Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 1636

“Introduced by: Rep. Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan

AN ACT
CREATING THE HEALTH EMERGENCY AUXILIARY REINFORCEMENT TEAM
UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 2024 report! by the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB)
highlights how pandemics have evolved into persistent and multifaceted global
threats. The COVID-19 pandemic served as a wake-up call, but subsequent events like
the HSN1 outbreaks in cattle and the spread of mpox in Central Africa further
emphasize that pandemic risks are continuous and escalating. Human activity—such
as urbanization, land-use change, industrial farming, international trade, and
increased human-animal-environment contact—is driving the emergence and spread
of infectious diseases.

The report notes that trust must be cultivated in “peacetime” through inclusive
governance, effective communication, and investment in health systems and
community-based workers. It also points to recent progress, such as the 2024
amendments to the International Health Regulations, as signs of renewed multilateral
cooperation.

Without addressing these disparities, diseases will continue to circulate and
evolve in vulnerable populations, threatening global health security. As pointed out
in the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) Mission report, the Philippines, due to its
location, is one of the most natural-disaster prone countries in the world and in the
past decade the country has faced challenges in making solid progress in infectious
disease control. Given this situation, the country's preparedness in times of public
health emergencies is significantly necessary such as during pandemics and natural
disasters.

The tools to prevent future pandemics already exist, but only through
coordinated action, investment in equity, and trust can we hope to build a safer and
more resilient world. Hence, this measure, which was approved by the House and
transmitted to the Senate during the 19th Congress, seeks to create and develop the

fediess Monitoring Board. (2024). The changing face of pandemic risk: 2024 GPMB pandemic risk report, World
Health Organization,



Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team under the Department of Health. It
aims to strengthen the national preparedness and response of the government to
public health emergencies and reduce the adverse health, economic, and social
impact of pandemics to the Filipino people.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is urgently sought.
~
i

Keith Mcah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan
4% District, Quezon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _1686

Introduced by: Rep. Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan

AN ACT
CREATING THE HEALTH EMERGENCY AUXILIARY REINFORCEMENT TEAM
UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 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 “Health Emergency
Auxiliary Reinforcement Team (HEART)” Act.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Article II, Section 15 of the Constitution enjoins
the State to protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health
consciousness among them. Article XIII, Section 11 also provides for the adoption of
an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development. The State further
reiterates its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly
SDG 3, which calls on the State to ensure healthy lives and promote the well-being of
Filipinos at all ages.

The State recognizes the need for a reserve force of highly skilled and health-
oriented professionals and volunteers who can be mobilized to maintain the capacity
to meet surges in the demand for additional manpower in the country’s healthcare
system and provide assistance as needed in times of health crises.

Pursuant to this, it is the policy of the State to:

a. Prioritize the health of its citizens whether in the country or overseas by
maintaining a strong and resilient healthcare system at all times that will
immediately, efficiently, and effectively address all potential and actual
public health emergencies; and

b. Promote the spirit of “Bayanihan” and enhance the capacity of the nation to
expand its human health resources in times of disasters, public health


emergencies and health threats of both national and local scale through the
mobilization of the Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms, - As used in this Act:

a. Allied health professionals refer to professions who are involved with the
delivery of health or related services such as the identification, evaluation
and prevention of diseases and disorders, dietary and nutrition services, and
rehabilitation and health systems management. Allied health professionals,
shall include, among others, dental hygienists, diagnostic medical
sonographers, dietitians, medical technologists, occupational therapists,
physical therapists, radiographers, respiratory therapists, and speech
language pathologists;
Bayanihan refers to the value of communal unity through helping others to
achieve a certain goal without expecting anything in return;
Deployment refers to the actual movement of workforce to the assigned area
within a prescribed period;
Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team refers to a group of
individual volunteers who are in the field of medicine, nursing, medical
technology, and other allied health-related fields who are ready to be
deployed to complement the health workforce in the event of a public health
emergency and health threat;
. Health threat refers to a condition, agent, or incident that greatly impacts the
health that leads to disease, accident, injury, and loss of life;
Mobilization refers to the process and procedures for activating, assembling,
and transporting the needed health workforce to respond to a public health
emergency and health threat;

