EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
xiiiT’lr! ■■ 
V, ''iSnitf ot til'’ ■'i,‘' •
71 M^Y -4 P5 *01
No. 2158
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO
AN ACT
CREATING THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, 
PROVIDING MECHANISMS FOR EPIDEMIC CONTROL, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall 
protect and promote the right to health of every Filipino and instill health 
consciousness among them. The State recognizes its duty to prioritize public health 
measures, especially, with the continuing emergence and reemergence of infectious 
diseases which threaten countries all over the world.
In 2015, the world was introduced to two emerging diseases - Influenza 
A(H7N7) and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). TTie 
first is a subgroup of influenza viruses that normally circulate among birds but human 
infections were already detected particularly In China. The second is a new beta virus 
strain of an animal coronavirus which was Identified in September 2012 in individuals 
with severe acute respiratory illness occurring in the Arabian Peninsula.
The global outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) sparked the need 
to have a comprehensive approach and multi-disciplinary preparedness for the 
emergence and reemergence of pandemic and epidemic diseases.


Dealing with the diseases promptly and appropriately requires a reorganization 
and strengthening of the country's heaith units committed to prevent and controi 
communicable diseases. This bili aims to establish a Center for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) which shaii be the principai agency tasked with deveioping and 
impiementing communicabie disease control and prevention initiatives. It shaii be 
responsibie for controiiing the spread of infectious diseases and shaii provide 
consultation and assistance to other nations and internationai agencies to assist in 
improving their disease prevention and control.
In view of the foregoing, approvai of this bill Is earnestly sought.
SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAVV LENCE "BONG" T. GO


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
', rt ■ ^ 
rw- I 5 L. t * 1
SENATE _
S. B. No. 2158
*21 HAY-4 P5:02
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRERf5iIUBONG" Tv
AN ACT
CREATING THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, 
PROVIDING MECHANISMS FOR EPIDEMIC CONTROL, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of Oie Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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CHAPTER I
2 
GENERAL PROVISIONS
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Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Center for Disease Control
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and Prevention Act of 2021."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to ensure
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the health and wellbeing of Filipinos, to protect them from communicable diseases,
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and to proactively prevent the emergence and transmission of serious diseases.
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Towards this end, the State shall devote significant material and institutional resources
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to provide a framework for communicable disease control and prevention in the
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country.
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms - As used in this Act, the following terms and
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phrases are defined as follows:
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(a) Communicable disease, also known as infectious disease - refers to an illness
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resulting from an infection, or a disease which can be transmitted from an
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infected host Individual or group to a particular Individual or group, regardless
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of whether the other individual was previously infected;
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(b) Contagious disease - refers to an infectious disease that can be transmitted
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from person to person;
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(c) Disease - refers to an illness due to a specific toxic substance, occupational
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exposure or infectious agent, which affects a susceptible Individual, either
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directly or indirectly, as from an infected animal or person, or indirectly through
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an intermediate host, vector, or the environment;
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(d) Disease control - refers to the reduction of disease incidence, prevalence.
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morbidity or mortality to a locally acceptable level as a result of deliberate
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efforts and continued intervention measures to maintain the reduction;
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(e) Disease surveillance - refers to the ongoing systematic collection, analysis,
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interpretation, and dissemination of outcome-specific data for use in the
s 
planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice. A disease
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surveillance system includes the functional capacity for data analysis as well as
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the timely dissemination of these data to persons who can undertake effective
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prevention and control activities;
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(f) Emerging or re-emerging Infectious diseases- refer to diseases that: (1) have
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not occurred in humans before; (2) have occurred previously but affected only
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small numbers of people in isolated areas; (3) have occurred throughout
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human history but have only recently been recognized as a distant disease due
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to an Infectious agent; (4) are caused by previously undetected or unknown
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infectious agents; (5) are due to mutant or resistant strains of a causative
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organism; and (6) once were major health problems in the country, and then
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declined dramatically, but are again becoming health problems for a significant
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proportion of the population;
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(g) Epidemic/outbreak - refers to an occurrence of more cases of disease than
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normally expected within a specific place or group of people over a given period
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of time;
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(h) Healtii care facility- refers to any institution, building, or agency or portion
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thereof, whether public or private that is used, operated, or designed to
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provide health services, medical treatment, or nursing, rehabilitative, or
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preventive care to any person or persons. This includes, but is not limited to:
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ambulatory surgical facilities, home health agencies, hospices, hospitals,
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infirmaries, intermediate care facilities, kidney treatment centers, long term
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care facilities, medical assistance facilities, mental health centers, outpatient
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facilities, public health centers, rehabilitation facilities, residential treatments
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facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and adult day-care centers. This also
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Includes, but is not limited to, the following related property when used for or
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in connection with the foregoing: laboratories; research facilities; pharmacies;
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laundry facilities; health personnel training and lodging facilities; patient,
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guest, and health personnel food service facilities; and offices and office
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buildings for persons engaged in health care professions or services;
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(i) Health event of public health concern - refers to either a public health
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emergency or a public health threat due to biological, chemical, radio-nuclear
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and environmental agents;
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(j) Infectious disease - refers to a disease caused by a living organism or other
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pathogen, including a fungus, bacillus, parasite, protozoan, or virus. An
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infectious disease may, or may not, be transmissible from person to person,
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animal to person, or insect to person.
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(k) Infectious waste - refers to (i) "biological waste," which includes blood and
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blood products, excretions, exudates, secretions, suctioning and other body
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fluids, and waste materials saturated with blood or body fluids; (ii) "cultures
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and stocks," which indudes etiologic agents and associated blologicals,
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including specimen cultures and dishes and devices used to transfer, inoculate.


