TWENTIENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S. No
)
SENATE 
866
t. < 
-Sft’llt'.-it'
' t,Mo'T©fiirr of tpf ferttpUlT
25 AUG-4 P5 SO
RHCEiVED BV;
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE CENTERS FOR DISEASE PREVENTION AND 
CONTROL, DEFINING THEIR POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 9 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution affirms the duty of the 
State to foster a just and dynamic social order aimed at ensuring national prosperity 
and independence. This includes freeing the Filipino people from the grips of poverty 
through strategic policies that provide adequate social services, create employment 
opportunities, and raise the standard of living and overall quality of life for all.
Article II, Section 15, also provides: "The State shall protect and promote the 
right of health of the people and instill health consciousness among them," while 
Article XIII, Section 11 articulates: "The State shall adopt an integrated and 
comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make 
essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at 
affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged sick, 
elderly, disabled, women, and children. The State shall endeavor to provide free 
medical care to paupers."
The recent pandemic had really challenged health institutions across the globe 
with the way they responded to the public health threat; and the Philippines was not


spared. The pandemic also underscored the need for a central health agency regarding 
disease prevention and control to effectively tackle emerging communicable diseases 
and to better handle future public health emergencies.
Under this measure, the proposed Philippine Centers for Disease Prevention 
and Control (CDC) would serve as the principal agency tasked with mitigating the 
spread of infectious diseases and developing prevention and control initiatives.
President Marcos had earlier certified the CDC bill as urgent during the last 
Congress, signifying his administration's marching orders to legislators to prioritize the 
bill's immediate passage.
The proposed center is also mandated to assess and support local government 
units in preventing communicable diseases and determine whether a public health 
emergency should be declared an epidemic.
In light of the foregoing, the swift passage of this measure is earnestly urged.
INGQOY EJERCITO ESTRADA


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TWENTIENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S. No
)
SENATE
866
It? of till’ i*ta
25 AUG-4 P5:50
RtCElVfcD
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE CENTERS FOR DISEASE PREVENTION AND 
CONTROL, DEFINING THEIR POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
ARTICLE 1
TITLE AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Centers for 
Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) Act".
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and 
promote the right to health of all Filipinos and instill health consciousness among them. 
To this end, the State shall adopt an integrated, comprehensive, and evidence- 
informed approach consistent with the direction enunciated under Republic Act (RA) 
No. 11223, or the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, and adopt a framework that shall 
foster a whole-of-system, whole-of-government, and whole-of-society approach, 
ensuring clear delineation of tasks between existing agencies and maximizing current 
mandates. The State shall also allot the necessary support and institutional resources 
to provide for effective disease prevention and control through a high-level public 
institution imbued with the capacity, competence, and authority to confront global and 
local public health risks.
Sec. 3. Objectives. - The objectives of this Act are the following:


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a. Protect the Filipino people from the impact of all diseases of public health 
importance;
b. Develop policies, plans, and protocols to improve on all identified areas in 
the International Health Regulations (IHR) hazards;
c. Clarify governance, decision-making, communication, and coordination 
processes and protocols related to identifying, diagnosing, forecasting, 
preventing, controlling, eliminating and eradicating, and monitoring 
diseases of public health importance;
d. Ensure swift, coordinated, and data-driven surveillance and response 
through the Department of Health (DOH), Epidemiology and Surveillance 
Units (ESUs), public health laboratory systems, points of entry, and Disaster 
Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) system;
e. Provide the overall national framework and strategic direction for the 
establishment of a health laboratory system;
f. 
Maintain a pool of in-house experts that shall serve as the technical 
authority who shall provide evidence-informed guidance on standards, 
technologies, and analytics for epidemiology, disease control, prevention, 
elimination, eradication, health emergency preparedness and response; and
g. Ensure the development and implementation of a shared risk and crisis 
communication plan with the DOH and the Food and Drug Administration 
(FDA).
ARTICLE II
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
a. Commodities for public health emergencies refer to health products 
necessary for the public health emergency response. It may include 
vaccines, therapeutics, medical devices, and ancillary supplies;
b. Disease refers to pathologic acute or rapidly developing and chronic or long­
standing conditions that cause harmful deviations from normal structure or 
function and may be due to infectious agents or their toxic products, which 
may be transmitted from a reservoir to a susceptible host, either directly 
from an infected person or animal or indirectly through the agency of an


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intermediate plant or animal host, vector, or the inanimate environment, or 
coming from laboratories intentionally or unintentionally, or may be the 
result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental, and 
behavioral factors;
c. Disease control refers to the reduction of disease incidence, prevalence, 
morbidity, or mortality to a locally acceptable level as a result of deliberate 
efforts and continued intervention measures to maintain the reduction;
d. Disease surveillance refers to the ongoing systematic collection, analysis, 
interpretation, and dissemination of outcome-specific data for use in the 
planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice in terms 
of epidemics, emergencies, and disasters. A disease surveillance system 
includes the functional capacity for data analysis as well as the timely 
dissemination of these data to persons who can undertake effective 
prevention and control activities;
e. Emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases refer to diseases that are 
characterized by the following traits:
1. have not occurred in humans before;
2. have occurred previously but affected only small numbers of people in 
isolated areas;
3. are caused by previously undetected or unknown infectious agents;
4. are due to mutant or resistant strains of a causative organism; or
5. were once major health problems in the country, and then declined 
dramatically, but are again becoming health problems for a significant 
proportion of the population.
f. 
