REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. __7908

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article 2, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution provides that:
“The State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full
respect for human rights.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought fear and panic in the country as numbers of
infected cases rise. Sadly, the pandemic has also inflicted prejudice and
discriminatory acts towards the frontliners, especially our healthcare workers due to
the nature of their work. There have been incidents of health workers being evicted
out of their residences and refused services in eateries or transportations over fears
of contracting the disease.

Hence, this bill seeks to amend specific provisions of Republic Act No. 11332, also
known as the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of
Public Concern Act. This proposed measure seeks to protect our health workers,
frontliners, and patients against acts of discrimination and all forms of violence
connected to their duty of work or medical circumstances.


We recognize the sacrifices and devotion of our public healthcare workers. They do
not deserve unjust treatment. Thus, the government should be at the forefront of
instituting policies that would protect them against prejudice and discrimination. It is
in this light that the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

MANUEL DG, CABOCHAN IIT
Representative
Magdalo Para Sa Pilipino Party-List


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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No.__7908

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III

AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11332, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
MANDATORY REPORTING OF NOTIFIABLE DISEASES AND HEALTH EVENTS
OF PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN ACT

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

SECTION 1. Short Title- This Act shall be entitled as the “Mandatory
Protection of Health Workers, Frontliners and Patients Act”.

SEC. 2. Section 9 of Republic Act No. 11332, otherwise known as the
“Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health
Concern Act”, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 9. Prohibited Acts. The following shall be prohibited under this Act:

(a) Unauthorized disclosure of private and confidential information pertaining
to a patient’s medical condition or treatment;

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(b) Tampering of records or intentionally providing misinformation;

(c) Non-operation of the disease surveillance and response systems;

(d)Non-cooperation of persons and entities that should report and/or
response to notifiable disease or health events of public concern; and

(e)Non-cooperation of the person or entities identified as having the
notifiable disease, or affected by the health event of public concern;

(f)ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION, OR UNFAIR OR UNJUST
TREATMENT AGAINST A HEALTH WORKER, A FRONTLINER, OR
ANY ACT THAT HAS THE EFFECT OF ACTUALLY CAUSING OR
PLACING THE SAME UNDER A REASONABLE FEAR OF PHYSICAL
OR EMOTIONAL HARM, OR IMPEDES THE CONDUCT OF DUTIES,
PROVIDED THAT IF THE SAME ACT IS PUNISHABLE UNDER A
DIFFERENT LAW, THE LAW IMPOSES A HIGHER PENALTY WILL
APPLY; AND

(g) ALL FORMS OF PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL
VIOLENCE, OR THE THREAT THEREOF OF SUCH VIOLENCE,
AGAINST AN INDIVIDUAL SUSPECTED OF BEING, OR
CONFIRMED TO BE, A CARRIER OF THE NOTIFIABLE DISEASE,
WHETHER THE SAME IS TRUE OR NOT.”

SEC. 3. Effectivity Clause.— This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
upon publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,