1 
and mix cultures, wastes from production of biologicals and serums, and
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discarded live and attenuated vaccines; (iii) "pathological waste," which
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includes biopsy materials and all human tissues, anatomical parts that emanate
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from surgery, obstetrical procedures, necropsy or autopsy and laboratory
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procedures, and animal carcasses exposed to pathogens in research and the
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bedding and other waste from such animals, but does not Include teeth or
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formaldehyde or other preservative agents; and (iv) "sharps," which Includes
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needles, I. V. tubing with needles attached, scalpel blades, lancets, breakable
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glass tubes, and syringes that have been removed from their original sterile
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containers.
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(I) Notifiable disease - refers to a disease that, by legal requirements, must be
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reported to the public health authorities;
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{m)Pre-communicabiestage- refers to the stage beginning upon an individual's
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earliest opportunity for exposure to an infectious agent and ending upon the
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individual entering or reentering the communicable stage of the disease or, if
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the individual does not enter the communicable stage, the latest date at which
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the individual could reasonably be expected to have the potential to enter or
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reenter the communicable stage;
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(n) Quarantine- refers to the physical separation and confinement of an individual
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or groups of individuals, who are or may have been exposed to a contagious
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or possibly contagious disease and who do not show signs or symptoms of a
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contagious disease, from non- quarantined Individuals, to prevent or limit the
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transmission of the disease to non- quarantined individuals.
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(o) Sudden onset health outbreak or sudden onset health events - refers to
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diseases whose risks to public health and safety exponentially increase over
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time absent intervention;
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CHAPTER II
CREATION OF THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL PHILIPPINES
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Sec. 4. Creation of the Center for Disease Controi and Prevention. - There
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shall be created a Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hereinafter
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referred to as "Center," a government agency attached to the Department of Health
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(DOH), which shall exercise administrative supervision over the Center.
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The Center shall be the principal agency tasked with developing and applying
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communicable disease control and prevention initiatives. It shall be responsible for
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controlling the introduction and spread of infectious diseases and shall provide
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consultation and assistance to other nations and international agencies to assist in
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improving their disease prevention and control. It shall also
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Sec. 5. Reorganization of existing units. - Under this Center, the following
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bureaus and agencies of the DOH are hereby subsumed into the Center:
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(a) The Disease Prevention and Control Bureau
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(b)The Epidemiology Bureau
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(c) The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine
43 
(d)The Disease Emergency Management Bureau


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Sec. 6. Functions of the Center. - The Center shall perform the following 
functions:
Maintain active surveiiiance of diseases through epidemioiogic and 
laboratory investigations, data collection, analysis, and distribution;
Act as lead agency in developing and implementing operational programs 
relating to communicable diseases;
Act as the lead disease surveillance agency of the country;
Conduct operational research aimed at developing and testing effective 
communicable disease prevention, control, and health promotion 
programs;
Administers national programs to develop recommended health standards 
to ensure readiness for the emergence of new communicable diseases; 
Administer national programs for Improving the performance of clinical 
laboratories In Identifying and classifying communicable diseases; 
Recommend the exercise of certain powers by the President in the case 
of an epidemic;
Set the parameters for the declaration of the existence of an epidemic; 
Recommend such measures and policies as may be necessary to prevent 
the transmission of communicable diseases;
Assess and support the capabilities of local government units (LGUs) in 
preventing the emergence and transmission of communicable diseases; 
Enhance and strengthen the administrative and technical capacity of the 
Disease Prevention and Control Bureau and Epidemiology Bureau to 
ensure the agencies' monitoring coverage over establishments and 
products under their jurisdiction;
Promote public health decisions guided by strategic information for best 
possible health outcomes.
(m) Provide coherence In the health monitoring to ensure equitable, 
accessible, efficient and quality health services to communities, through 
dynamic partnership and shared advocacy, responsibility and 
accountability.
Set the standards and the process for the establishment of Epidemiology 
and Surveillance Units (ESUs) as required by Section 8 of Republic Act. 
No. 11332, assist DOH-retained hospitals, local health facilities especially 
district hospitals and private hospitals and laboratories in establishing 
ESUs and assess their performance and accredit them based on standards 
set by the CDC;
Maintain a Registry of Notifiable Diseases and Biosecurity Hazards, which 
shall be published and updated online.
Recommend to the Council inclusions and deletions from the registry; 
Perform such other functions as may be mandated by law, or as may be 
duly delegated by relevant authorities.
(a)
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Sec. 7. Executive Director. - The Center shall be headed by an Executive 
Director who shall be appointed by the President upon the effectivity of this Act, with 
the rank of Undersecretary, and who shall perform the following functions and powers:


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(a) 
Manage and direct the activities of the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC),
(b) 
Provide ieadership for the implementation of CDCs responsibilities related 
to disease prevention and control;
(c) 
Advise the Secretary of Health on policy matters concerning CDC 
activities;
(d) 
Recommend to the President and the Secretary of Health the exercise of 
special powers in the case of an epidemic;
(e) 
Certify to the existence of an epidemic, which shall be treated as a public 
health emergency;
(f) 
Participate in the development of CDC goals and objectives;
(g) 
Provide overall direction and coordination to the epidemiologic activities 
of CDC;
(h) 
Coordinate CDC response to health emergencies;
(i) 
Provide liaison with other governmental agencies, International 
organizations including the World Health Organization, learning 
institutions, and other outside groups;
(j) 
Coordinate international health activities relating to disease prevention 
and control;
(k) 
In cooperation with DOH Regional Offices, provide or obtain technical 
assistance for regional and local health departments and private and 
official agencies as needed;
(l) 
Provide overall direction to, and coordination of, the scientific/medical 
programs of CDC;
(m) Oversee and provide leadership for laboratory science, safety, and quality 
management;
(n) 
Plan, promote, and coordinate an ongoing program to assure equal 
employment opportunities in CDC;
(o) 
Provide leadership, coordination, and assessment of administrative 
management activities;
(p) 
Coordinate with appropriate DOH staff offices on administrative and 
program matters;
(q) Coordinate the consumer affairs activities for CDC; and
(r) 
Provide leadership, policy guidance, coordination, technical expertise, and 
services to promote the development and Implementation of the agency's 
national programs
37 
Sec. 8. Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Bureau. - There
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shall be created the Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Bureau under the
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CDC with the following functions:
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(a) Develop plans, policies, programs, projects and strategies for disease 
prevention and control and health protection; and
(b) Provide coordination, technical assistance, capability building, consultancy 
and advisory services related to disease prevention and control and health 
protection.


