Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

48
HOUSE BILL No. a

Introduced by Rep. MARLYN B. ALONTE,

AN ACT EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF THE MANDATORY BASIC
IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM AND PROVIDING A SYSTEM IN THE
DETERMINATION OF OTHER TYPES OF VACCINE-PREVENTABLE DISEASES,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10152, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE "MANDATORY INFANTS AND CHILDREN HEALTH
IMMUNIZATION ACT OF 2011"

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Prevention is always better than cure, and this rings true to a child's health. When it
comes to a child's health, any disease may tum worse if not taken seriously. That is
why the government has ensured measures to encourage parents to have their
children immunized. Vaccines are important because it provides protection before
children are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases.

Republic Act No. 10152 mandates mandatory immunization among infants and
children. However, only a limited number of vaccines are currently offered. This bill
seeks to include in the coverage the following vaccine-preventable diseases:

1. Rotavirus, which is the most common cause of potentially fatal severe diarrhea
‘among children worldwide. The virus kills at least 3,500 infants and young children in
the country each year.


2. Japanese Encephalitis (JE), which is a mosquito-bome viral disease and is the
leading cause of viral encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) in Asia. Children are
most at risk of JE, with cases recorded in every region in the country.

3. Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV), which is a vaccine against pneumonia to
prevent one of the most common causes of mortality among children less than five
years old.

4, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which a well-established cause of cervical cancer,
and thus preventable by using vaccine.

The bill also proposes to put a limit to the power of the Secretary of the Department of
Health (DOH) to solely determine and decide on other types of vaccines to be included
in the National Immunization Program, following the Dengvaxia controversy. Instead,
recommendations from Formulary Executive Committee (a panel of top Filipino
experts) and the National Immunization Committee will be required.

Hence, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought

MARLYN B. ALONTE
Lone District of Bifian, Laguna


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

4811
HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by Rep. MARLYN B. ALONTE

AN ACT
EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF THE MANDATORY BASIC IMMUNIZATION
PROGRAM AND PROVIDING A SYSTEM IN THE DETERMINATION OF OTHER
TYPES OF VACCINE-PREVENTABLE DISEASES, AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10152, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
"MANDATORY INFANTS AND CHILDREN HEALTH IMMUNIZATION ACT OF
2011"

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

SECTION 1. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 10152 is hereby amended to read
as follows:

“Section 3. Coverage. - The mandatory basic immunization for all infants and
children provided under this Act shall cover the following vaccine-preventable
diseases:

(a) Tuberculosis;

(b) Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis;

(©) Poliomyelitis;

(d) Measles;

(e) Mumps;

(f) Rubella or German measles;

(g) Hepatitis-B;


(h) H. Influenza type B (HIB); [and]

(1) ROTAVIRUS;

(3) JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS;

(K) PNEUMOCOCCAL CONJUGATE VACCINE (PCV);

(L)HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS (HPV); AND

(M) Such other types as may be determined by the Secretary of Health in a
department circular.) IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FORMULARY EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
(FEC) AND THE NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION COMMITTEE (NIC)
CREATED AS AN ADVISORY GROUP TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL
SUPPORT TO THE SETTING OF A DOH POLICY DIRECTION ON
THE NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM (NIP).

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SEC. 2. A new section to be numbered as Section 7 is hereby added after
Section 6 of the same Act to read as follows:

“SEC. 7. ANNUAL REPORT. —THE DOH SHALL SUBMIT TO THE OFFICE
OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES, THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON
HEALTH AND DEMOGRAPHY, AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON HEALTH ON OR BEFORE THE END OF DECEMBER OF EVERY
YEAR, OR UPON REQUEST OF ANY OF THE AFORESAID COMMITTEES OF
CONGRESS, A REPORT GIVING A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE STATUS OF
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT.”

SEC. 3. Sections 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the same Act are hereby renumbered as
Sections 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, respectively.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,