Ss

2

o

2

Mobilization center refers to the establishment where the Health Emergency
Auxiliary Reinforcement Team shall report upon receipt of the order for
mobilization, coordinate their mission order and mobilization-related issues
and concerns, and submit their report upon receipt of the order for
demobilization;

Public health emergency refers to an occurrence that poses an imminent
threat of an illness or health condition as defined in Republic Act No. 11332,
otherwise known as Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health
Events of Public Health Concern Act, that:

a

r

1. Iscaused by any of the following:

Bio terrorism;

ii, Appearance of a novel or previously controlled or
eradicated infectious agent or biological toxin;

iii, Anatural disaster;

iv. Achemical attack or accidental release;



v. A nuclear attack or accident; or
vi. An attack or accidental release of radioactive materials;

and
2. Poses a high probability of any of the following:

i. A large number of deaths in the affected population;

ii, Alarge number of serious injuries or long-term disabilities
in the affected population;

iii, | 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 populatio!

iv. International exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that
poses a significant risk to the health of citizens; or

v. Trade and travel restrictions

i. Volunteers refer to those who freely register to be members of the HEART.

SEC. 4. Scope. - This Act provides for the organization of the Health Emergency

Auxiliary Reinforcement Team, hereinafter referred to as the HEART, the
development of policies, plans, guidelines, and the implementation of actions
pertaining to the mobilization, services, and protection of the HEART in times of
disasters, public health emergencies and health threats.

SEC. 5. Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team. - There is hereby
established a HEART under the Department of Health (DOH) to augment the health
workforce in times of disasters, public health emergencies and health threats. The
HEART shall be composed of the following individuals who shall voluntarily register
with the DOH:

a.

Licensed professionals in the fields of medicine, nursing, medical
technology, and other allied health fields including those who are retired and
those who are no longer practicing their professions in a health facility
setting. All health and allied health professional organizations may be
tapped for the engagement of professionals who are not affiliated in any
healthcare facility;

Graduates of medicine and allied health courses and medical students who
have completed a one-year medical internship and who have not yet been
issued licenses to practice their respective professions, but due to the need
for their services may be issued a limited and special authorization to render
medical services during public health emergencies or health threats
pursuant to Republic Act No. 2382, otherwise known as the Medical Act of
1959 or as may be amended hereafter; and


c. Other health support workforce, including barangay health workers, whose
services are necessary in times of disasters, public health emergencies and
health threats.

SEC. 6. The Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team Promotion
Program. - There is hereby established the Health Emergency Auxiliary
Reinforcement Team Promotion Program, which shall refer to the comprehensive set
of objectives, targets, strategies and activities for the promotion, recruitment and
selection of reserve force of highly skilled and health-oriented professionals and
volunteers.

It shall include, but not be limited to, the following areas of concern: the provision of
initiatives that shall underscore the importance of volunteerism to improve the
health and safety of communities; the utilization of medical reserves pool who want
to donate their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies and to
support ongoing preparedness initiatives; and the building of partnerships and
ensuring the sustainability of the HEART with the end goal of maintaining its capacity
to meet surges in the demand for healthcare system and provide assistance in times
of public emergencies.

SEC. 7. Creation of the HEART Board. - A HEART Board, hereinafter referred to
as Board, is hereby created to ensure efficient and effective mobilization of the
HEART. It shall be chaired by the Department of Health (DOH) and composed of
representatives of the following, as members:

a. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG);

b. Department of National Defense (DND);

c. Commission on Higher Education (CHED);

d. Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC);

e. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP);

£. Office of Civil Defense (OCD); and

g. One representative from a non-governmental health professional
organization.

