EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
of ti)f femptnip
SENATE
S. No. 1450
20 APR 21
All '49
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe 
RECEiVi O B':
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE TO PUBLIC 
HEALTH EMERGENCIES BY CREATING A CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 or CoVid-19 in the country revealed a 
stark lack of preparedness and foresight in handling public health emergencies. A 
month into the imposed Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), the number of 
confirmed cases continues to rise, deaths among healthcare workers increase, and the 
country has a fatality rate above global average at 6.6%.
As of 12 April 2020, the Philippines was ranked lowest in terms of corona virus safety 
in the Asia-Pacific. This means that among 20 countries included in the Deep 
Knowledge Ventures' study, the Philippines has the highest likelihood of infection, 
highest chance of mortality, and lowest likelihood of recovery.
Despite the World Health Organization's 31 January 2020 declaration that the novel 
coronavirus outbreak in China constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International 
Concern, the Department of Health still seemed ill-prepared in March when the 
government decided to impose the ECQ. As of April 16, the personal protective 
equipment (PPEs) procured by the DOH has yet to arrive in full. Private sector had to 
step in to provide the much-needed PPEs to our healthcare workers. Targeted mass 
testing was promised but a spike in testing numbers remain to be seen.
This bill aims to prevent a repeat of this dismal effort and to capacitate instead our 
country in preparation for the next pandemic. Through a Pandemic Response Act, we 
can only hope that our agencies will be better trained, more adequately equipped, 
more informed, and be ever ready in disease prevention and response.
This bill brings up to date Senate Bill No. 1573 previously filed by Senator Miriam 
Defensor-Santiago in 2013. Working on her original proposal for a National Strategy


for Public Health Emergencies, this bill primarily adds the creation of a Center for 
Disease Control which shall be the principal agency tasked with deveioping and 
applying communicable disease control and prevention initiatives.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
g GRACE POE


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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
)
)
SENATE
s.no._1450
Senate
of tijr S>rrrftarp
20 APR 27
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
RECEiVLO SV;
All :49
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE TO PUBLIC 
HEALTH EMERGENCIES BY CREATING A CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL
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 "Pandemic 
Preparedness and Response Act."
Sec. 2. Creation of a Center for Disease Control. - There shall be created a 
Center for Disease Control, hereinafter referred to as "Center", which shall be attached 
to the Department of Health (DOH).
The Center shall be the principal agency tasked with developing and applying 
communicable disease control and prevention initiatives. Additionally, it shall be 
responsible for controlling the introduction and spread of infectious diseases, and shall 
provide consultation and assistance to other nations and international agencies to 
assist in improving their disease prevention and control.
Sec. 3. Reorganization of existing units. - The following bureaus and agencies 
are hereby subsumed into the Center:
A. The Disease Prevention and Control Bureau of the DOH 
The Epidemiology Bureau of the DOH 
The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine 
The Health Emergency Management Bureau of the DOH 
The Bureau of Quarantine of the DOH
Sec. 4. Functions of the Center. - The Center shall have the following functions: 
Act as lead agency in the crafting and implementation of programs regarding 
the control and prevention of communicable diseases;
As the primary disease surveillance agency in the country, the Center shall 
monitor existing and emerging communicable diseases and maintain active 
surveillance of the same;
Ensure that public health decisions are data-driven and guided by strategic 
information for best possible health outcomes;
B.
C.
D.
E.
B.


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D. Enhance the country's readiness for the emergence of new communicable 
diseases by deveioping recommended national health standards; improving the 
capacity of clinicai laboratories in identifying and classifying communicable 
diseases; and assessing and supporting the capabilities of local government
units (LGUs) in preventing the emergence and transmission of communicable 
diseases;
E. Pursuant to Section 8 of Repubiic Act No. 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of 
Notifiable Diseases and Heaith Events of Pubiic Heaith Concern Act, the Center 
shall set the standards and the process for the establishment of Epidemiology 
and Surveillance Units (ESUs), assist DOH-retained hospitals, local health 
facilities, district hospitals, and private hospitals and laboratories in establishing 
the same. The Center shall also assess the performance of the above- 
mentioned entities and accredit them based on the standards set;
F. Ensure equitable, accessible, efficient, and quaiity heaith services to 
communities in case of an epidemic or a Public Health Emergency;
G. Set the parameters for the declaration of the existence of an epidemic and/or 
a Pubiic Heaith Emergency;
H. Recommend the exercise of certain powers to the President in case of an 
epidemic and/or a Pubiic Health Emergency;
Maintain a Registry of Notifiable Diseases and Biosecurity Hazards, which shail 
be pubiished and updated online; and.
Perform such other functions as may be mandated by iaw, or as may be duly 
delegated by the President in case of an epidemic and/or a Public Health 
Emergency.
Sec. 5. The Executive Director. — The Center shall be headed by an Executive 
Director who shali be appointed by the President upon the effectivity of this Act, with 
the rank of Undersecretary, and who shali perform the foilowing functions:
A. Manage and direct the Center's programs and activities such as, but not limited 
to:
a. The implementation of the Center's programs reiated to disease 
prevention and controi;
b. The Center's Epidemiologic activities;
c. The Center's response to public health emergencies;
d. The Center's scientific/medical programs;
e. The Center's iaboratory science, safety, and quaiity management 
programs; and,
f. The Center's administrative and management activities.
B. Advise the President on poiicy matters concerning disease prevention and 
control;
C. Recommend to the President the exercise of special powers in the case of an 
epidemic;
D. Attest to the existence of an epidemic, which shall be treated as a public health 
emergency;
I.
J.