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Sec. 9. Divisions of the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau. - There
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shall be created the following divisions under Disease Prevention and Controf Bureau
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under the CDC with the following functions:
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(a)The Infectious Diseases for Elimination Division (IDED) shall have the following
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functions:
Develop policies, standards and guidelines for the elimination of 
infectious diseases;
Develop plans, programs and projects to carry out preventive and control 
strategies against elimination of infectious diseases;
Assist and strengthen capacity to measure and analyze the burden of 
elimination of Infectious diseases;
Provide monitoring and evaluation schemes to measure of interventions 
In the prevention and control of elimination diseases;
Provide technical assistance and expert services to collaborating and 
Implementing agencies on matters pertaining to the prevention and 
controi of infectious diseases for eiimination;
Develop capability of health sector agencies and organizations in the 
implementation of programs and projects related to the prevention and 
control of infectious diseases for elimination;
Promote coordination and collaboration with partner agencies and 
organizations on matters pertaining to elimination of Infectious diseases; 
and
Mobilize resources to assist collaborating and Implementing agencies and 
organizations.
Develop policies, standards and guidelines for the prevention and control 
of Infectious diseases;
Develop plans, programs and projects to carry out preventive and control 
strategies against Infectious diseases;
Assist and strengthen capacity to measure and analyze the burden of 
infectious diseases;
Provide technical assistance and expert services to collaborating and 
implementing agencies on matters pertaining to the prevention and 
control of infectious diseases;
Develop capability of health sector agencies and organizations in the 
implementation of programs and projects related to the prevention and 
control of infectious diseases;
Promote coordination and collaboration with partner agencies and 
organizations on matters pertaining to infectious diseases; and 
Mobilize resources to assist collaborating and implementing agencies and 
organizations.
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All other divisions currently under the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau
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of the Department of Health shall remain within the bureau, which shall hereafter be
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renamed the Non-Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Bureau.
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Sec. 10. Epidemiology Bureau. -There shall bean Epidemiology Bureau under 
the Center with the following functions:
(a) Develop and evaluate surveillance systems and other health information 
systems;
(b) Collect, analyze and disseminate reliable and timely information on the 
health status;
(c) Investigate disease outbreaks and other threats to public health; and
(d) Network public health laboratories in support of epidemiological and 
surveillance activities.
There shall create the divisions under the Epidemiology Bureau with the following 
functions:
(1) Applied Epidemiology Health Management Division
i. Investigate and respond to epidemics and other urgent public health 
threats as the need arises;
ii. Develop and maintain field epidemiology training programs for public 
health workers;
III. Develop, capture, filter, verify, assess, respond, disseminate and 
evaluate event- based surveillance systems; and
iv. Collect and maintain resource materials on epidemiology, 
surveillance, management and monitoring and evaluation in public 
health.
(2) Public Health Surveillance Division - Undertake notifiable disease 
surveillance through Philippine Integrated Disease Surveillance and 
Response.
(3) Survey, Monitoring & Evaluation Division
i. 
Provide statistical services to priority health programs of the DOH;
ii. Monitoring non-behavloral risk factors priority non-communicable 
diseases through globally standardized survey;
iii. Monitor HIV and AIDS Registry and Integrated HIV Behavioral and 
Serologic Surveillance, size estimates and Most At-Risk Population; 
and
iv. Provide program health indicators information
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Sec. 11. Disease Emeigency Management Bureau. - There shall be created
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the Disease Emergency Management Bureau under the Center with the following
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functions:
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(a) Act as the DOH Coordinating Unit and Operation Center for ail health