Epidemiological investigation refers to an inquiry to the incidence, 
prevalence, extent, source, mode of transmission, causation of, and other 
information pertinent to a disease occurrence;
g. Health research refers to research or research-related activities that seek to 
provide timely and quality evidence to address knowledge gaps on areas 
related to identifying, diagnosing, forecasting, preventing, controlling, 
eliminating and eradicating, and monitoring diseases of public health 
importance;


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h. International health regulations (IHR) refer to an international agreement 
managed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and focused on 
addressing serious public health threats that have the potential to spread 
beyond a country's borders to other parts of the world and define the 
standards that countries must meet to be able to prevent, detect, and 
respond to public health threats;
i. 
Notifiable disease refers to a disease that, by legal requirements, must be 
reported to the public health authorities;
j. 
Public health emergency refers to an occurrence or imminent threat of an 
illness or health condition that:
1. Is caused by any of the following:
i. Bioterrorism;
ii. Appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicated 
infectious agent or biological toxin;
iii. Natural disaster;
iv. Chemical attack or accidental release;
V. Nuclear attack or accident; or
vi. Attack that uses or is caused by an accidental release of 
radioactive materials; and
2. Posed a high probability of any of the following:
i. Large number of deaths in the affected population;
ii. Large number of serious injuries or long-term disabilities in 
the affected population;
iii. Widespread exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that 
poses a significant risk of substantial harm to a large number 
of people in the affected population;
iv. International exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that 
poses a significant risk to the health of citizens of other 
countries; or
V. Trade and travel restrictions.


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k. Public health event refers to either a public health emergency or a public
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health threat due to biological, chemical, radio-nuclear, and environmental
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agents;
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I. Public health laboratories refer to facilities responsible for providing timely
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and reliable diagnostic results primarily for improvement of patient
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outcomes, disease prevention, control, surveillance, population-based
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interventions, and outbreak emergency response. They shall perform core
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public health and environmental activities, including reference tests for
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diseases of public health importance;
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m. Public health threat refers to any situation or factor that may present a
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danger to the health of the people;
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n. Quarantine refers to the restriction of activities or separation from others of
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suspect persons who are not ill, or of suspect baggage, containers,
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conveyances, or goods, in such a manner as to prevent the possible spread
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of infection or contamination;
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0. Response refers to the implementation of specific activities to control the
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further spread of infection, outbreaks, or epidemics and prevent
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reoccurrence. It includes verification, contact tracing, rapid risk assessment,
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case measures, treatment of patients, risk communication, the conduct of
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prevention activities, and rehabilitation.
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ARTICLE III
22 
CREATION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE PHILIPPINE CENTERS FOR DISEASE
23 
PREVENTION AND CONTROL
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Sec. 5. Creation of the Philippine Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. -
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There is hereby established an agency to be known as the Philippine Centers for
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Disease Prevention and Control, hereinafter referred to as "CDC." The CDC shall be
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an agency directly under the Office of the Secretary of the DOH.
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Sec. 6. Functions of the CDC. - The CDC shall be the technical authority on
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forecasting, analysis, strategy, and standards development for the prevention and
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control of all diseases of public health importance and health security events, whether
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domestic or international in origin. The CDC shall coordinate with global CDCs and act
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as the national focal point of the Philippines for IHR concerns.


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The functions of the CDC include the following:
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a. Develop strategies, standards, and policies for disease prevention 
and
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control;
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b. Implement disease surveillance and field epidemiology activities;
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c. Perform data collection and analytics;
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d. Establish and strengthen public health laboratories;
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e. Set standards and policies for private laboratories;
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f. Recommend actions for public health threats to appropriate national
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government bodies;
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g. Lead public health and risk communications;
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h. Conduct and manage health research and evidence synthesis;
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i. Build local capacity for surveillance and health research;
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j. Promote scientific integrity by ensuring that all its products are technically
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accurate, scientifically and ethically sound, and useful to the government
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and the intended population through the institutionalization of appropriate
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mechanisms and bodies.
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The CDC shall perform other functions as may be mandated by law or duly
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delegated by relevant authorities, as well as those that may be necessary or expedient
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for the performance of its functions under this Act.
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The CDC shall submit annual detailed cost work plans relating to its functions
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to the Secretary of Health (SOH) for approval.
