Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _________
Introduced by 4Ps Partylist Representative
JONATHAN CLEMENT M. ABALOS II
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be understated; from
economic instability to physical and mental health, this disease has put the
entire human species on its feet, showing its unpreparedness for pandemics. It
is because of this that this law aims to create a Center for Disease Prevention
and Control to put in place a technical authority on all matters regarding
disease prevention and control thereby creating the Philippine Center for
Disease Prevention and Control.
The Center will work to protect Filipinos from health, safety, and
security threats, both foreign and domestically. Whether diseases start at
home or abroad, are chronic or acute, curable or preventable, are caused by
human error or deliberate attack, the Center aims to fight disease and
supports communities and citizens to do the same. The Center will also
increase the health security of our nation. As the nation’s health protection
agency, it saves lives and protects people from health threats. To accomplish
this mission, it will conduct critical science and provide health information
that protects our nation against expensive and dangerous health threats and
responds when these arise.
Having this institution will help put our country on the cutting edge
of health security by confronting global disease threats through advanced
computing and lab analysis of huge amounts of data to quickly find solutions.
Further, it will put science into action by tracking diseases and finding out
what is making people sick and the most effective ways to prevent it.
It will also be able to help our medical care workers or frontliners by
bringing new knowledge to individual health care and community health to
save more lives and reduce waste. More importantly, it will help fight diseases
before they reach our borders, detecting and confronting new germs and
diseases around the globe to increase our national security. Lastly, it will help
in nurturing public health by providing a significant contribution to having
strong, well-resourced public health leaders and capabilities at national,
regional, and local levels to protect Filipinos from health threats. The
Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control will be in charge of
measuring the health pulse of our nation as we navigate this post-COVID
world order.
July 28, 2022
5:17 pm
2730


This bill was filed in the 18th Congress by Representative Joey
Salceda and Representative Teodorico Haresco. It was subsequently passed by
the House of Representatives and received by the Senate.
To this end, the approval of the bill is earnestly sought.
JONATHAN CLEMENT M. ABALOS II
Representative, 4Ps Partylist
3


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _________
Introduced by 4Ps Representative
JONATHAN CLEMENT M. ABALOS II
AN ACT CREATING THE CENTER FOR DISEASE PREVENTION
AND CONTROL, PROVIDING MECHANISMS FOR EPIDEMlC
CONTROL, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Title - This Act shall be known as the “Center for Disease
Control and Prevention Act” Or the “CDC Act”.
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy It shall be the policy of the State to ensure
the health and wellbeing of Filipinos, to protect them from communicable
diseases, and to proactively prevent the emergence and transmission of
serious diseases. Towards this end, the state shall devote significant
material
and
institutional
resources
to
provide
a
framework
for
communicable disease control and prevention in the country.
It is also hereby declared a policy of the State to adopt, support, establish,
institutionalize, improve and maintain structures, processes, mechanisms
and initiatives that are aimed, directed and designed to:
(a)
protect and promote the health of the Filipino people; and
(b)
help establish and maintain an effective health mechanism that is
responsive to the country's health needs, emergency and other emerging
problems.
Towards this end, and in view of the globalization of health risks, there
shall be a high-level public institution imbued with the capacity, the
competencies, the ecosystem, and the authority to confront these risks
1
2730


decisively and thus protect the public welfare development to proceed
despite these risks.
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms - As used in this Act, the term:
(a) Communicable disease, al so known as transmissible disease
or infectious disease, shall mean an illness resulting from an
infection, or a disease which can be transmitted from an
infected host individual or group to a particular individual
or group, regardless of whether the other individual was
previously infected.
(b)" Contagious disease'' is an infectious disease that can be
transmitted from person to person.
(c) "Disease" refers to an illness due to a specific toxic substance,
occupational exposure or infectious agent, which affects a
susceptible individual, either directly or indirectly, as from
an infected animal or person, or indirectly through an
intermediate host, vector, or the environment.
(d) "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.
(e) "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. 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.
(f)
"Emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases" refer to
diseases that: ( I) 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 m the country, and
then declined dramatically, but are again becoming health
problems for a significant proportion of the population.
(g) " Epidemic/outbreak" refers to an occurrence of more cases
of disease than normally expected within a specific place or
group of people over a given period of time.
(h) " Health care facility" means any institution, building, or
agency
or
portion
thereof,
whether
public or private
(for-profit or nonprofit) that is used, operated, or designed
to provide health services, medical treatment, or nursing,
rehabilitative, or preventive care to any person or persons.
2


