Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 7R44

Introduced by HON. JUMEL ANTHONY I. ESPINO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid19) has been spreading rapidly worldwide with
millions infected and hundreds of thousands of death. The rapidly evolving disease and
increasing number of suspected and confirmed cases has stressed and overwhelmed our
country’s health care system especially our health care workers. They were exhausted with the
workload as well as being fearful of uncertainty and exposure to infection

As a result of this, local government units whose officials and employees do not have
experience in providing health care much more on infectious disease, had to step up to provide
care for patients with the infectious disease. We have seen and heard of employees from the
different departments of local government units being deployed and becoming frontliners to
augment health care workers who are under staffed, spread thinly or have been infected
themselves.

This bill provides for the capacity building of local officials and employees in order to
train them to better respond to emerging infectious diseases and promote preparedness and
efficacy in crisis management. It would also equip local government units to use self-managed
strategies to cope with an epidemic

Considering the importance of this bill, passage is earnestly sought.
SS EE

HON. JUMEL (1. ANTHONY I. ESPINO
2 District, Pangasinan



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS:
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 7244

Introduced by HON. JUMEL ANTHONY I. ESPINO.

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING CAPACITY BUILDING FOR EMERGING INFECTIOUS,
DISEASE PREPAREDNESS AND CONTROL AT THE LOCAL LEVEL,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Institutionalization of Capacity Building
for Emerging Infectious Disease Preparedness and Control at the Local Level.”

SECTION 2. Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to ensure the efficient
allocation and development of highly trained manpower at the local level through the acquisition
of skills, knowledge and training to assist and respond to emerging infectious disease.

SECTION 3. Objectives. — This Act shall have the following objectives:

a.) Develop the capabilities of through training interventions of partners in the local
government units and in the formulation and implementation of localized plans and
programs in responding to emerging infectious diseases;

b.) Maximize available but limited resources, develop a comprehensive training plan that
is responsive to the current needs of the community affected by an infectious disease;

©.) Recognize, solicit and enjoin the participation of concerned local and national
government agencies in the implementation of the multi-sectoral localized plan;

d.) Develop education and training policies and programs that will enhance or enable
local officials to become first responders to a local infectious situation.


SECTION 4. Coverage. - This capacity building at the local level shall cover, but not limited to,
the following efforts and activities:

a.) Environmental infection scanning and health needs assessment;

b.) Formulation and implementation of multi-sectoral plan of pre-cautionary measures;
c.) Aggressive contact tracing and disease surveillance;

d.) Implementation of health isolation system;

c.) Tight controlling of entry of people into the community;

£.) Promotion of personal protective behavior in the community;

g.) Management and disposal of infectious waste;

h.) Monitor public compliance of community health protocols.

SECTION 5. Formulation of Local Level Capacity Building for Emerging Infectious
Diseases Preparedness and Response. — All provinces, cities and municipalities shall formulate
a local level capacity building program and training to prepare and respond to emerging
infectious diseases in their respective communities and areas of jurisdiction.

The preparation and training program shall be formulated and implemented through the
contributory efforts of the local government units, the Department of Health and its attached
agencies, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Office Civil Defense of the
Department of National Defense, Philippine Red Cross and other local non-government
organizations.

SECTION 6. Implementation. — All local government units shall ensure that the capacity
building program implemented is responsive to the community needs to prepare for and control
an emerging infectious disease.

SECTION 7. Appropriation. — The Local Government Unit, through their local development
fund, the Department of Health and the Department of Interior and Local Government shall

equally allocate fund for implementation of this Act.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. ~ If for any reason a provision of this Act is declared invalid
or unconstitutional, the rest shall not be affected thereby.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts
thereof, inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect after completion of its publication in the
Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.