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Sec. 7. Structure of the CDC -
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a) The CDC shall establish component centers that shall lead and coordinate
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the major functions of the CDC and in this capacity, establish strategic
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linkages and partnerships to fulfill the stated functions. In line with their
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functions, each of the following component centers shall be headed by a
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Deputy Director General:
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1) Center for Health Statistics (CHS). The CHS shall provide the national
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leadership data analytics and health information systems management
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services in the conduct of non- epidemiologic surveys in coordination
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with the Philippine Statistics Authority, and shall complement the roles
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and responsibilities of the DOH related to sectoral policy and planning
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by providing relevant health statistics. It shall likewise progressively 
develop and expand its methodological and analytical capacity; its use 
of informatics, digital tools, innovations, among others; and expand its 
portfolio of national health-related surveys to complement the national 
health surveys being managed by other national agencies;
2) Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance (CES). The CES shall lead and 
execute a national public health surveillance strategy and shall perform 
the functions and obligations of the Epidemiology Bureau (EB) and the 
DOH under Sections 5, 6, and 8 of RA No. 11332, otherwise known as 
the "Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of 
Public Health Concern Act". Further, it shall progressively enhance its 
epidemiology and surveillance functions to further develop its overall 
analytical capacity; to expand the scope of surveilled events and 
diseases; to set standards for and continually expand tools for data 
management and surveillance systems; to expand the scope of data 
collected; to lead in the development of epidemiology and surveillance 
capacities for all diseases and their causes, including social determinants 
of health; to lead in implementing International Health Surveillance and 
IHR processes; and to expand its technical expertise to include other 
and emerging branches and types of epidemiology and relevant 
epidemiologically-related approaches;
3) Center for Health Evidence (CHE). The CHE shall be established to lead 
evidence- informed policy-making for the prevention and control of all 
diseases, through the synthesis of available evidence, the conduct of 
high-quality health research, the development of evidence-informed 
strategies and standards of care, the provision of scientific inputs to 
guide the development, evaluation, and improvement of public health 
programs, and the development of science-informed standards to 
address public health threats, in partnership with academe, professional 
societies, research bodies. National Institutes of Health, and the 
Department of Science and Technology (DOST);


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4) Center for Health Laboratories (CHL). The CHL shall develop and provide
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the overall strategic direction, policies, standards, and plans in the
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implementation of the Philippine Health Laboratory System (PHLS) and
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the institutionalization of stand-alone CDC public health laboratories,
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including national reference laboratories, subnational, and regional
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public health laboratories (RPHLs). The Philippine Health Laboratory
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System shall be established by streamlining all diagnostic tests and
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surveillance of diseases of public health importance into stand-alone
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laboratories across the nation and by ensuring an effective and efficient
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quality management system for all clinical and other health laboratories
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in partnership with the DOH. Further, the CHL shall lead the country's
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public health laboratory response for rapid detection of emerging and
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re-emerging public health threats. It shall promote and develop
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innovative science, technologies, and processes that support CDC's
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ability to protect the Philippines from health, safety, and security threats,
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both foreign and local.
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b) The CDC shall also have three (3) offices directly under the Director General
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that shall provide support to all Centers, namely:
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1) Office for Health Economics;
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2) Office for Policy and Planning;
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3) Office for Administration, Finance, and Legal Affairs.
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c) Regional CDCs shall be established, consisting of counterparts of CHL, CHS,
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and CES.
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d) Additional offices may be created in accordance with the mandate of the
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CDC, upon the assessment and recommendation of the Director General,
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approval of the SOH, availability of funds, and to accordingly respond to the
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emerging needs of the health sector.
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The establishment of regional CDCs and creation of additional offices shall be
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endorsed by the DOH to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for review
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and approval.
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ARTICLE IV
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OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE, MANAGEMENT, AND STAFF OF THE CENTER
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Sec. 8. Relationship with Existing Agencies and Offices. -
a) Relationship between CDC and DOH Operations. The CDC shall be an 
agency under the Office of the SOH. The DOH shall develop operational and 
intersectoral policies to support implementation of strategies and standards 
developed by the CDC.
b) Relationship between CDC and the DOH Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ). The 
CDC shall set the standards for international health surveillance and 
surveillance at ports of entry and coordinate with the BOQ for operational 
and stakeholder management.
c) Relationship between Regional CDCs and DOH Regional Offices. The CDC 
shall have regional counterparts of its CHL, CHS, and CES to form the 
Regional CDCs separately from DOH Regional Offices. The DOH, through its 
regional offices, shall work closely with CDC, through its regional CDCs to 
support implementation of strategies and standards of the CDC.
d) Relationship between CDC and local government units (LCDs). LCDs shall 
adopt and localize standards and guidelines developed by the CDC, as 
operationalized by the DOH, in the performance of activities related to 
disease prevention and control. Further, LCDs shall allocate funding for the 
establishment of functional ESUs based on standards set by the DOH and 
as provided for by law including the creation of positions for the necessary 
Disease Surveillance Officers (DSOs) and field epidemiologists and in line 
with the goal of building local capacity for health surveillance: Provided, 
That LCDs that do not have the capacity to achieve these standards shall 
be eligible to receive resource augmentation from the National Government.
Sec. 9. Transfer of Agencies. -
a) Restructuring of Affected Offices and Units. The following offices, including 
their administrative units, shall be restructured to ensure that the CDC and 
DOH shall co-exist synergistically and facilitate the smooth operation of the 
CDC.
1) The different units of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) 
shall be absorbed in the different Centers of the CDC:


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i) The RUM'S national reference laboratories shall be absorbed 
by the CHL;
II) Its clinical research units, hospital ancillary services, and 
research laboratory departments shall be absorbed by the 
CHE;
iii) Its biological research and manufacturing units shall be 
temporarily absorbed by the CHE until an agency is finally 
tasked by the government to handle their role and functions.
2) The Health Laboratory Division, also referred to as the Office for Health 
Laboratories of the Health Facility Development Bureau of the DOH and 
other identified national reference laboratories shall be absorbed by the 
CHL.
3) The Epidemiology Bureau (EB) shall be transferred to the CHS and CES 
in phases. All previous functions of the EB and all disease and public 
health surveillance functions assigned to the DOH by law shall likewise 
be transferred to the CES. In line with this, all Regional Epidemiology 
and Surveillance Units and Field Health Service Information System Units 
of the DOH Regional Offices shall be transferred to and placed under the 
sole supervision and control of the Regional CDCs upon the effective 
transfer of the EB to the CDC.
i) The Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service 
of the DOH shall restructure and rationalize its functions to 
eliminate or minimize overlaps in and duplication of the standards 
and sectoral policy function of the CHS.
ii) The CES shall set the standards for international health 
surveillance and surveillance at ports of entry and shall coordinate 
with the BOQ for operational and stakeholder management. 