This includes, but is not limited to: ambulatory surgical
facilities,
home
health
agencies,
hospices,
hospitals,
infirmaries, intermediate care facilities, kidney treatment
centers, long term care facilities, medical assistance facilities,
mental health centers, outpatient facilities, public health
centers,
rehabilitation
facilities,
residential
treatments
facilities,
skilled
nursing
facilities,
and
adult day-care
centers. This also includes, but is not limited to, the
following related property when used for or in connection
with
the
foregoing:
laboratories;
research
facilities;
pharmacies; laundry facilities; health personnel training and
lodging facilities; patient, guest, and health personnel food
service facilities; and offices and office buildings for persons
engaged in health care professions or services.
(i) "Health event of public health concern" refers to either a
public health emergency or a public health threat due to
biological,
chemical,
radio-nuclear
and
environmental
agents.
(j)"Infectious disease" is a disease caused by a living organism or
other
pathogen,
including
a
fungus,
bacillus,
parasite,
protozoan, or virus. An infectious disease may, or may not, be
transmissible from person to person, animal to person, or
insect to person.
(k) "Infectious waste" is "biological waste," which includes blood
and
blood
products,
excretions,
exudates,
secretions,
suctioning and other body fluids, and waste materials
saturated with blood or body fluids; (ii) "cultures and stocks,"
which includes etiologic agents and associated biologicals,
including specimen cultures and dishes and devices used to
transfer, inoculate, and mix cultures , wastes from production
of biologicals and serums, and discarded live and attenuated
vaccines; (iii) "pathological waste," which includes biopsy
materials and all human tissues, anatomical parts that
emanate from surgery, obstetrical procedures, necropsy or
autopsy and laboratory procedures, and animal carcasses
exposed to pathogens in research and the bedding and other
waste from such animals, but does not include teeth or
formaldehyde or other preservative agents; and (iv)"sharps,"
which includes needles, I.V. tubing wi.th needles attached,
scalpel blades, lancets, breakable glass tubes, and syringes
that have been removed from their original sterile containers.
(l) ''Notifiable
disease"
refers
to
a
disease
that,
by
legal
requirements,
must
be
reported
to
the
public
health
authorities.
(m) "Precommunicable stage" shall mean the stage beginning
upon an individual's earliest opportunity for exposure to an
infectious agent and ending upon the individual entering or
reentering the communicable stage of the disease or, if the
individual does not enter the communicable stage, the latest
date at which the individual could reasonably be expected to
have the potential to enter or reenter the communicable stage.
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(n) "Quarantine " is the physical separation and confinement of
an individual or groups of individuals, who are or may have
been exposed to a contagious or possibly contagious disease
and who do not show signs or symptoms of a contagious
disease, from non-quarantined individuals, to prevent or limit
the
transmission
of
the
disease
to
non­quarantined
individuals.
(o)
"Sudden onset health outbreak", or "sudden onset health
events", shall be diseases whose risks to public health and
safety exponentially increase over time absent intervention.
CHAPTER II
CREATION OF THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL
PHILIPPINES
Sec. 4. Creation of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. There
shall be created a Center for Disease Control and Prevention, hereinafter
referred
to
as
" Center," a government agency attached to the
Department of Health, which shall exercise administrative supervision
over the Center.
The Center shall be the principal agency tasked with developing and
applying communicable disease control and prevention initiatives.
Additionally, it shall be responsible for controlling the introduction and
spread of infectious diseases, and shall provide consultation and
assistance to other nations and international agencies to assist in
improving their disease prevention and control. It shall also
Sec. 5 - Reorganization of existing units. Under this Center, the
following bureaus and agencies are hereby subsumed into the Center:
l.
The Disease Prevention and Control Bureau of the Department of
Health
2. The Epidemiology Bureau of the Department of Health
3. The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine
4. The Disease Emergency Management Bureau
Sec. 6. Functions of the Center. - The Center shall perform the following
functions:
1. Maintain active surveillance of diseases through epidemiologic
and laboratory investigations, data collection, analysis, and
distribution;
2.
Act as lead agency in developing and implementing
operational programs relating to communicable diseases;
3.
Act as the lead disease surveillance agency of the country;
4.
Conduct operational research aimed at developing and
testing effective communicable disease prevention, control,
and health promotion programs;
4