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emergencies and disasters, as well as incidents with the potential of becoming
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an emergency, and coordinate the moblliiation and sharing of resources.
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(b) Provide the communication linkage among DOH Central Office and other
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concerned agencies, including the hospitals and the regions, during
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emergencies and disasters.
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(c) Maintain updated Information of all health emergencies and disasters (except
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epidemiological investigation reports) and provide such information to other
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offices and agencies In accordance with existing protocols.
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(d) Maintain a database of all health emergency personnel, technical experts, and
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resource speakers. Together with the National Center for Health Facilities
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Development (NCHFD), the DEMB shall maintain a database of capabilities of
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health facilities.
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(e) Lead in the development of Disaster Risk Reduction & Management in Health
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(DRRMH) Plan and the development of protocols, guidelines and standards for
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health emergency management.
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(f) 0 Provide technical assistance in the development of programs and planning
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activities for HEM for other government and non-government organizations.
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(g) Lead advocacy activities, including simulation exercises.
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(h) Develop and implements an Integrated Human Resource Training Agenda for
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the Health Sector for emergencies and disasters.
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(i) Lead in the networking of hospitals and health sector organizations responding
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to emergencies and disasters.
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(j) Monitor and evaluate the enforcement of compliance to policies and recommend
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the formulation or amendment of policies related to health emergency
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management.
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There shall be create the divisions under the Disease Emergency Management
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Bureau with the following functions:
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(1) Prevention, Mitigation 8i Preparedness Division
i.
Develop, disseminates, and monitors the Implementation of policies for 
health emergency preparedness.
Develop standardized training modules for various stakeholders on health 
emergency
Develop, disseminate and update emergency preparedness programs 
Develop policy-related and operational researches and documentation 
relevant to health emergency preparedness that will serve as inputs for 
policy development and program/systems improvement.
Develop well-performing managerial human resources for health 
emergency management
Provide technical assistance to ensure the availability of functional health 
emergency preparedness systems (Including policies, planning and 
capability building activities) at all levels of the health sector.
Provide technical assistance to ensure delivery of appropriate services in 
time of emergencies.
viii. Develop and implement an overall Monitoring and Evaluation System and 
Plan for health emergency management
ix. Lead in public-information and awareness-raising activities
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(2) Response, Recovery &. Rehabilitation Division
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Mobilize resource of technical experts, health response teams and tangible 
logistics needed locally and internationally.
Manage information through rapid health assessment, damage assessment 
and needs analysis in response, recovery and rehabilitation phases.
Plan and develop policies and guidelines essential In the implementation and 
management of projects, programs and activities relevant to emergency and 
response, recovery and rehabilitation.
Develop and capacitate human resource of regional offices, operation 
centers and local government units in responding to emergencies.
Perform such other functions as may be necessary in performing its 
functions as a health emergency response division.
Sec. 12. Research Institute of Tropica! Medicine. - The Center shall 
absorb ail functions and divisions under the Research Ihstitute of Tropical Medicine 
pursuant to Executive Order No. 674 as follows:
(a) To undertake research In the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of tropical 
diseases of public health Importance and to produce vaccines for the control of 
vaccine-preventable diseases; and
(b) To engage and help formulate national health policy and strategy, conduct 
research efforts directed towards the development of new diagnostic 
techniques as well as effective and efficient strategies for the control of 
infectious and/or tropical diseases
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(1) Provide high quality tertiary care to both in-patients and out-patients 
suffering from tropical diseases included within the scope of the Institute's 
research activities.
(2) Undertake research activities in the diagnosis, control and prevention of 
tropical diseases that are major causes of mortality and morbidity in the 
Philippines.
(3) Develop cost effective strategies for the control of infectious/tropical 
diseases.
(4) Conduct clinical trials according to accepted Good Clinical Practice (GCP) 
guidelines, aimed at better understanding and control of tropical diseases.
(5) Conduct regular training courses for medical and paramedical personnel in 
the control of common tropical diseases In the country.
(6) Participate in the technical cooperation programs with foreign government 
in research activities In the diagnosis, control and prevention of tropical 
diseases.
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CHAPTER III
REGULATIONS TO CONTROL COMMUNICABLE DISEASES


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Sec. 13. Promulgation and enforcement by the Secretary of Health. -
The Secretary of Health, upon the recommendation of the Executive Director, is 
authorized to make and enforce such reguiations as in his/her judgment are necessary 
to prevent the introduction, transmission, or spread of communicable diseases from 
foreign countries into the Philippines or its territory.
For purposes of carrying out and enforcing such regulations, the Secretary of 
Health, or the Executive Director upon delegation by the Secretary of Health, may 
provide for such inspection, fumigation, disinfection, sanitation, pest extermination, 
destruction of animals or articles found to be so infected or contaminated as to be 
sources of dangerous infection to human beings, and other measures, as In his/her 
judgment may be necessary.
Sec. 14. Apprehension, detention, or conditional release of 
Individuals. - Regulations prescribed under this Chapter shall not provide for the 
apprehension, detention, or conditional release of Individuals except for the purpose 
of preventing the introduction, transmission, or spread of such communicable diseases 
as may be specified from time to time in Executive orders of the President upon the 
recommendation of the Secretary of Health and/or the Executive Director.
Sec. 15. Application of regulations to persons entering from foreign 
countries. - Except as specifically provided by law, regulations prescribed under this 
section, insofar as they provide for the apprehension, detention, examination, or 
conditional release of individuals, shall be applicable only to individuals coming into 
Philippine territory from a foreign country or a possession.
Sec. 16. Appiehension and examination of persons reasonably 
believed to be infected.-
(a) Regulations prescribed under this Chapter may provide for the apprehension 
and examination of any individual reasonably believed to be infected with a 
communicable disease in a qualifying stage and (A) to be moving or about to 
move within the Philippines; or (B) to be a probable source of infection to 
individuals who, while infected with such disease in a qualifying stage, will be 
moving within the Philippines. Such regulations may provide that if upon 
examination any such individual Is found to be infected, he may be detained 
for such time and in such manner as may be reasonably necessary.
(b) For purposes of this Section, the term "qualifying stage", with respect to a 
communicable disease, means that such disease—(A) is in a communicable 
stage; or (B) is in a pre-communicable stage, if the disease would be likely to 
cause a public health emergency if transmitt^ to other individuals.
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Sec. 17. Suspension of entries and imports from designated places to
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prevent spread of communicable diseases. - Whenever the Executive Director
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determines that by reason of the existence of any communicable disease in a foreign
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country there is serious danger of the introduction of such disease into the Philippines,
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and that this danger is so increased by the introduction of persons or property from
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such country that a suspension of the right to introduce such persons and property is
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required in the interest of the public health, the Secretary of Health, upon the
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recommendation of the Executive Director, in accordance with regulations approved
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by the President, shall have the power to prohibit, in whole or in part, the introduction
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of persons and property from such countries or places as he shall designate in order
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to avert such danger, and for such period of time as he may deem necessary for such
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purpose.
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Sec. 18. Special quarantine powers in time of war. - To protect the
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military and naval forces and war workers of the Philippines, in time of war, against
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any communicable disease, the President, in consultation with the Secretary of Health
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and the Executive Director, is authorized to provide by regulations for the
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apprehension and examination, in time of war, of any individual reasonably believed
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(1) to be infected with such disease and (2) to be a probable source of infection to
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members of the armed forces of the Philippines or to individuals engaged in the
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production or transportation of arms, munitions, ships, food, clothing, or other
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supplies for the armed forces. Such regulations may provide that if upon examination
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any such Individual is found to be so infected, he may be detained for such time and
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in such manner as may be reasonably necessary.
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Sec. 19. Quarantine regulations governing civil air navigation and civil
21 
aircraft. - The Executive Director and the Secretary of Health are jointly authorized
22 
to provide by regulations for the application to air navigation and aircraft of any of the
23 
provisions of sections 12 and 13 of this Act and regulations prescribed thereunder
24 
(including penalties and forfeitures for violations of such sections and regulations), to
25 
such extent and upon such conditions as they deem necessary for the safeguarding
26 
of the public health.
27
28 
Sec. 20 Penalties. - Any person who violates any regulation prescribed under
29 
this Chapter, or who enters or departs from the limits of any quarantine station,
30 
ground, or anchorage in disregard of quarantine rules and regulations or without
31 
permission of the quarantine officer in charge, shall be punished by a fine of not more
32 
than Five Million Pesos (Php 5,000.000.00) or by Imprisonment for not more than two
33 
yearn, or both.
34
35 
Sec. 21. Administration of oaths by quarantine officers. - Medical
36 
officers, when performing duties as quarantine officers at any port or place within the
37 
Philippines, are authorized to take declarations and administer oaths in matters
38 
pertaining to the administration of the quarantine laws and regulations of the
39 
Philippines.
11


