EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES 
Second Regular Session
SENATE 
S. No. 1999
E-FILED
Jan 20 2021 m
■ CO
lii date: 
4/5 time:
11:15 a.m.
INDEX
Introduced by SENATOR PIA S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
CREATING A VACCINE PASSPORT PROGRAM, AND PROVIDING FUNDS 
THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Recognizing COVID-19's highly contagious nature and deadly consequences, 
governments around the world were forced to limit the movement of miilions of 
people, restricting travel, closing shops, restaurants, and other businesses, and 
banning large gatherings, among others. Towards the last quarter of 2020, a number 
of vaccines for COVID-19 have been developed and approved for emergency use, and 
there continues to be more that are accredited globally. The COVID-19 Inter-Agency 
Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases - National Task Force (lATF-NTF) stated 
that, in the Philippines, there will be 148 million doses of vaccines to be rolled out this 
year.1
Having a Vaccine Passport Program can help facilitate the country's COVID-19 
vaccination efforts. This bill seeks to create and implement such a program which shall 
provide an individual's record of COVID-19 vaccinations. It will address issues on 
identifying who has been vaccinated, what vaccination was given, how many doses 
have been administered, and other related matters. It shall further provide the 
government with a means to monitor distribution of the vaccines, including post­
market surveiilance. Having a Vaccine Passport is proof that an individual has received
1 Presentation of Secretary Carlito Galvez during the Senate Committee of the Whole hearing, 11 
January 2021.
1


the vaccines, and may allow him benefits or exemptions from COVID-19 restrictions 
as may be provided by the lATF-NTF.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
PIA S. CAYMANO


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1999
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INDEX,
Introduced by SENATOR PIA S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
CREATING A VACCINE PASSPORT PROGRAM, AND PROVIDING FUNDS 
THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in the 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Vaccine Passport
2 
Program Act".
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. —The Constitution mandates that the State shall
4 
protect and promote the right to health of the people and' instill health consciousness
5 
among them.
6 
The State recognizes the importance of preventive healthcare and the need to
7 
take proactive measures in the fight against diseases, particularly COVID-19. It
8 
acknowledges that a comprehensive, mandatory and sustainable immunization
9 
program for vaccine-preventable diseases is indispensable to achieve the objectives
10 
of universal healthcare and the country's commitments to the Sustainable
11 
Development Goals (SDGs), particularly on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being). A
12 
Vaccine Passport Program can help facilitate COVID-19 immunization and future
13 
immunization programs by allowing the State to track who has been vaccinated and
14 
where priority vaccinations should take place. It also serves as a means to monitor
15 
the vaccines' effects and the effectivity of immunization programs. Towards this end,
16 
the State shall adopt and Implement a Vaccine Passport Program to facilitate its
17 
COVID-19 and future immunization programs against vaccine-preventable diseases.
1


1 
Sec. 3. Vaccine Passport Program. - Subject to the provisions of Republic Act
2 
No. 10173 or the "Data Privacy Act of 2012", the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force
3 
for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (lATF) shall issue a Vaccine
4 
Passport to all Filipinos, which shall be a record of the COVID-19 vaccinations received
5 
by an individual. The Vaccine Passport shall take into account internationally-
6 
recognized standards, and shall contain the following:
7 
a) Manufacturer, brand name, and batch number or other Identifier of the
8 
COVID-19 vaccine;
9 
b) Date of vaccination;
10 
c) Name of the hospital, health center, or health facility where the vaccine
11 
was received; and
12 
d) Name, signature, and license number of the duly licensed physician,
13 
nurse or other health worker administering the vaccine.
14 
The Vaccine Passport Program shall primarily be digital, but shall remain
15 
accessible through other means such as printed passports. The lATF, through the
16 
Department of Information and Communications Technology, shall develop the digital
17 
systems and applications that will meet the objectives of the Program while
18 
maintaining quality, safety, ease of use, and accessibility for all Filipinos.
19 
Sec. 4. Benefits of Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine. — Individuals vaccinated
20 
against COVID-19 may be granted certain benefits or exemptions, subject to
21 
guidelines issued by the lATF, which shall be clearly stated In the individual's Vaccine
22 
Passport, such as but not limited to:
23 
a) International travel, as may be allowed in foreign jurisdictions;
24 
b) Non-essential domestic travel;
25 
c) Local checkpoint and quarantine exemptions; and
26 
d) Access to business establishments allowed to operate based on lATF
27 
guidelines.
28 
Individuals vaccinated against COVID-19 as indicated in the Vaccine Passport
29 
shall not be considered immune from COVID-19, unless otherwise declared by the
30 
DOH based on reliable scientific evidence and consensus.
31 
Sec. 5. Adoption of the Vaccine Passport Program for Other Immunization
32 
Programs. - The Department of Health (DOH) shall adopt the Vaccine Passport


1 
Program to facilitate other immunization programs, including but not limited to
2 
mandatory basic immunization as provided by Republic Act No. 10152 or the
3 
"Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act of 2011", subject to
4 
guidelines to be issued by the DOH.
5 
Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within 30 days from the
6 
effectivity of this Act, the DOH shall promulgate and issue the necessary guidelines
7 
for the effective implementation of this Act. The implementing rules and regulations
8 
issued pursuant to this Section shall take effect upon its publication in the Official
9 
Gazette or In a newspaper of general circulation.
<10 
Sec. 7. Appropriations. —The funds necessary for the implementation of this
11 
Act shall be sourced from reallocations of the 2019 and 2020 General Appropriations
12 
Act for the COVID-19 response. Appropriations for the succeeding years shall be
13 
included in the annual appropriations of the DOH under the General Appropriations
14 
Act.
15 
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
16 
unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall not be
17 
affected thereby.
18 
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, orders, rules and
19 
regulations, other issuances, or parts thereof Inconsistent with the provisions of this
20 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
21 
Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
22 
publication in the Official Gazette or In a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,