EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
o' tlif
S.B. No.
SENATE
1444
20 APR 27r
Rii'-i- :•
A11 :00
IT1
INTRODUCED BY: SENATOR EMMANUEL D. PACQUIAO
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS AND BIORISK REDUCTION IN 
RESPONSE TO PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article XI, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution provides that “the State shall protect and 
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.” Article 
XIII, Section 11 further mandates that the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive 
approach to health development.
The Philippines is no stranger to the occurrence of disease outbreaks and pandemics or 
the worldwide spread of a new disease. We were plagued by the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, 
the A(H1N1) pandemic of 2009, SARS (severe acute respiratory disease) of 2003, among others.
Despite these experiences, we remain seemingly unprepared for times like these as 
manifested by how we currently face yet another pandemic brought by coronavirus disease 
(COVID-19). Now, thousands have already been reported infected with the disease in the 
country with a horrifying number of deaths increasing day after day. The situation forced the 
President to initially put the National Capital Region on a lockdown, eventually followed by a 
number of local government units across the country.
Clearly, there is a need to organize a systemic and orderly collective action to be headed 
by the Department of Health to ensure effectivity and efficiency in responding to any public 
health emergencies. Measures for preparedness against any outbreaks or pandemics must be 
organized in advance, including the security of supplies, timely early warnings, evacuations, 
security of the social welfare. Investment on bio-risk reduction must also be emphasized.
This bill seeks to give the Department of Health the responsibility to undertake necessary 
measures and gather concerned government agencies to advance national preparedness on any 
public health emergencies, especially on pandemics.


In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
EMMANUELITPACQUIAO


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
S.B. No.
SENATE
1444
^cnaie
20 APR 27All :00
INTRODUCED BY: SENATOR EMMANUEL D. PACq^f^VO" -
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS AND BIORISK REDUCTION IN 
RESPONSE TO PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES
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 "Bio-risk Reduction and Pandemic 
Preparedness Act."
Section 2. Creation of a National Health Strategy for Public Health Emergencies. - The 
Secretary of Health shall spearhead the creation of a national health strategy to address public 
health emergencies. This strategy shall provide for integrated policy coordination and strategic 
direction with respect to all matters related to national public health and medical preparedness 
and exeeution and deployment of national response before, during, and following publie health 
emergencies.
Section 3. Components of a National Health Strategy. The National Health Strategy shall 
include:
(A) Provisions for increasing the preparedness, response capabilities, and surge eapacity 
of ambulatory eare facilities, dental health facilities, and eritical care serviee systems;
(B) Plans for optimizing a coordinated and flexible approach to the medical surge 
capacity of hospitals, other health eare faeilities, critical care, and trauma eare and 
emergency medical systems;
(C) Provisions taking into aecount the unique needs of individuals with disabilities in a 
public health emergency;
(D) Strategic initiatives to advance cotmtermeasures to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or 
treat harm from any biological agent or toxin or any chemical, radiological, or nuclear 
agent or agents, whether naturally occurring, unintentional, or deliberate;


(E) Conduct of periodic evaluations of national and local preparedness and response 
capabilities which shall include drills and exercises to ensure medical surge capacity 
for events without notice.
Section 4. Creation of Task Force on Public Emergencies. - A task force under the control of the 
Secretary of Health shall be established in order to conduct research necessary for the creation of 
the Strategy. The Task Force shall be composed of representatives from:
(1) The Department of Health (DOH);
(2) The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC);
(3) The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); and
(4) The National Security Adviser;
The Task Force shall:
(1) Monitor emerging issues and concerns as they relate to medical and public health 
preparedness and response for at-risk individuals in the event of a public health 
emergency;
(2) Identify and minimize gaps, duplication and other inefficiencies in medical and public 
health preparedness and response activities and the actions necessary to overcome these 
obstacles;
(3) Disseminate and update novel and best practices of outreach to and care of at-risk 
individuals before, during, and following public health emergencies in as timely a manner 
as is practicable, including from the time a public health threat is identified; and
(4) Ensure that public health and medical information distributed by the government during a 
public health emergency is delivered in a maimer that takes into account the range of 
commimication needs of the intended recipients, including at-risk individuals.
Section 5. Creation of Medical Reserve Corps. - The Secretary of Health shall establish a 
medical reserve corps composed of volunteer health professionals. The Medical Reserve Corps 
shall be called into duty if needed during public health emergencies.
Section 6. Authorization of Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, there are 
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year.
Section 7. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, ordinances, rules and regulations or parts 
thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 8. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or 
otherwise invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall not be affected thereof.


Section 9. Effectivity Clause. This shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in at least 
two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,