5.
Administers national programs to develop recommended
health standards to ensure readiness for the emergence of new
communicable diseases;
6.
Administer national programs for improving the
performance
of
clinical
laboratories
in
identifying
and
classifying commw1icable diseases;
7.
Recommend the exercise of certain powers by the President
in the case of an epidemic;
8.
Set the parameters for the declaration of the existence of an
epidemic;
9.
Recommend such measures and policies as may be necessary
to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases;
10. Assess and support the capabilities of local government units
(LGUs) in preventing the emergence and transmission of
communicable diseases;
11.
Enhance and strengthen the administrative and technical
capacity of the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau and
Epidemiology Bureau to ensure the agencies' monitoring
coverage
over
establishments
and
products
under their
jurisdiction;
12.
Promote
public
health
decisions
guided
by
strategic
information for best possible health outcomes;
13.
Provide coherence in the health monitoring to ensure
equitable, accessible, efficient and quality health services to
communities,
through
dynamic
partnership
and
shared
advocacy, responsibility and accountability;
14. Set the standards and the process for the establishment of
Epidemiology and Surveillance Units (ESUs) as required by
Section 8 of Republic Act. No. 11332, assist DOH-retained
hospitals, local health facilities especially district hospitals and
private hospitals and laboratories in establishing ESUs and
assess
their
performance
and
accredit
them
based
on
standards set by the CDC;
15.
Maintain a Registry of Notifiable Diseases and Biosecurity
Hazards, which shall be published and updated online;
16. Recommend to the Council inclusions and deletions from the
registry;
17. Perform such other functions as may be mandated by Law, or
as may be duly delegated by relevant authorities.
Sec. 7. Center Executive Director. -The Center shall be headed by an
Executive Director who shall be appointed by the President upon the
effectivity of this Act, with the rank of Undersecretary, and who shall
perform the following functions and powers:
1.
Manage and direct the activities of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC);
2.
Provide leadership for the implementation of CDC's
responsibilities related to disease prevention and control;
3.
Advise the Secretary of Health on policy matters concerning
CDC activities;
5