Further, the screening and quarantine processes for inbound and 
outbound international travelers as provided for in Sections 4 and 
5 of RA No. 9271 or the "Quarantine Act of 2004" shall remain 
with BOQ, aligned to the standards promulgated by CDC.
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4) The Disease Prevention and Control Bureau (DPCB) shall be transformed 
into the Public Health Strategy and Management Bureau, and shall be 
responsible for developing operational strategy and guidelines that are 
aligned with CDC's standards, setting up intersectoral collaboration 
platforms, and ensuring strategic management of national health 
programs. The DPCB's previous standards development function shall be 
transferred to the CDC's CHE. The DOH Undersecretary for Operations 
and the DOH Regional Offices shall continue to perform their roles in 
operational planning, coordination and performance management.
5) The Communications Office of the DOH shall be a shared service among 
all DOH offices, including the FDA and CDC, and shall perform the 
following functions:
i) Develop strategic communication plans, including, but not limited 
to, corporate risk and crisis communication plans;
ii) Manage and implement risk communication activities and 
initiatives, such as the development and issuance of information 
and education communication materials, events, stakeholder 
meetings, and other media engagement activities;
iii) Manage and activate crisis communication protocol for health 
risks and hazards, and institutional reputational risks;
iv) Develop and implement corresponding capacity-building activities 
in relation to corporate risk and crisis communications;
v) Perform internal communication functions within the institution;
vi) Develop and facilitate the approval of communication materials 
and policies as aligned with the approved communication plans;
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Manage different platforms of the institution for release of 
communication materials; and
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Foster, maintain, and continuously build external 
partnerships and communication networks with public and private 
health institutions.
b) Transfer of Human Resource and Material. The offices affected by the 
transfer of agencies shall also transfer human resource, applicable funds and
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appropriations, records, equipment, and property to the CDC subject to a 
multi-year transition plan.
1) As a result of the reorganization under this Act, the DOH shall evaluate 
the credentials, skills, and work experience of all employees in affected 
offices/bureaus and shall conduct matching to positions within the new 
offices/bureaus created based on the set qualification standards. The 
Department shall develop a technical working group to ensure that RA 
6656, entitled "An Act to Protect the Security Tenure of Civil Service 
Officers and Employees in the Implementation of Government 
Reorganization", shall be properly observed towards the protection of 
tenure of affected employees and shall institute mechanisms for 
retooling. There shall be no diminution of salaries and benefits of 
affected employees. Affected employees may opt for voluntary 
separation from service within six (6) months from the effectivity of this 
Act and shall be entitled to receive separation, and early retirement 
benefits and other benefits under applicable laws and issuances such as 
RA No. 6656 within ninety (90) days from the date of effectivity of their 
separation. Provided they are not entitled to said benefits, employees 
concerned shall be paid a separation gratuity in the amount equivalent 
to one (1) month salary for every year of service;
2) The CDC shall employ scientific, technical, and non-technical staff, where 
a compensation and accountability mechanism shall be created for all in- 
house experts employed in highly technical positions. Correspondingly, 
the DOH shall determine the organization and plantilla of the CDC in 
accordance with the salary and compensation for positions developed 
for the CDC to the DBM for review and approval.
i) The salary and compensation of all employed staff under 
managerial, technical, and administrative positions shall be 
subject to existing compensation and position classification 
system and prevailing qualification standards and regulations of 
the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
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ii) The compensation mechanism for the expert pool shall be in
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accordance with the rules and regulations in this Act and its IRR
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and shall be exempt from existing qualification standards 
and
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regulations of the CSC.
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iii)AII in-house experts shall be allowed to practice their profession
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and receive additional compensation from such engagements.
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iv)AII employed staff and in-house experts shall submit a declaration
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of conflict-of-interest (COI), a non-disclosure agreement (NDA),
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and other pertinent documents requirements as may be deemed
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necessary.
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3) The transfer of human resource, applicable funds and appropriations,
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records, equipment, and property to the CDC, among others, shall
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commence within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act to enable
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the smooth transfer of the same from the DOH.
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Sec. 10. Structure and Staffing Pattern. - Subject to the review and approval
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of the DBM, the SOH shall determine the organizational structure and staffing pattern
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of the CDC, in accordance with existing civil service laws, rules and regulations.
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Sec. 11. Director Genera! (DG), Deputy Directors Generat, and Directors. -
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a) Appointment of the Director General (DG). The CDC shall be headed by a
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DG who shall hold the rank of Undersecretary. The DG shall be appointed
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by the President, upon the recommendation of the SOH, based on technical
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expertise, academic background, and appropriate work experience.
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b) Appointment of the Deputy Directors General. The DG shall be assisted by
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Deputy Directors General who shall hold the rank of Assistant Secretary.
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They shall oversee the performance of the Offices and Centers and any
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additional offices created in accordance with Sec. 7 (d) of this Act. The
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Deputy Directors General shall likewise be appointed by the President, upon
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the recommendation of the SOH, based on technical expertise, academic
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background, and appropriate work experience.
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c) Appointment of Directors. The DG shall likewise be assisted by the following:
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1) Director for Health Economics Service with the rank of Director IV;
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2) Director for Policy and Planning with the rank of Director IV;
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3) Director for Administration, Finance, and Legal Affairs with the rank of 
Director IV;
d) Qualifications and Eligibilities.
