REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

‘“ 8810
House Bill No,

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Diagnostic testing and immunization programs are some of the important components
in defeating the COVID-19 pandemic. However, these components remain inaccessible
for most Filipinos,

In November 2020, the government mandated a price cap for the COVID-19 real-time
reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests in high hopes to make
it more accessible to the public. These price caps were set from P4,500.00 to
P5,000.00 for private hubs and P3,800,00 for public testing centers per RT-PCR swab
test.! In spite of these price caps, many Filipinos still cannot afford them.

Meanwhile, as the government readies itself for the procurement of COVID-19
vaccines starting in the second quarter of 2021, their estimated prices remain
exorbitant as well. For instance, the vaccine made by the pharmaceutical company

* Rappler. Gov't sets price cap for coronavirus RT-PCR tests. Information retrieved from https://www.reppler.com/nation/covid-
19--par-tests-price-range. Dated November 25, 2020,


Moderna will cost at around P3,904.00 to P4,504.00 for two doses per person. While
the Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine costs P2,379.00 for two doses per person.”

As the cure for the COVID-19 disease is now in sight, our pandemic battle is far from
over as both the COVID-19 RT-PCR test and vaccines may remain inaccessible
especially to those who belong in the grassroots level of society. This measure seeks
to establish a free access to COVID-19 testing and vaccination programs nationwide.
Every Filipino residing in the Philippines are entitled to a free COVID-19 RT-PCR
diagnostic test and COVID-19 vaccine. It shall have a Comprehensive COVID-19
Vaccine Distribution Plan to ensure the safe, efficient and effective administration of
approved COVID-19 vaccines.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

MANUEL CABOCHAN IIT
Representative
Magdalo Para Sa Pilipino Party-List

2 Inquirer. Explainer: Facts about 7 COVID-19 vaccines Philippines may get. Information retrieved from
https://newsinfo inquirer.net/1372054 explainer-Facts-about-7-covid-19-vaccines-phlippines-may-get. Dated December 15,
2020


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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

8810
House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A FREE AND ACCESSIBLE COVID-19 TESTING AND
VACCINATION PROGRAM NATIONWIDE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1, Short Title— This Act shall be known as the “Free and Accessible
COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Act of 2020”.

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy.— It is hereby the policy of the State to protect and
promote the right to health of the people. The State shall take a proactive role in the
preventive healthcare of all Filipinos by allocating funds and mandating our country’s
healthcare system to offer diagnostic test and vaccines against the Coronavirus
disease (COVID-19), Towards this end, the State shall establish a free and accessible
COVID-19 testing and vaccination program nationwide to safeguard the health of the

nation.


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Sec. 3. Coverage.— Every Filipino residing within the Philippine territory who
request to be tested shall be entitled to a free COVID-19 Reverse transcription-
polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) diagnostic test and free COVID-19 vaccine.

Sec. 4, Free COVID-19 Testing Program. The Inter-Agency Task Force on
Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) shall create a program to make COVID-19
testing free and accessible for every Filipino residing within the Philippine territory. No
person shall be deprived a COVID-19 RT-PCR diagnostic test due to its cost. Provided,
That the said cost shall be assumed by the national government using the current
appropriations of the Department of Health.

Sec. 5. Free COVID-19 Vaccination Program. The IATF-EID shall create a
program for the free, safe, efficient and timely distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to
every Filipino. All designated COVID-19 referral hospitals and tertiary public hospitals
shall offer approved COVID-19 vaccines by the Department of Health (DOH) for free
in accordance with the approved list of social groups and sectors to have priority
access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

It shall include a comprehensive plan which identifies the logistical needs for
the transport, storage and distribution of vaccines and the strategic, scientific and
ethical prioritization of the distribution of vaccines towards maximizing the impact of
the vaccines on its efforts to reduce the transmission of the disease.

Sec. 6. Comprehensive COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan— The IATF-EID, in
coordination with infection disease experts and concerned public sector
representatives, shall prepare and submit a Comprehensive COVID-19 Vaccine
Distribution Plan that shall ensure the safe, efficient and effective administration of
approved COVID-19 vaccines. Policies that will ensure the efficient delivery of
vaccinations services to all Filipinos shall be a part of the plan, including but not limited
to the following:


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(a) The offering of free voluntary vaccination to all Filipinos following a system
of priority targeting taking into consideration frontline and vulnerable
sectors, as well as areas of high incidence of COVID-19 cases;

(b) Ensuring that persons offered vaccination receive information regarding the
risks and benefits of vaccination;

(©) A system for documenting vaccine administration, medical contradictions,
patient refusals and any post-vaccination adverse events;

(d) Identification of implementing agencies, units, government officials. and
personnel; and

(e)The DOH, with the assistance of local government units, academe,
professional societies and non-governmental organizations, shall undertake
continuing information, education and training programs for all health
personnel on the rationale and benefits of as well as modern procedures for
immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases.

The distribution plan shall also take into consideration the efficacy of the vaccine and
the necessity to re-vaccinate as may be necessary.

Sec. 7. Education and Information Campaign.— All healthcare practitioners or
healthcare workers who are administering COVID-19 vaccines shall educate all
patients on the importance of receiving COVID-19 immunization services, as well as
any possible effects of immunization. The DOH, as well as other government agencies,
non-government organizations, professional and academic societies and local
government units (LGUs) shall make available appropriate information materials and
shall have a system of its distribution to the public.

The information campaign shall likewise state that all COVID-19 vaccinations
are optional and that persons may avail of the vaccines from non-government
accredited institutions.

Sec. 8. Informed Consent. The COVID-19 vaccine shall be administered only
upon informed consent of the person to be vaccinated. The persons administering the
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vaccine is obliged to inform said persons of the following in relation to the COVID-19
vaccine to be administered:

(a) Brand to be administered;

(b) Nature of the vaccine;

(©) Manner in which the vaccine is administered;

(d) Persons to whom the vaccine is intended;

(e) Persons to whom the vaccine is prohibited or not advised;

(A) Side effects of the vaccine, if any;

(g) Period of efficacy of the vaccine; and

(h) Official DOH and IATF-EID website or social media pages where the

information on the vaccine is available.

Parents or legal guardians shall provide the informed consent in cases of minors.

Sec. 9. Registration and Certification— All recipients of the COVID-19
vaccination shall be issued a certification of COVID-19 immunization upon completion
of the required doses and registered in a centralized government-managed database
which shall be subject to the Data Privacy Act.

The production and use of a falsified certification under this Section shall be
penalized under the Revised Penal Code, Title 1, Chapter 1, Section 4 on Falsification
of Legislative, Public Commercial, and Private Documents, and Wireless, Telegraph
and Telephone Messages.

Sec. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations.- To ensure the safe delivery of
the COVID-19 vaccines, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases
is directed to collaborate with the local government units. The Department of Health
shall thereby formulate and promulgate the pertinent rules and regulations for the
implementation of this Act within forty-five (45) days from the effectivity of this Act.

Sec, 11. Appropriations.- The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of
this Act shall be charged against the existing realigned appropriations of the 2019,
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2020 and 2021 General Appropriations Act for COVID-19 response. Private sector
funding for the COVID-19 Testing Program and COVID-19 Vaccination Program shall
be permitted. Private companies may avail of any tax incentives or credits present
under current tax laws for their financing of the COVID-19 Testing Program and
COVID-19 Vaccination Program.

Sec. 12. Separability Clause-— If any portion or provision of this Act is
subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are
not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 13. Repealing Clause.— All other laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive
orders, presidential proclamations, issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof
which are contrary to or inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Sec, 14. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,