4.
Recommend to the President and the Secretary of Health the
exercise of special powers in the case of an epidemic;
5.
Certify to the existence of an epidemic, which shall be treated
as a public health emergency;
6.
Participate in the development of CDC goals and objectives;
7. Provide overall direction and coordination to the epidemiologic
activities of CDC;
8.
Coordinate CDC response to health emergencies;
9. Provide
liaison
with
other
governmental
agencies,
international
organizations
including
the
World
Health
Organization, learning institutions, and other outside groups;
10. Coordinate international health activities relating to disease
prevention and control;
11.In cooperation with DOH Regional Offices, provide or obtain
technical assistance for regional and local health departments
and private and official agencies as needed;
12. Provide
overall
direction
to,
and
coordination
of,
the
scientific/medical programs of CDC;
13. Oversee and provide leadership for laboratory science, safety,
and quality management;
14.Plan, promote, and coordinate an ongoing program to assure
equal employment opportunities in CDC;
15.Provide
leadership,
coordination,
and
assessment
of
administrative management activities;
16.Coordinate
with
appropriate
DOH
staff
offices
on
administrative and program matters;
17.Coordinate the consumer affairs activities for CDC; and
18. Provide leadership, policy guidance, coordination, technical
expertise, and services to promote the development and
implementation of the agency's national programs
SEC. 8. Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Bureau - There
shall be created the Communicable Disease Prevention and Control
Bureau with the following functions:
a.
Develop plans, policies, programs, projects and strategies for
disease prevention and control and health protection.
b.
Provide coordination, technical assistance, capability building,
consultancy
and
advisory
services
related
to
disease
prevention and control and health protection.
SEC. 9. Divisions of the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau. - There
shall be created the following divisions under Disease Prevention and
Control Bureau with the following functions:
a. The Infectious Diseases for Elimination Division (TDED) shall
have the following functions:
I.
To develop policies, standards and guidelines for the
elimination of infectious diseases;
6


2.
To develop plans, programs and projects to carry out
preventive and control strategies against elimination of
infectious diseases;
3.
To assist and strengthens capacity to measure and analyze
the burden of elimination of infectious diseases;
4. To provide monitoring and evaluation schemes to measure
of
interventions
in
the
prevention
and
control
of
elimination diseases;
5.
To provide technical assistance and expert services to
collaborating
and
implementing
agencies
on
matters
pertaining to the prevention and control of infectious
diseases for elimination;
6.
To develop capability of health sector agencies and
organizations in the implementation of programs and
projects related to the prevention and control of infectious
diseases for elimination;
7.
To promote coordination and collaboration with partner
agencies
and
organizations on matters pertaining to
elimination of infectious diseases;
8.
To mobilize resources to assist collaborating and
implementing agencies and organizations.
b. The Infectious Disease of Prevention and Control Division
(IDPCD) shall have the following functions:
1.
To develop policies, standards and guidelines for the
prevention and control of infectious diseases;
2.
To develop plans, programs and projects to carry out
preventive and control strategies against infectious diseases;
3.
To assist and strengthens capacity to measure and analyze the
burden of infectious diseases;
4.
To provide monitoring and evaluation schemes to measure of
interventions in the prevention and control of infectious
diseases:
5.
To provide technical assistance and expert services to
collaborating and implementing agencies on matters pertaining to
the prevention and control of infectious diseases;
6.
To develop capability of health sector agencies and
organizations in the implementation of programs and projects
related to the prevention and control of infectious diseases;
7.
To promote coordination and collaboration with partner
agencies and organizations on matters pertaining to infectious
diseases;
8. To mobilize resources to assist collaborating and implementing
agencies and organizations.
All other divisions currently under the Disease Prevention and Control
Bureau of the Department of Health shall remain within the bureau,
which shall hereafter be renamed the Non-Communicable Disease
Prevention and Control Bureau.
7


SEC. 10. Epidemiology Bureau. - There shall be create the Epidemiology
Bureau with the following functions:
l. To develop and evaluate surveillance systems and other health
information systems
2.
To collect, analyze and disseminate reliable and timely
information on the health status
3.
To Investigate disease outbreaks and other threats to public
health
4.
To network public health laboratories in support of
epidemiological and surveillance activities
SEC. 11. Divisions of the Epidemiology Bureau. - There shall create the
divisions under the Epidemiology Bureau with the following functions:
1.
Applied Epidemiology Health Management Division
a.
Investigate and respond to epidemics and other urgent
public health threats as the need arises
b.
Develop and maintain field epidemiology training
programs for public health workers
c.
Develop, capture, filter, verify, assess, respond,
disseminate
and
evaluate
event­ based
surveillance
systems
d.
Collect
and
maintain
resource
materials
on
epidemiology, surveillance, management and monitoring
and evaluation in public health.
2.
Public Health Surveillance Division
a.
Undertake notifiable disease surveillance through
Philippine Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response.
3. Survey, Monitoring & Evaluation Division
a.
Provide statistical services to priority health programs of
the DOH
b.
Monitoring non-behavioral risk factors priority
non-communicable
diseases
through
globally
standardized survey
c.
Monitor HIV and AIDS Registry and Integrated HIV
Behavioral and Serologic Surveillance, size estimates and
Most At-Risk Population
d.
Provide program health indicators information
SEC. 12. Disease Emergency Management Bureau. - There shall be
created the Disease Emergency Management Bureau with the following
functions:
a)
Act as the DOH Coordinating unit and Operation Center for all
health emergencies and disasters, as well as incidents with the
potential
of
becoming
an
emergency,
and
coordinate
the
mobilization and sharing of resources.
8