1
2
CHAPTER IV
MANAGEMENT OF SUDDEN ONSET HEALTH EMERGENCIES
3 
Sec. 22. Health Emergency Coordination Council (HECC). — There shall
4 
be created a Health Emergency Coordinating Council (HECC), hereinafter referred to
5 
as the Council, composed of the following:
6
7
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9
10
11
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15
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21 
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(a) Seaetary of Health as Chairperson;
(b) The Executive Secretary as Co-Chairperson;
(c) The Executive Director of the CDCP as Secretary;
(d) The Secretary of Foreign Affairs as Member;
(e) The Secretary of National Defense as NDRRMC Chairman as Member;
(f) The Secretary of Interior and Local Government as Member;
(g) The Secretary of Justice as Member;
(h) The Secretary of Budget and Management as Member;
(i) The Secretary of Trade and Industry as Member;
0) The Seaetary of Agriculture as Member;
(k) The Press Secretary as Member,
(l) The National Security Adviser as Member.
(m) 
The Chairman of the Philippine Red Cross as Member;
(n) The Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Health Research and 
Development as Member; and
(o) Th President of PhilHealth as Member
23 
Other government agencies not under the authority or jurisdiction of the
24 
standing members of the Council may be Included should their inclusion be determined
25 
by the Council as necessary.
26 
The Center shall act as the Secretariat of the HECC.
27 
Sec. 23. Meetings. - The HECC shall meet at least once every quarter and
28 
shall meet as often as recommended by the Executive Director. Upon the motion of
29 
the Executive Director, it shall be the duty of the HECC to declare a state of health
30 
emergency upon a vote of the majority of Its members. Only the council may declare
31 
a state of health emergency which may be national, or local as defined.
32 
Sec. 24. Authorization to use caiamity hinds. - The declaration of a state
33 
of health emergency shall serve as an authorization for covered local government units
34 
(LGUs) to use their calamity funds in a manner duly consulted with the CDC.
35
36 
Sec. 25. Sudden Onset Heaith Emergency Management Pian. — A
37 
Sudden Onset Health Emergency Management Plan (SOHEMP) shall be formulated by
38 
the Council, as supported by the CDC, within six (6) months after the effectivity of this
39 
Act. The SOHEMP shall serve as the framework for the government's response to any
40 
public health emergency. It shall set out goals and specific objectives to detect,
41 
prevent the spread, contain and manage public health emergencies resulting from an
12


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outbreak of highly contagious and/or infectious diseases, and biological or biochemical 
disasters.
Sec. 26. Emergency Powers during a sudden onset health outbreak.
— The council may certify to the existence of a state of health emergency during a 
sudden onset health outbreak. The basis for such a declaration shall be made public 
by the Council through the mass and social media and a written report shall be 
submitted to both Houses of Congress. The declaration shall take effect for a period 
of sixty (60) days, unless extended or terminated earlier by the President, upon 
recommendation by the Secretary of Health.
Sec. 27. Health Care Facilities and Services During a Sudden Onset 
Health Outbreak. — During the period of a Sudden Onset Health Outbreak, the 
Council may, within reasonable and necessary grounds for emergen^ response to a 
public health emergency, require privately- owned health care facilities to provide 
services or the use of their facilities.
Sec. 28. Dangerous Facilities and Materials. — During the State of Health 
Emergency, the Council may exercise, in coordination with national government 
agencies, local governments, and other organizations responsible for the 
implementation of the SOHEMP, the following powers over facilities or materials that 
may be considered dangerous due to contamination or exposure to chemical, nuclear 
or biological agents or infectious disease pathogen.
To close, direct and compel the evacuation of, or to decontaminate or cause to 
be decontaminated, any facility of which there is reasonable cause to believe that it 
may endanger the public health: and To decontaminate or cause to be 
decontaminated, any material of which there is reasonable cause to believe that it 
may endanger the public health.
Sec. 29. Control of Pharmaceutical Agents or Medical Supplies. — After 
the declaration of a State of Public Health Emergency, the Council may authorize 
concerned agencies to purchase, store or distribute anti-toxins, serums, vaccine, 
immunizing agents, antibiotics, and other pharmaceutical agents or medical supplies 
that it considers advisable in the interest of preparing for or controlling a public health 
emergency, with the right to take immediate possession thereof.
If a State of Public Health Emergency results in a nationwide or regional 
shortage or threatened shortage of any product covered by the preceding paragraph, 
the Council may control, restrict, and regulate by rationing and using quotas, 
prohibitions on shipments, price fixing, allocation or other means, the use, sale, 
trading, distribution, or transportation of the relevant product necessary to protect the 
health, safety, and welfare of the people.
43 
Sec. 30. Sudden Onset Health Hazards and Emergencies Management
44 
Service. There shall be created, within the CDC, a Sudden Onset Health Hazards and
45 
Emergencies Management Service (SOHHEMS), under the DEMB, which shall perform
46 
the following functions:
13