1) The DG shall be a public health professional, must be a licensed medical 
doctor, with at least 15 years of combined post-graduate work 
experience in relevant fields of medicine, public health, research, and 
management.
2) The Deputy Director General of each Center shall possess a postgraduate 
degree, preferably a doctorate degree in fields related to medicine, 
public health, or research, with management experience in such fields.
3) The Directors directly under the Office of the DG shall possess third level 
service eiigibility with educational background in relevant fields of 
medicine, public health, accounting, management, economics or any 
business course, and must have management experience in the 
aforesaid fields.
e) Powers and Functions of the Director General.
1) Provide leadership, policy guidance, coordination, technical expertise, 
and services to promote the development and implementation of the 
CDC's national programs;
2) Certify to the SOH the presence of a public health emergency;
3) Notify the WHO and other focal points of any public health emergency 
or incident in accordance with IHR guidelines, and coordinate public 
health response with the WHO, IHR and national focal points;
4) Recommend to the President, through the SOH, the exercise of special 
powers in the case of public health emergencies, including mobilization 
of the governmental and nongovernmental agencies, including the 
private sector, to respond to the threat in performing the following 
functions:
i) Develop and implement national policies to prevent and mitigate 
further transmission of diseases of public health importance;
ii) Ensure that LGUs follow all rules, regulations, and directives 
issued by the National Government pursuant to this Act: Provided,
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That all LGUs are authorized to develop localized policies and 
interventions provided these are aligned with national policy, rules 
and regulations;
iii) Develop and implement flexibilities in procurement of essential 
commodities and implement programs in response to a public 
health emergency;
iv) Ensure the adequate and equitable distribution of health workers 
during public health emergencies and the provision of social 
benefits and protection to health workers and their families and 
other household members against discrimination;
v) Enforce measures to protect the people from hoarding, 
profiteering, injurious speculations, manipulation of prices, 
product deceptions, monopolistic practices, other acts in restraint 
of trade, or other pernicious practices affecting the supply, 
distribution, and movement of food, clothing, hygiene and 
sanitation products, medicines and medical supplies devices, 
implements, machinery, equipment and spare parts required in 
agriculture, industry, other essential services, and other articles 
of prime necessity, whether imported or locally produced or 
manufactured;
Vi)Ensure that donations intended to address the public health 
emergencies, the acceptance thereof, and distribution of donated 
health products and commodities are not unnecessarily delayed 
considering their shelf-life, and that health products for donation 
that are duly certified by the national regulatory authorities (NRA) 
or their accredited third party representatives from countries with 
established regulations shall be automatically cleared; and
vii) Perform such other functions and activities, as deemed 
necessary.
5) Institute public health surveillance programs in accordance with RA 
11332 and as such, impose the following:
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i) All public and 
private 
hospitals, 
clinics, 
health facilities,
laboratories, institutions, workplaces, schools, prisons, ports, 
airports, establishments, communities, other government 
agencies, and non-governmental organizations are required to 
accurately and immediately report notifiable disease and public 
health events to CDC;
ii) All public and 
private 
hospitals, 
clinics, 
health facilities,
laboratories shall be required to submit health and health-related 
data, which shall include administrative, public health, medical, 
pharmaceutical, and financing data to the CDC;
iii) DSOs, ESUs, CDC laboratories, PHLs, pharmacies and those 
employed by the LGUs to perform surveillance and response 
activities shall furnish information required by the CDC at all times 
and as soon as practicable; and
iv) Failure of said establishments to report to the CDC shall constitute 
a violation of Section 9, paragraphs (d) and (e) of Republic Act 
No. 11332, or the "Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases 
and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.
6) Issue an order requiring any person or institution to furnish CDC any 
sample of any substance or matter in the possession or control of that 
person, whether taken pursuant to this Act or otherwise, as may be 
considered necessary or appropriate, or any information as may be 
required by the CDC, within the period it requires for the purpose of any 
public health surveillance program, epidemiological investigation, or 
survey conducted pursuant to this Act;
7) Request the Philippine National Police or the National Bureau of 
Investigation to locate any patients or persons suspected of contracting 
a communicable disease;
8) Certify the termination of a public health emergency which may serve as 
basis for the de-escalation and eventual termination of emergency 
response activities;
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9) Develop policies with provisions on penalties for local implementation 
and enforcement:
i) 
The Director General, upon consultation with the SOH, shall 
provide recommendations on the corresponding rules and 
regulations, as well as penalties, for local implementation and 
enforcement that are necessary to control and prevent diseases 
within the country and to prevent the introduction, transmission, 
or spread of communicable diseases from other countries into the 
Philippines or from one domestic seaport/airport to another; and
ii) 
For purposes of implementing these regulations, the Director 
General upon consultation with the SOH, shall provide public 
health preventive measures and intervention strategies such as 
health education, promotion, and advisories, isolation, veterinary 
and plant quarantine, inspections, fumigation, disinfection, 
disinfestation, vector control, pest extermination, and destruction 
of animals or articles found to be infected or contaminated as to 
be sources of infection to human beings, in coordination with 
other concerned quarantine agencies and other measures as may 
be necessary.