The members of the Board shall designate a representative, with a rank not
lower than Assistant Secretary or its equivalent, to represent their respective offices
in the Board: Provided, That the representative must be fully authorized to decide on
behalf of the member-agency.

The AFP shall designate a representative from the Office of the Surgeon General
with a rank not lower than Colonel as its Board representative.

The representative from a non-governmental health professional organization
shall have a two (2) -year term of office. The Board shall select the representative
base on the guidelines it shall promulgate: Provided, That, the non-governmental


health organization is national in scope and has a good track record in providing
emergency health services.

The Board shall establish close coordination with the National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council and the Philippine National Volunteer Service
Coordinating Agency. It may call upon any government office or instrumentality,
including government owned or controlled corporations and local government units
(LGUs), as necessary. The Board may likewise closely coordinate and collaborate with
non-governmental health organizations and the private sector, especially those with
actual programs in the delivery of emergency health services.

SEC. 8. Powers and Functions of the Board. - The Board shall have the following
powers and functions:

a) Define and develop the organization, management, mobilization,
demobilization, and reporting mechanisms, policies, and guidelines for the
HEART;

b) Oversee the effective and efficient functioning of the HEART in responding to
public health emergencies and health threats;

c) Coordinate with concerned national government agencies and other
stakeholders in responding to public health emergencies and health threats;
and

d) Conduct regular meetings every quarter or as often as may be necessary in
times of disasters, during public health emergencies or in the occurrence of
health threats.

SEC. 9. Creation of a HEART Unit. - A HEART Unit shall be created by the DOH
which shall serve as the secretariat of the Board. It shall oversee program
implementation, including the maintenance of the database or information system of
the HEART.

The DOH shall determine the organizational structure and staffing pattern of
the HEART unit subject to the evaluation and approval of the Department of Budget
and Management (DBM) and in accordance with the civil service laws, rules and
regulations.

The regional counterparts of the HEART Unit shall likewise be allocated
additional staff and personnel to ensure the grassroots implementation of this Act.

All LGUs shall ensure that a HEART Unit shall be operationalized under their
respective Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office which shall act as
mobilization centers in times of disasters, public health emergencies or health
threats.


SEC. 10. Registration and Training. - The Board shall prescribe a
comprehensive guideline for the recruitment and selection of a HEART volunteer.

The Board shall also prescribe a training program through written, practical,
and simulation activities on various aspects of health emergency management and
response in different health emergency scenarios. To this end, all volunteers must
undergo:

(a) Basic training on disaster and health emergency response; and
(b) Skill enhancement activities with relevant agencies in the both public and
private sector.

Completion of the basic training or acceptable substitute or equivalent
certification shall be a requisite for admission to the HEART.

SEC. 11. Registry and Accounting of Members. - HEART Volunteers shall be
issued with individual registration numbers which shall serve as their identification
during deployment.

A registry or database that contains the names of the volunteers, their
registration numbers, address, contact details and other personal information as may
be necessary, shall be maintained and regularly updated in accordance with Republic
Act No. 10173, otherwise known as the Data Privacy Act.

The HEART registry or database shall be integrated or linked to existing
registries such as the National Health Workforce Registry pursuant to Republic Act
No. 11223, otherwise known as Universal Health Care Act, Section 25 (c).

All volunteers covered under this Act are required to update their addresses
and contact details on file through the registry system or database as necessary.

SEC. 12. Mobilization. - The Board shall approve the prompt mobilization of the
HEART upon receipt of a request from municipal and city mayors and provincial
governors in connection with a public health emergency, threats to public health, or
a disaster, whether of local or national scale. The HEART may be mobilized partially
or in full, as may be necessary.