1 
(a) Oversee on-the-ground operations of the CDC in the event of a public health
2 
emergency;
3 
(b) Assess and improve the readiness of health facilities for a public health
4 
emergency;
, 5 
(c) Develop a National Epidemic and Rapid Onset Emergency Response plan, and
6 
assist local governments in formulating their local public health emergency
7 
response plans;
8 
(d) Capacitate government instrumentalities and private organizations In on-the-
9 
ground response to public health emergencies;
10 
(e) Coordinate the logistical requirements of delivering national government
11 
assistance to local governments in case of a public health emergency;
12 
(f) Operate a national health emergency hotline;
13 
(g) Serve as a central receiving center for relevant information during a health
14 
emergency;
15 
(h) Oversee the National Health Emergency Response Unit (NHERU);
16 
(i) Perform such other functions as may be delegated by the Secretary of Health,
17 
or as may be needed to perform its role as the coordination body for ground
18 
operations during a public health emergency.
19 
Sec. 31. National Health Emergency Response Unit - There shall be created
20 
a National Health Emergency Response Unit to perform the following functions:
21 
(a) Execute, in coordination with relevant law enforcement authorities, orders for
22 
seizure, surveillance, search, and disposal Issued by the President, the
23 
Secretary of Health, the CDC, or the HECC.
24 
(b)Act as the first-response unit of the SOHHEMS during a public health
25 
emergency;
26 
(c) Conduct investigative and intelligence gathering activities as ordered by the
27 
CDC or by the Secretary of Health;
28 
(d) Verify reports of cases of serious infectious diseases, the presence of serious
29 
amounts of biohazards; and such other reports whose verification is in the
30 
interest of protecting public health;
31 
(e) Perform such other functions as may be inherent in its role as the first-response
32 
unit of the PHEMS, or as may be assigned by the Secretary of Health and/or
33 
the CDC Executive Director.
34 
Due to the nature of their duties, frontline personnel of the NHERU shall be entitled
35 
to hazard pay. The Department of Budget and Management shall formulate and
36 
promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this
37 
paragraph.
38
39 
Sec. 32. Right to information during a sudden onset health outbreak. -
40 
The Secretary of Health shall make publicly available information which he/she deems
41 
essential to preserving the health and safety of the public. During a sudden onset
42 
health outbreak, the right to vital information shall take precedence over the right to
43 
privacy.
44
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1 
Sec. 33. Special supervision over the Bureau of Quarantine. - During a
2 
sudden onset health outbreak, or as may be mandate by the Secretary of Health In
3 
the Interest of preventing an outbreak, the Bureau of Quarantine shall report directly
4 
to the Executive Director of the CDC. The Bureau of Quarantine shall at all times
5 
practice full transparency with the Executive Director of the CDC. The CDC shall have
6 
full access to information in the possession of the Bureau of Quarantine.
7 
Sec. 34. Safe disposal of infectious waste. - The CDC may exercise, for such
8 
period as the state of public health emergency exists, the following powers regarding
9 
the safe disposal of infectious waste:
10 
(a) Adopt measures. To adopt and enforce measures to provide for the safe
11 
disposal of infectious waste as may be reasonable and necessary to respond to
12 
the public health emergency. Such measures may Include, but are not limited
13 
to, the collection, storage, handling, destruction, treatment, transportation, and
14 
disposal of infectious waste.
15 
(b) Control of fadlltles. To require any business or facility authorized to collect,
16 
store, handle, destroy, treat, transport, and dispose of infectious waste under
17 
the law, and any landfill business or other such property, to accept Infectious
18 
waste, or provide services or the use of the business, facility, or property if
19 
such action is reasonable and necessary to respond to the public health
20 
emergency as a condition of licensure, au^orization, or the ability to continue
21 
doing business in the country as such a business or facility. The use of the
22 
business, facility, or property may include transferring the management and
23 
supervision of such business, facility, or property to the CDC for a limited or
24 
unlimited period of time, but shall not exceed the termination of the declaration
25 
of a state of public health emergency.
26 
(c) Use of facilities. To procure, by condemnation or otherwise, any business or
27 
facility authorized to collect, store, handle, destroy, treat, transport, and
28 
dispose of infectious waste under the laws of the country and any landfill
29 
business or other such property as may be reasonable and necessary to
30 
respond to the public health emergency, with the right to take immediate
31 
possession thereof.
32 
(d) Identification. All bags, boxes, or other containers for infectious waste shall be
33 
clearly identified as containing infectious waste, and if known, the type of
34 
infectious waste.
35
36 
Sec. 35. Safe disposal of human remains. - The CDC may exercise, for such
37 
period as the state of public health emergency exists, the following powers regarding
38 
the safe disposal of human remains:
39 
(a) Adopt measures. To adopt and enforce measures to provide for the safe
40 
disposal of human remains as may be reasonable and necessary to respond to
41 
the public health emergency. Such measures may include, but are not limited
42 
to, foe embalming, burial, cremation, interment, disinterment, transportation,
43 
and disposal of human remains.
44 
(b) Possession. To take possession or control of any human remains.
45 
(c) Disposal. To order foe disposal of any human remains of a person who has died
15


