sec. 5. 
Quorum. - A majority of all the members of the Board shall 
constitute a quorum to officially transact its business. 
Sec. 6. 
Director of fhe Center. - The Center shall have a Director 
who shall be its Chief Executive Officer. He shall have the following powers and 
duties: 
a) To prepare the agenda for the meetings of the Board and to submit policies 
and other important matters for the consideration of the Board; 
b) To execute and administer the policies and measures approved by the 
Board; and 
c) To direct and supervise the operations and internal administration of the 
Center. 
The Director shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon 
the recommendation of the Secretary of Agriculture and may be removed for 
cause. He shall serve for a term of five (5) years. 
No person shall be appointed as Director unless h e  has extensive 
experience in the veterinary profession and is of unquestionable integrity and 
honesty. 
Sec. 7. 
StaRng Pattern. - The Board shall provide the staffing 
pattern for the Center and may authorize the Director to appoint, with the Board's 
approval and subject to Civil Service Rules ahd Regulations, such officers and 
employees as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. 


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Sec. 8. 
Approp~afions. - The amount of Fifty-Eight Million Pesos 
(P58,000,000) for the initial operation of the Center shall be charged to the 
appropriations of the Department of Agriculture. Thereafter, such sums as may 
be necessary for the continued operation of the Center shall be included in the 
annual General Appropriations Act. 
Sec. 9. 
Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
regulations and other issuances inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
deemed modified, revoked or repealed accordingly. 
SEC. I O .  Separability Clause. If any section or provision of this Act shall 
be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions not 
affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect 
SEC. 11. €ffecfivify. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication 
in 
two 
(2) 
leading 
newspapers 
of 
national 
circulation. 
Approved,