The Board shall promulgate a mechanism that shall ensure efficient
implementation of deployment, assignment areas, deployment periods, how
deployment orders are communicated to each volunteer, and to which mobilization
center the volunteers will report taking into consideration Section 13 on
“Accreditation, Mobilization, and Protection of Disaster Volunteers and National
Service Reserve Corps, CSOs, and the Private Sector” of Republic Act No. 10121,
otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of
2010.


SEC. 13. Deployment Order. - The President of the Philippines, upon the
recommendation of the HEART Board through a resolution, may order the
nationwide mobilization of the HEART to augment the health workforce in case of a
declaration of a state of public health emergency, state of calamity, and other threats
to public health.

Orders of deployment sent to the volunteers’ addresses and through the
contact details on file in the registry system or database shall be sufficient notice for
purposes of deployment.

SEC. 14. Mobilization Centers - Mobilization Centers shall be established in each
province as needed where volunteers shall report to once deployment is ordered.

A mobilization center may be any establishment that can adequately house the
volunteers, their equipment and supplies during the period of deployment, including
a multi-purpose hall, gymnasium, and other similar structures.

The Board shall, in consultation with the local executives, prescribe the
location of the mobilization centers. The concerned municipal and city mayors and
provincial governors shall disseminate information on the location of mobilization
centers to the widest extent possible.

SEC. 15. Essential Emergency Commodities. - The Board shall ensure that the
minimum essential individual and organizational commodities and medical
equipment and supplies shall be procured, stored, and managed to enhance the rapid
transition to readiness required for deployment of HEART teams in the shortest
possible time.

The Board shall ensure and maintain its capacity to scale up the procurement
of these supplies and equipment as needed during the period of deployment.

SEC. 16. Incentives. - In recognition and appreciation of the HEART volunteers’
service rendered during the period of actual mobilization, implementing agencies
may provide volunteers with an allowance as may be determined by the Department
of Health (DOH), in coordination with Department of Budget and Management,
subject to availability of funds, and other existing civil service, budgeting, accounting
and auditing rules and regulations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Act,
shall be construed as creating an employer-employee relationship between the
government and HEART volunteers.

SEC. 17. Legal Liability. - No volunteer shall be held liable for the death or injury
to any person or for the loss of, or damage to the property of any person where such
death, injury, loss, or damage was proximately caused by the circumstance of an
actual public health emergency or its subsequent conditions.


This Section shall not preclude liability for civil damages because of gross
negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct.

SEC, 18. Public Health Emergency Insurance. - The DOH is mandated to secure
an insurance policy that would insure HEART volunteers from injury, death, damage
to, or loss of property, and for any legal liability asserted against or incurred by the
volunteer arising from the lawful performance of his duty.

SEC. 19. Termination of Deployment or Demobilization. - Upon the declaration
of the President, or as determined by the Board that the need for the HEART is no
longer necessary, or upon the expiration of the deployment or end of mission there
being no approved extension thereof, volunteers who are deployed pursuant to the
declaration of a public calamity, a public health emergency or health threat shall be
discharged from the performance of HEART duties.

Upon order of the demobilization of the HEART, the deployed volunteers shall
be reverted to inactive status. Mobilization Centers shall ensure reports on the
mission are duly submitted and the certificate of services rendered pertaining to the
deployment are promptly issued.

SEC. 20. Annual Report. - The HEART Unit shall prepare and submit an annual
report to the Office of the President, through the DOH Secretary, containing the list of
accomplishments, status of the operations and program implementation of the
HEART.

SEC. 21. Appropriations. - The funds necessary for the initial implementation
of this Act shall be charged against the available funds of the implementing agencies
comprising the HEART Board. Thereafter, the funding shall be included in the budget
of the DOH under the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 22. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from
the effectivity of this Act, the HEART Board shall, in consultation with other
stakeholders, promulgate the necessary guidelines for the effective implementation
of this Act.

SEC. 23. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the validity of other provisions shall not be affected
thereby.

SEC. 24. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations,
other issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.


SEC. 25. 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,