1 
of a contagious disease through burial or cremation within twenty-four (24)
2 
hours after death. To the extent possible, religious, cultural, family, and
3 
individual beliefs of the deceased person or his or her family shall be considered
4 
when disposing of any human remains.
5 
(d) Control of facilities. To require any business or facility authorized to embalm,
6 
bury, cremate. Inter, disinter, transport, and dispose of human remains under
7 
the laws of the country to accept any human remains or provide the use of its
8 
business or facility if such actions are reasonable and necessary to respond to
9 
the public health emergency as a condition of licensure, authorization, or the
10 
ability to continue doing business in the country as such a business or fadlity.
11 
The use of the business or facility may include transferring the management
12 
and supervision of such business or facility to the CDC for a limited or unlimited
13 
period of time, but shall not exceed the termination of the declaration of a state
14 
of public health emergency.
15 
(e) Use of facilities. To procure, by condemnation or otherwise, any business or
16 
facility authorized to embalm, bury, cremate, inter, disinter, transport, and
17 
dispose of human remains under the laws of the Philippines as may be
18 
reasonable and necessary to respond to the public health emergency, with the
19 
right to take Immediate possession thereof.
20 
(f) Labeling. Every human remains prior to disposal shall be clearly labeled with
21 
all available information to identify the decedent and the circumstances of
22 
death. Any human remains of a deceased person with a contagious disease
23 
shall have an external, clearly visible tag indicating that the human remains is
24 
infected and, if known, the contagious disease.
25 
(g) Identification. Every person in charge of disposing of any human remains shall
26 
maintain a written or electronic record of each human remains and ail available
27 
information to identify the decedent and the circumstances of death and
28 
disposal. If human remains cannot be identified prior to disposal, a qualified
29 
person shall, to the extent possible, take fingerprints and photographs of the
30 
human remains, obtain identifying dental information, and collect a DNA
31 
specimen. All information gathered under this paragraph shall be promptly
32 
forwarded to the CDC.
33 
Sec. 36. Other powers of control of health care supplies. -
34 
(a) Procurement. The CDC may purchase and distribute antitoxins, serums,
35 
vaccines, immunizing agents, antibiotics, and other pharmaceutical agents or
36 
medical supplies that it deems advisable in the Interest of preparing for or
37 
controlling a public health emergency, without any additional legislative
38 
authorization.
39 
(b) Rationing. If a state of public health emergency results in a national or regional
40 
shortage or threatened shortage of any product under (a), whether or not such
41 
product has been purchased by the public health au^orlty, the CDC may
42 
control, restrict, and regulate by rationing and using quotas, prohibitions on
43 
shipments, allocation, or other means, the use, sale, dispensing, distribution,
44 
or transportation of the relevant product necessary to protect the public health,
45 
safety, and welfare of the people.
16


1 
(c) Priority. In making rationing or other supply and distribution decisions, the CDC
2 
may give preference to health care providers, disaster response personnel, and
3 
mortuary staff..
4 
(d) Distribution. During a state of public health emergency, the CDC may procure,
5 
store, or distribute any anti-toxins, serums, vaccines, immunizing agents,
6 
antibiotics, and other pharmaceutical agents or medical supplies located within
7 
the country as may be reasonable and necessary to respond to the public health
8 
emergency, with the right to take Immediate possession thereof. If a public
9 
health emergency simultaneously affects more than one state, nothing in this
10 
Section shall be construed to allow the public health authority to obtain anti-
11 
toxins, serums, vaccines, immunizing agents, antibiotics, and other
12 
pharmaceutical agents or medical supplies for the primary purpose of hoarding
13 
such items or preventing their fair and equitable distribution among affected
14 
countries.
15 
Sec. 37. Vaccination and treatment - During a state of public health
16 
emergency, or a state of sudden onset health outbreak, the CDC may exercise the
17 
following emergency powers over persons as necessary to address the public health
18 
emergency:
19 
(a) Vaccination. To vaccinate persons as protection against infectious disease and
20 
to prevent the spread of contagious or possibly contagious disease. (1)
21 
Vaccination may be performed by any qualified person authorized to do so by
22 
the CDC. (2) A vaccine to be administered must not be such as is reasonably
23 
likely to lead to serious harm to the affected individual. (3) To prevent the
24 
spread of contagious or possibly contagious disease the CDC may isolate or
25 
quarantine, pursuant to the provisions of this Act, persons who are unable or
26 
unwilling for reasons of health, religion, or conscience to undergo vaccination
27 
pursuant to this Section.
28 
(b) Treatment. To treat persons exposed to or infected with disease. (1) Treatment
29 
may be administered by any qualified person authorized to do so by the CDC
30 
or DOH. (2) Treatment must not be such as is reasonably likely to lead to
31 
serious harm to the affected individual. (3) To prevent the spread of contagious
32 
or possibly contagious disease the public health authority may isolate or
33 
quarantine, persons who are unable or unwilling for reasons of health, religion,
34 
or conscience to undergo treatment pursuant to this Section.
35 
CHAPTER V
36
TRACKING OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES
37
38
39
40
41
42
Sec. 3S.Reporting. -
(a) Illness or health condition. A health care provider, medico-legal, or medical 
examiner shall report all cases of persons who harbor any illness or health 
condition that may be potential causes of a public health emergency, 
including emerging and re- emerging infections.
(b) Pharmacists. In addition to the foregoing requirements for health care
17