10) Develop containment strategies for inland contagion or community 
transmission of public health threats and shall coordinate these with the 
SOH. During public health emergencies, the DOH Health Emergency 
Management Bureau shall coordinate with DOH BOQ in controlling, 
directing, and managing all quarantine stations, grounds, and 
anchorages, and in designating their boundaries in accordance with 
Section 6 of RA No. 9271, or the "Quarantine Act of 2004";
11) Provide or obtain technical assistance for regional and local health 
departments, private agencies, and international and supranational 
agencies before, during, and after public health emergencies;
12) Develop a shared risk communication plan in coordination with the DOH 
and the FDA;
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13)Liaise with other government agencies, NGOs, international
2 
organizations, including the WHO, learning and academic institutions,
3 
and other pertinent groups or entities in the conduct of activities relating
4 
to disease prevention and control;
5 
14)Coordinate with appropriate DOH Offices regarding administrative and
6 
program matters;
7 
15)Appoint eligible persons in accordance with civil service laws, rules and
8 
regulations, and this Act;
9 
16)Delegate the powers vested under this Act to the Deputy Directors
10 
General; and
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17)Perform such other functions as may be mandated by law, or as may be
12 
delegated by the SOH or the President.
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ARTICLE V
14 
RESPONSE ACTION
15 
Sec. 12. Response Cascade. - In case of public health emergencies due to
16 
biological, chemical, and toxic events:
17 
a) The CDC shall, through the CHE, prepare and disseminate to the public and
18 
private se tors the relevant technical information and guidance;
19 
b)The DOH shall, through the PHSMB, develop operational and intersectoral
20 
strategies guided by the strategies and standards developed by the CDC;
21 
c) The DOH shall, through its regional offices, work closely with CDC, through
22 
its regional CDCs to immediately respond to the public health emergency.
23 
When necessary, the DOH shall tap into the DRRM system to effectively
24 
respond to public health emergencies;
25 
d) The CHL shall activate the public health laboratory response network and
26 
continuously provide guidance for core laboratory programs 
in quality
27 
management, laboratory medicine and safety and security 
programs,
28 
laboratory information management and surveillance, research and
29 
development and training;
30 
e) The CES shall certify to the veracity of the official data to be used as basis
31 
for response and for public reporting, and provide standards and overall
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guidance to the BOQ for the institution of disease surveillance at all points 
of entry and exit;
f) The National Telecommunications Commission and any telecommunications 
entity as defined under RA No. 7925 or the "Public Telecommunications 
Policy Act of the Philippines," shall provide location information of patients 
or persons suspected of contracting a disease upon request of the CDC: 
Provided, That the CDC shall ensure confidentiality of such information;
g) The Secretary of Health may undertake the following functions in case of 
public health events;
1) Hiring, transfer, and deployment of health personnel;
2) Implementation of whole-of-government and whole-of-society public 
health emergency preparedness and response in cooperation with the 
Department of the Interior and Local Government, LGUs, and private 
sector;
3) Strict enforcement and augmentation of border control and surveillance 
in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs, DOH-BOQ, 
Bureau of Immigration, Philippine Ports Authority, Department of 
Agriculture, and Bureau of Customs;
4) Commissioning of research in coordination with DOST;
5) Promotion of the treatment of, vaccination, or immunization against a 
contagious disease, compelling the isolation or quarantine of persons 
who are unable or unwilling, for reasons of health, religion, or 
conscience, to undergo immunization or treatment: Provided, That the 
guidelines for the exercise of such power shall be formulated in 
coordination with the Department of Justice;
6) Decontamination of any facility or decontamination or destruction of any 
material when the CDC reasonably suspects that such facility or material 
may endanger public health, subject to just compensation;
7) Issuance and enforcement of measures for safe handling and disposal 
of human and animal remains; and
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8) Requiring any health or funeral facility authorized by law to perform such
2 
services as are reasonable and necessary to respond to a public health
3 
emergency.
4 
ARTICLE VI
5 
SPECIAL POWERS / AUTHORITY TO ENABLE RESPONSE
6 
Sec. 13. Authority for Other Professions to Administer, Dispense, and provide 
1 Commodities for Public Health Emergencies. - In addition to physicians, other health
8 
and allied medical professionals such as pharmacists and midwives who are duly
9 
trained by the DOH or its authorized representatives may dispense and administer
10 
commodities considered as vital for public health emergencies with special
11 
authorization or regular certificate of registration from the FDA notwithstanding any
12 
law to the contrary.
13 
Sec. 14. Issuance of Special Regulatory Authorizations. - Pursuant to Section 4
14 
of Republic Act No. 3720, or the "Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act", as amended by
15 
Republic Act No. 9711 or the "Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Act of 2009," the
16 
FDA shall be given authority to issue special authorizations for commodities for public
17 
health emergencies. Provided, That:
18 
a) Based on the totality of available scientific evidence, including data from
19 
adequate and well-documented controlled trials, it is reasonable to believe
20 
that the health product may be effective to prevent, diagnose, or treat the
21 
diseases of concern;
22 
b) The potential benefits of the health product when used to diagnose,
23 
prevent, or treat diseases of concern outweigh the known and potential
24 
risks, if any; and
25 
c) There is no adequate, approved, and available alternative to the health
26 
product for diagnosing, preventing, or treating disease/s of concern.
27 
In the event that the declared public health emergency is lifted, special
28 
authorizations issued by the FDA shall have provisional validity for a period of one
29 
year (1) from the date of lifting of the declaration for the sole purpose of exhausting
30 
remaining supplies.
31 
Distribution and administration of unauthorized commodities for public health
32 
emergency shall be prohibited.
