Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 8444

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A VACCINE PASSPORT FOR EMERGING OR RE-EMERGING INFECTIOUS
DISEASES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to require the issuance of a vaccine passport to Filipino citizens, which shall serve
as proof of their immunization against emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases such as the COVID-
19.

‘The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has proposed a global and standardized
solution to validate and authenticate all country regulations regarding COVID-19 passenger travel
requirements through a Travel Pass, a digital health pass that will support the safe reopening of
borders.

Because of this, the Department of Tourism has expressed its support to the proposed vaccine
passport, specifically for COVID-19, that would restore trust and travel confidence once COVID-19
vaccination rolls out across the world that is expected to facilitate international cross border travel with
stringent health and safety measures in place.

The vaccine passport is an essential step towards reviving international travel. It aims to restore
the trust and confidence of the public to travel to other countries and assure receiving countries that
Incoming tourists are vaccinated,’

More importantiy, the vaccine passport intends to facilitate the country’s vaccination efforts in
the face of the looming hesitancy on the part of countless Filipinos to receive vaccination following the
Dengvaxia controversy.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought.

Cfbin,

ANGELINA “HELEN” D.L. TAN, M.D.
4th District, Quezon

' DOT supports global Covid-19 vaccine passport, Joyce Ann [.. Rocamora, December 10. 2020.
(https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/ 1124309) Accessed on 21 January 2021


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. saad

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A VACCINE PASSPORT FOR EMERGING OR RE-EMERGING INFECTIOUS
DISEASES,AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
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 “Vaccine Passport Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State that the right to travel shail not be
impaired except in the interest of national security, public safety, or public health, as may be provided
by law. Towards this end, the State shall provide for the issuance of a vaccine passport which shall
‘serve as proof of immunization of citizens against emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used under this Act, the following words or terms shall have
the following meaning:

a.) Emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases refer to diseases that: (1) have not occurred in
humans before; (2) have occurred previously but affected only small numbers of people in isolated
areas; (3) have occurred throughout human history but have only recently been recognized as a
distant disease due to an infectious agent; (4) are caused by previously undetected or unknown
infectious agents; (5) are due to mutant or resistant strains of a causative organism; and (6) once
were major health problems in the country, and then declined dramatically, but are again becoming
health problems for a significant proportion of the population; and

b.)Vaccine Passport refers to the document issued by the Secretary of Health which shall serve
as proof that a person has received the full course of vaccination against any emerging or re- emerging
infectious diseases, as may be applicable.

SEC. 4. Authority to, Issue Vaccine Passport. — Upon the completion of a full course of
vaccination against an emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases by a Filipino citizen, the Secretary
of Health shail issue a Vaccine Passport in accordance with this Act. The same shall be issued as 2
matter of right whether or not a person availed of the free vaccination program of the government or
was vaccinated through other means properly authorized by the government.

SEC. 5. Essential Information. — For the purposes of this Act, the Vaccine Passport shall contain
the following essential information:

a.) Basic personal information such as full name, present and/or permanent address, birthdate;

b.) Type and purpose of vaccine, Batch Numbers, Dates Administered, and Person or Institution
that Administered the Vaccine; and

c,) Such other information which may be determined as necessary by the Secretary of Health or
the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) in line with the declared policy of
this Act. The information contained in the Vaccine Passport shall be protected at all times under
applicable data privacy laws.

SEC. 6. Period of Validity. — The Secretary of Health shall issue rules and regulations on the


period of validity of the vaccine passport based on sound medical evidence and best international
practices.

SEC 7. Authorized Use of the Vaccine Passport. — The IATF, in coordination with other
concerned government agencies, shall issue rules and regulations on the list of activities wherein the
vaccine passport shall be required which may include international and domestic travel, access to
business establishments and other public places, and the organization of public gatherings: Provided,
That the vaccine passport shall not be considered as a valid proof of identity. The IATF shall also
establish rules and regulations on the recognition of vaccine passports which are issued by other
countries.

SEC. 8.Amendment for Any Lawful Purpose. — With the exception of the proof of vaccination, a
vaccine passport may be amended at the request of the holder for any lawful purpose, but such
amendment shall be approved by the Secretary of Health.

SEC. 9. Loss or Destruction, — The loss or destruction of a vaccine passport shall be
immediately reported to the Department of Health (DOH). The holder of such vaccine passport shall
submit to the DOH an affidavit stating in detail the circumstances of such loss or destruction. No new
passport shall be issued until satisfactory proof is shown that the vaccine passport was actually lost or
destroyed: Provided, That in the event the iost passport is found, it should be destroyed if are
placement has been issued, or mailed to the holder who was issued a Travel Document.

SEC.10. No Collection of Fees for the Issuance of Vaccine Passport. — No fees shall be collected
for the issuance of a vaccine passport.

SEC. 11. Offenses and Penalties. —

a.) Any person who defaces, mutilates, alters, or destroys a vaccine passport shall be punished
by a fine of not less than Fifteen thousand pesos(P15,000) nor more than Sixty thousand pesos
(60,000) and imprisonment of not less than three (3) years, but not more than ten (10) years;

b.) Any person who possesses more than one valid vaccine passport shall be punished by a fine
of not less than Fifteen thousand pesos (P15,000) nor more than Sixty thousand pesos (P60,000) and
imprisonment of not less than three (3) years, but not more than ten (10) years;

c.) Any person who uses, attempts to use, a vaccine passport issued for another holder, or
furnishes a vaccine passport for the use of a person other than the holder, shall be punished by a fine
of not less than Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000) nor more than Ninety thousand pesos (P90,000) and
imprisonment of not less than six (6) years, but not more than ten (10) years;

| da) Any person who falsifies, forges, and/or counterfeits of vaccine passports, or who uses or
suich documents thereof, shall be punished by 2 fine of not less than Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000)
nor more than Ninety thousand pesos (P90,000) and imprisonment of not less than six (6) years, but
not more than ten (10) years; and

e.) Any person who distributes falsified, forged, and/or counterfeit vaccine passports shall be
punished by a fine of not less than Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000) nor more than Ninety thousand
pesos (P90,000) and imprisonment of not less than six (6) years, but not more than ten (10) years.

SEC. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The IATF and concerned agencies shall issue
such rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions herein within sixty (60)
days from date of effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 13. Appropriations. — The amount needed for the initial implementation of this Act shall
be charged against the appropriations for the DOH. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the
continued implementation of this. Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 14. Separabillty Clause. — Should any provision of this Act or the applicability thereof to
any person or circumstances be held invalid, the remainder thereof shall not be affected thereby.


SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 16. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least
five (5) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.

Approved,