1 
providers, a pharmacist shall report any unusual or Increased prescription
2 
rates, unusual types of presaiptions, or unusual trends In pharmacy visits
3 
that may be potential causes of a public health emergency. Prescription-
4 
related events that require a report include, but are not limited to— (1) an
5 
unusual increase in the number of prescriptions or over- the-counter
6 
pharmaceuticals to treat conditions that the CDC identifies through
7 
regulations; (2) an unusual Increase in the number of prescriptions for
8 
antibiotics; and (3) any prescription that treats a disease that Is relatively
9 
uncommon or may be associated with bioterrorism.
10 
(c) Manner of reporting. The report shall be made electronically or In writing
11 
within twenty-four (24) to the Department of Health or through the CDC. The
12 
report shall include as much of the following information as is available; the
13 
specific illness or health condition that is the subject of the report; the
14 
patient's name, date of birth, sex, race, occupation, and current home and
15 
work addresses (including city and province); the name and address of the
16 
health care provider, coroner, or medical examiner and of the reporting
17 
individual, if different; and any other Information needed to locate the patient
18 
for follow-up. For cases related to animal or insect bites, the suspected
19 
locating information of the biting animal or insect, and the name and address
20 
of any known owner, shall be reported.
21 
(d) Animal diseases. Every veterinarian, livestock owner, veterinary diagnostic
22 
laboratory director, or other person having the care of animals shall report
23 
animals having or suspected of having any diseases that may be potential
24 
causes of a public health emergency. The report shall be made electronically
25 
or in writing within twenty- four (24) hours to the DOH or the CDC and shall
26 
include as much of the following information as is available: the specific
27 
illness or health condition that is the subject of the report; the suspected
28 
locating Information of the animal, the name and address of any known
29 
owner, and the name and address of the reporting individual.
30 
(e) Laboratories. For the purposes of this Section, the definition of "health care
31 
provider" shall include medical laboratories, provided that such laboratories
32 
have agreed to the reporting requirements of the country. Results must be
33 
reported by the laboratory that performs the test, but a local laboratory that
34 
sends specimens to a laboratory abroad Is also responsible for reporting
35 
results.
36 
(f) Enforcement. The CDC may enforce the provisions of this Section in
37 
accordance with existing enforcement rules and regulations.
38 
Sec. 39. Tracking. - The CDC shall ascertain the existence of cases of an illness
39 
or health condition that may be potential causes of a public health emergency;
40 
investigate all such cases for sources of infection and to ensure that they are subject
41 
to proper control measures; and define the distribution of the illness or health
42 
condition. To fulfill these duties, the CDC shall identify exposed individuals as follows—
43 
(a) Identification of individuals. Acting on information developed in accordance
44 
with Section 34 of this Act, or other reliable information, the CDC shall
45 
Identify all individuals thought to have been exposed to an illness or health
18


1 
condition that may be a potential cause of a public health emergency.
2 
(b) Interviewing of individuals. The CDC shall counsel and interview such
3 
individuals where needed to assist in the positive identification of exposed
4 
individuals and develop information relating to the source and spread of the
5 
illness or health condition. Such Information Includes the name and address
6 
(including city and province) of any person from whom the Illness or health
7 
condition may have been contract^ and to whom the illness 
or health
8 
condition may have spread.
9 
(c) Examination of facilities or materials. The CDC shall, for examination
10 
purposes, close, evacuate, or decontaminate any facility or decontaminate or
11 
destroy any material when the authority reasonably suspects that such
12 
facility or material may endanger the public health.
13 
(d) Enforcement. The CDC may enforce the provisions of this Section in
14 
accordance with existing enforcement rules and regulations. Ah order of the
15 
CDC given to effectuate the purposes of this Section shall be enforceable
16 
immediately.
17 
Sec. 40. Information sharing. -
18 
a. Whenever the CDC or other government agency learns of a case of a reportable
19 
illness or health condition, an unusual cluster, or a suspicious event that may
20 
be the cause of a public health emergency, It shall immediately notify the
21 
SOHECC and its members.
22 
b. Whenever the CDC learns of a case of a reportable illness or health condition,
23 
an unusual cluster, or a suspicious event that it reasonably believes has the
24 
potential to be caused by bioterrorism, it shall immediately notify public safety
25 
authorities.
26 
c. Sharing of information on reportable illnesses, health conditions, unusual
27 
clusters, or suspidous events between public health and safety authorities shall
28 
be restricted to the information necessary for the treatment, control,
29 
investigation, and prevention of a public health emergency.
30 
Sec. 41. Intergovernmental information sharing. - The Secretary of Foreign
31 
Affairs and the Secretary of Health are jointly mandated to review and recommend to
32 
the SOHECC multilateral and bilateral agreements which the country may adopt to
33 
strengthen its information-sharing mechanisms with other countries.
34 
CHAPTER VI
35 
OTHER PROVISIONS
36 
Sec. 42. Congressional Oversight Committee on Communicable
37 
Disease Control and Prevention - To monitor the Implementation of this Act, there
38 
shall be a Congressional Oversight Committee on Communicable Disease Control and
39 
Prevention, composed of the Chair and four other members of the House Committee
40 
on Health, and the Chair and four other members of the Senate Committee on Health
41 
and Demography. No part of this Act shall be construed as to limit the oversight
42 
powers inherently or actually possessed by the same committees.
19


1 
Sec. 43. Appropriations. - In addition to the appropriations for the units
2 
subsumed in the Center under this Act, there shall be appropriated a sum of Fifty
3 
Million Pesos (Php 50,000.000.00) for the implementation of this Act, including the
4 
operations of the Center. Provided, that such appropriation shall apply only when this
5 
Act is passed before the Center could be given appropriations under the General
6 
Appropriations Act for the nearest upcoming year.
7
8 
Sec. 44, Staffing, - The Secretary of Health, in consultation with the
9 
Department of Budget and Management (DBM), shall determine the organizational
10 
structures including regional or field offices, qualification standards, staffing pattern
11 
and compensation of the newly created Center in accordance with existing laws, rules
12 
and regulations.
13 
Sec. 45. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Health
14 
shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations within ninety (90) working days
15 
from the effectivity of this Act.
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
Sec. 46. 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. 47. 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. 48. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
20