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Sec. 15. Health Technology Assessment and Evidence Review. - The
2 
requirement for a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) shall not be a prerequisite to
3 
procurement of commodities for public health emergencies as an exemption to Section
4 
34 of the RA 11223. Further, the HTA shall not be required for:
5 
a) Donated health products;
6 
b) Unregistered commodities for public health emergency which are qualified
7 
for compassionate use according to the guidelines set by the FDA; and
8 
c) Repurposing or stock realignment of commodities for public health
9 
emergencies that have already been procured by the DOH, LGUs, private
10 
sector entities: Provided, That repurposing or stock realignment shall be in
11 
accordance with the indication of its use as approved by the FDA.
12 
The DOH, FDA, Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC), and other
13 
relevant offices shall, without need for notice or demand, immediately provide each
14 
other with any and all information, including proprietary submissions of data by
15 
manufacturers, traders, distributors, or other sources, for the purpose of expediting
16 
the review of the evidence, product authorization or registration, and the appropriate
17 
release of recommendations and supporting policies: Provided, That a non-disclosure
18 
agreement among all parties involved shall be executed and enforced prior to the
19 
sharing of the said information.
20 
Sec. 16. Procurement of Commodities and Services for Public Health
21 
Emergencies by the DOH. - The DOH and authorized parties such as the LGUs and
22 
private entities shall be allowed to procure commodities for public health emergencies
23 
that are recommended by any of the following:
24 
a) WHO;
25 
b) HTAC;
26 
c) DOH-approved clinical practice guidelines or interim guidelines; or
27 
d) Similar emergency authorizations from other stringent NRAs.
28 
For the purposes of this provision, the DOH and authorized parties may
29 
immediately enter into alternative modes of expedited procurement with United
30 
Nations agencies, international organizations, or international financing institutions
31 
and their operational arms, such as the WHO, United Nations Office for Project
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Services, and United Nations Children's Fund, subject to the rules and policies set by
2 
the DOH.
3 
Section 88 of Presidential Decree No. 1445, as amended, otherwise known as
4 
the "Government Auditing Code of the Philippines", and any law to the contrary
5 
notwithstanding, the DOH may disburse funds as advance payment if required by the
6 
manufacturer, trader, or distributor: Provided, That the authority to advance payment
7 
shall be for the procurement of commodities for public health emergencies and to
8 
secure other goods and services necessary for their storage, transport, deployment,
9 
and administration,
10 
Distribution and administration of unauthorized commodities for public health
11 
emergencies shall be prohibited.
12 
Sec. 17. Donation of Excess Suppiy of Commodities. - In case of an excess
13 
supply of commodities as may be determined by the DOH, the DOH may donate them
14 
to other LGUs, bureaus, agencies, instrumentalities, or private entities. The national
15 
government, led by the DFA, in coordination with the DOH, may also donate the excess
16 
supply to other countries: Provided, That the DOH, DBM, and Commission on Audit
17 
shall issue separate operational guidelines that set forth expedited procedures to
18 
facilitate the receipt and acceptance of any donations pursuant to this provision, any
19 
law to the contrary notwithstanding.
20 
Sec. 18. Authority to Direct the Operations of Private Establishments During
21 
Public Health Emergencies. - The President, during public health emergencies, may
22 
direct the operations of any privately-owned establishment including, among others,
23 
hospitals and medical and health facilities, passenger vessels, and other private
24 
enterprises, to perform functions and provide support services for public health
25 
emergency response, including housing health workers serving in quarantine areas,
26 
quarantine centers, medical relief and aid distribution locations, or other temporary
27 
medical facilities, and ferrying health, emergency, and frontline personnel: Provided,
28 
That the management and operation of such establishments shall be retained by the
29 
owners: Provided, further. That reasonable compensation for any additional damage
30 
or costs incurred by the owner or the possessor of the subject property solely on
31 
account of complying with the directive shall be given to the person entitled to the
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possession of such private properties or businesses after the conditions have stabilized
2 
or at the soonest time practicable.
3 
Sec. 19. Transition to Regular Authorization. - For this purpose, the FDA shall
4 
be given authority to develop specific guidelines on the transition of the regulatory
5 
authorization of commodities for public health emergencies from special use
6 
authorization to regular certificate of registration. This is in consideration of the time
7 
needed to process applications and to avoid a monopoly by a single supplier of health
8 
products for public health emergencies. The granting of a regular certificate of
9 
registration by the Philippine FDA to the first brand deemed suitable for such
10 
registration shall not immediately revoke all other special authorizations granted by
11 
the FDA to other brands, any law to the contrary notwithstanding: Provided, That once
12 
the DOH and the FDA had determined that the suppliers granted with regular
13 
certificate of registration have enough capacity to supply the country's projected
14 
needs, all other special authorizations issued shall be deemed revoked by this Act,
15 
without prejudice to their holders completing the process to obtain a regular certificate
16 
of registration: Provided, further, That remaining stocks covered by a special
17 
authorization that has been revoked pursuant to this provision, but which still have a
18 
valid shelf life, shall either be donated to a country where its use is still authorized by
19 
its NRA, or held in storage until it is disposed of appropriately upon the termination of
20 
its shelf-life.
21 
Sec. 20. Authority for Other Professions to Administer, Dispense, and Provide
22 
Commodities for Public Health Emergencies. - In addition to physicians, other health
23 
and allied medical professionals such as pharmacists and midwives who are duly
24 
trained by the DOH or its authorized representatives may administer, dispense and
25 
provide commodities for public health emergencies with special authorization or
26 
regular certificate of registration from the FDA.
