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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

8379
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE MANUEL ANTONIO F. ZUBIRI

EXPLANATORY NOTE

With the vaccine against COVID-19 in the horizon, the government has already procured the same
for distribution to its constituents. Other municipalities who are capable to procure the same for
themselves have done the same.

However, not all municipalities are able to procure the vaccines needed by their respective
constituents and that number of vaccines procured by the national government remains clearly
inadequate given the number of population of the country vis-d-vis the number of vaccines
obtained.

As such, municipalities who belong in the lower tier or municipalities which cannot afford to
procure the vaccines on their own are at risk of not receiving any vaccines. To ensure that no one
will be left behind, it is the intent of this measure that the distribution of the vaccines be made to
these municipalities which belong in the lower tier.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
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MANUEL ANTONIO F. ZUBIRI
Represehtati
Third Distridt, Bukidnon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.__ 8379

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE MANUEL ANTONIO F. ZUBIRI

AN ACT
MANDATING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO PRIORITIZE THE ALLOCATION OF
COVID-19 VACCINES FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH, AND SIXTH
CLASS MUNICIPALITIES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. —It is the declared policy of the State to protect and enhance
the right ofall the people to human dignity, reduce social, economic, and political inequalities, and
remove cultural inequities by equitably diffusing wealth and political power for the common good.
It is also the declared policy of the state to promote social justice by ensuring that the poor shall
have access to vaccines that will provide protection against COVID-19.

SECTION 2. Vaccine Priority Distribution. ~ The Department of Health (DOH) is hereby
mandated to prioritize the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to municipalities who cannot afford
to procure their own for their constituents, For this purpose, municipalities classified as Third,
Fourth, Fifth and Sixth municipalities in accordance with the latest income classification of
municipalities shall be prioritized in receiving the vaccine for COVID-19.

Persons deemed in dire need of the vaccine against COVID-19 as determined by competent
medical personnel and approved by the DOH will be given access provided they are unable to
procure or purchase the same personally.

SECTION 3. Role of Local Government Units. — Nothing in this Act prevents any Local
Government Unit from procuring their own vaccines for their constituents regardless of their
classification should their respective means permit them to do so.

Local Government Units falling classified as Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth municipalities shall
coordinate with the DOH who among their constituents are in dire need of the vaccines to further
prioritize its distribution to them.

SECTION 4. Appropriations. ~The amount necessary for the distribution of the vaccine/s against
COVID-19 shall be chargeable to the budget of the DOH and related agencies tasked to curb the
spread of COVID-19. The budget set aside by the government for this purpose as directed by the
Office of the President shall also be charged in the procurement and distribution of the vaccines.

SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason or reasons, any part or provision of this Act
shall be declared as unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof which are not
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause, - All provisions of existing laws, orders, rules and regulations or
parts thereof which are in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect immediately upon its publication in the
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,