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E. Coordinate with other government agencies, non-government organizations, 
international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), 
academic institutions, and other pertinent entities in the conduct of activities 
relating to disease prevention and control;
F. Before, during and after an epidemic, provide or obtain technical assistance for 
regional and local health departments and private agencies;
G. Coordinate with appropriate DOH offices regarding administrative and program 
matters;
H. Ensure equal employment opportunities in the Center; and,
I. Perform such other functions as may be mandated by iaw, or as may be duiy 
delegated by the Secretary of Health and/or the President
Sec. 4. National Strategy for Public Health Emergencies. - The Center shali 
spearhead the creation of a national strategy to address public health emergencies. 
This strategy shall provide for integrated policy coordination and strategic direction 
with respect to ail matters related to national public heaith and medical preparedness 
and execution and deployment of national response before, during, and following 
pubiic health emergencies.
Sec. 5. Components of a National Strategy for Public Health Emergencies. - The 
National Strategy for Public Health Emergencies shall include:
A. Provisions for increasing the preparedness, response capabilities, and surge 
capacity of ambulatory care facilities and criticai care service systems;
B. Plans for optimizing a coordinated and flexible approach anticipatory of a 
medical surge in capacity of hospitais, other health care facilities, criticai care, 
and trauma care and emergency medicai systems;
C. Provisions taking into account the unique needs of individuais with pre-existing 
illnesses and disabilities in a public health emergency;
D. Strategic initiatives to advance countermeasures to diagnose, mitigate, 
prevent, or treat harm from any biological agent or toxin or any chemical, 
radiological, or nuclear agent or agents, whether naturally, occurring, 
unintentional, or deliberate;
E. Conduct of periodic evaiuations of national and local preparedness and 
response capabilities which shall include drills and exercises to ensure medicai 
surge capacity for events without notice.
Sec. 6. Creation of Task Force on Public Heaith Emergencies. -
A. The Center shaii establish a task force to consult with in the conduct of the 
research necessary for the creation of the Strategy. In the absence of a Public 
Heaith Emergency, the Task Force shall regularly meet and be composed of 
representatives from:
1. The Department of Health (DOH);
2. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council 
(NDRRMC);
3. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG);


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B.
2.
4.
4. The National Security Adviser; and
5. The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).
In its regular capacity, the Task Force shall:
1. Monitor emerging issues and concerns as they relate to medical and 
public health preparedness and response for at-risk individuals in the 
event of a public health emergency;
Identify and minimize gaps, duplication and other inefficiencies in 
medical and public health preparedness and response activities and the 
actions necessary to overcome these obstacles;
Disseminate and update novel and best practices of outreach to and care 
of at-risk individuals before, during, and, following public health 
emergencies in as timely a manner as is practicable, including from the 
time a public health threat is identified; and 
Ensure that public health and medical information distributed by the 
government during a public health emergency is delivered in a manner 
that takes into account the range of communication needs of the 
intended recipients, including at-risk individuals.
C. In the event of a declaration of a Public Health Emergency, the President shall 
expand the Task Force which shall be responsible for the implementation of the 
Strategy and the management of the Public Health Emergency. The expanded 
Task Force shall be composed of the following:
1. The Secretary of Health as Co-Chair;
2. The Executive Secretary as Co-Chair;
3. The Executive Director of the Center as Co-Chair;
4. The Secretary of National Defense as NDRRMC Chair as Member;
5. The Secretary of Foreign Affairs as Member;
6. The Secretary of Interior and Local Government as Member;
7. The Secretary of Justice as Member;
8. The Secretary of Finance as Member;
9. The Secretary of Budget and Management as Member;
10. The Secretary of Trade and Industry as Member;
11. The Secretary of Agriculture as Member;
12. The National Security Adviser as Member; and
13. The Chair of the Philippine National Red Cross.
The Task Force shall regularly report to the President and the public updates 
regarding the circumstances and status of the Public Health Emergency.
Other government agencies not under the authority or jurisdiction of the 
standing members of the Task Force may be included should their inclusion be 
determined by the President as necessary.
Sec. 7. Creation of Medical Reserve Corps. - The Center shall establish a medical 
reserve corps composed of volunteer health professionals. In the case of a pandemic 
or a Public Health Emergency, the Medical Reserve Corps shall be called into duty and
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Shall be automatically provided with the appropriate emoluments including hazard pay 
and special risk allowance.
Sec. 8. Auttrorization of Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, 
there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal 
year.
Sec. 9. Separabiiity Ciause. - If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting.
Sec. 10. Repeaiing Ciause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative' order, rule, or regulation contrary to or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended 
accordingly.
Sec. 11. Effectivity Ciause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,