27 
Sec. 21. Immunity from Liability. - Notwithstanding any law to the contrary,
28 
program implementors, public officials and employees, health care workers and non-
29 
health care workers, whether public or private who are authorized to carry out and
30 
are actually carrying out the public health emergency response shall be immune from
31 
suit and liability under Philippine laws with respect to all claims arising out of, related
32 
to, or resulting from the administration or use of commodities and counter measures
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under the public health emergency response and in the discharge of the authorized
2 
person's official duties, except those arising from willful misconduct and gross
3 
negligence.
4 
The members of the FDA and the National Adverse Events Following
5 
Immunization and its regional counterparts during the conduct of monitoring for
6 
probable adverse effects from the commodities for public health emergency shall
7 
similarly enjoy the privileges given under this section, unless the said members' actions
8 
are tantamount to gross negligence or willful misconduct.
9 
ARTICLE VIII
10 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
11 
Sec. 22. - Intergovernmental Collaborative Activities. - The Secretary of
12 
Foreign Affairs and the SOH are jointly mandated to review and recommend to the
13 
CDC multilateral and bilateral agreements which the country may adopt to strengthen
14 
its collaborative mechanisms with other countries.
15 
Sec. 23. Transitory Provision. - The CDC shall, in coordination with the DOH
16 
and LGUs, craft a multi-year plan to ensure the timely implementation and progressive
17 
realization of this Act. To this end, the multi-year plan shall include:
18 
a) Phased expansion of the capacity of the CDC to cover other health
19 
conditions or threats in view of the needs of the Philippine health sector;
20 
b) Requiring that every province and city-wide health system have full-time
21 
DSOs, without prejudice to the need for the designation of DSOs in
22 
municipalities when necessary;
23 
c) Establishing Sub-National Laboratories and Regional Public Flealth
24 
Laboratories;
25 
d) Emergency funding and procurement of commodities and hiring during
26 
public health emergencies; and
27 
e) Establishment of infrastructure and acquisition of parcels of land to house
28 
the national offices under the CDC.
29 
The DOH shall, upon coordination with CDC, submit the funding requirements
30 
with corresponding annual targets for the implementation of the multi-year plan to
31 
the DBM and concerned agencies, for the determination of appropriate national budget
32 
allocation: Provided, That in relation to their devolved functions under the UHC Act
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and other existing laws, LGUs shall appropriate the necessary funds to ensure the
2 
proper implementation of this Act.
3 
Sec. 24. Modernization Program. - The Director General shall, in consultation
4 
with the DOH and other concerned agencies of government and the private sector,
5 
develop a modernization program that will strengthen the human health resource of
6 
the CDC, which is the key component of the country's disease prevention and control
7 
policy. The modernization program shall include the acquisition and upgrading of
8 
appropriate technologies, laboratories, facilities, equipment, other needed resources,
9 
and the needed relocation and acquisition of additional land or location that would
10 
house the CDC.
11 
Within one hundred eighty (180) days from the effectivity of this Act, the
12 
Director General shall, upon the recommendation of the DOH and DBM Secretaries,
13 
submit the modernization program for the consideration and approval of Congress.
14 
The modernization program shall be implemented over a period of five (5)
15 
years. The funding of which shall be included in the annuai General Appropriations Act
16 
(GAA).
17 
Sec. 25. Authority to Solicit, Negotiate, and Receive Donations, Grants, Gifts,
18 
Legacies, Endowments, and Contributions. - The CDC may solicit, negotiate with, and
19 
receive from any public or private domestic or foreign sources legacies, gifts,
20 
donations, grants, endowments, contributions or other transfers of ownership and/or
21 
possession of real or personal properties of all kinds for use in its operations such as
22 
the upgrading of its facilities, equipment outlay, human resource development and
23 
expansion, and the acquisition of the appropriate office space to improve the delivery
24 
of its services to the public.
25 
The Director General shall be authorized to retain, without need of a separate
26 
approval from any government agency, and subject only to existing accounting and
27 
auditing rules and regulations, all the legacies, gifts, donations, grants, endowments,
28 
contributions which shall be deposited and maintained in a separate account or fund
29 
in addition to the annual budget of the CDC which may be used or disbursed directly
30 
by the Director General for the purpose of which the fund was originally intended.
31 
The Director General shall likewise be authorized to retain other transfers of
32 
ownership and possession of real or personal property of all kinds solicited, negotiated.
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and received by the CDC under this Act and other laws that it is mandated to 
administer based on the immediately prior year of operations.
Sec. 26. Tax Exemptions. - Donations, grants, gifts, endowments, legacies, and 
contributions used actually, directly and exclusively for the purpose of the CDC shall 
be exempt from the donor's tax and the same shall be considered as allowable 
deduction from gross income for purposes of computing the taxable income of the 
donor, in accordance with Sec. (H)(2)(a) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 
1997, as amended. Likewise, such other transfers of ownership and/or possession of 
real or personal properties of all kinds shall be exempt from all taxes.
Sec. 27. Annual Report. - The CDC shall submit to Congress and the Office of 
the President an annual report containing an evaluation of the current and emerging 
threats to health in the country and the progress made with respect to IHR 
commitments and the initiatives undertaken to address these, and recommendations 
for legislation, if necessary.
Sec. 28. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation 
of this act shall be charged against the current year appropriations of the offices and 
agencies concerned. Thereafter, the funding requirements for the ensuing years shall 
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 29. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOH shall promulgate the 
necessary implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) working days from 
the effectivity of this Act.
Sec. 30. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall not be 
affected thereby.
Sec. 31. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, 
other issuances, or parts thereof, inconsistent with any provision of this Act, are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 32. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,
26