b) Provide the communication linkage among DOH Central
Office and other concerned agencies, including the hospitals
and the regions, during emergencies and disasters.
c)
Maintain updated information of all health emergencies and
disasters (except
epidemiological
investigation
reports)
and
provide
such
information to other offices and agencies in accordance with
existing protocols.
d) Maintain a database of all health emergency personnel,
technical experts, and resource speakers. Together with the
National Center for Health Facilities
Development (NCHFD), the DEMB shall maintain a database of
capabilities of health facilities.
e) Lead in the development of Disaster Risk Reduction &
Management in Health (DRRMH) Plan and the development
of protocols, guidelines and standards for health emergency
management.
f)
Provide technical assistance in the development of programs
and planning activities for HEM for other government and
non-government organizations.
g)
Lead advocacy activities, including simulation exercises.
h) Develop and implements an Integrated Human Resource
Training Agenda for the Health Sector for emergencies and
disasters.
i)
Lead in the networking of hospitals and health sector
organizations responding to emergencies and disasters.
j)
Monitor and evacuate the enforcement of compliance to
policies, and recommend the formulation or amendment of
policies related to health emergency management.
SEC. 13. Divisions of the Disease Emergency Management Bureau. -
There shall be create the divisions under the Disease Emergency
Management Bureau with the following functions:
1.
Prevention, Mitigation & Preparedness Division
a) Develop, disseminates, and monitors the implementation of
policies for health emergency preparedness.
b) Develop
standardized
training
modules
for
various
stakeholders on health emergency
c)
Develop, disseminate and update emergency preparedness
programs
d) Develop
policy-related
and
operational
researches
and
documentation relevant to health emergency preparedness
that
will
serve
as
inputs
for
policy
development
and
program/systems improvement.
e) Develop well-performing managerial human resources for
health emergency management
f) Provide technical assistance to ensure the availability of
functional health emergency preparedness systems (including
policies, planning and capability building activities) at all
levels of the health sector.
9


g) Provide technical assistance to ensure delivery of appropriate
services in time of emergencies.
h) Develop
and
implement
an
overall
Monitoring
and
Evaluation
System
and
Plan
for
health
emergency
management
i)
Lead in public information and awareness-raising activities
2.
Response, Recovery & Rehabilitation Division
a) Mobilize resource of technical experts, health response teams
and tangible logistics needed locally and internationally.
b) Manage
information
through
rapid
health
assessment,
damage assessment and needs analysis in response, recovery
and rehabilitation phases.
c) Plan and develop policies and guidelines essential in the
implementation and management of projects, programs and
activities relevant to emergency and response, recovery and
rehabilitation. Develop and capacitate human resource of
regional offices, opera6on centers and local government units
in responding to emergencies.
d) Performance such other functions as may be necessary in
performing its functions as a health emergency response
division.
SEC. 14. Research Institute of Tropical Medicine. - The Center shall absorb
all functions and divisions under the Research Institute of Tropical
Medicine pursuant to Executive Order No. 674 as follows:
a)
To undertake research in the prevention, diagnosis and
treatment
of
tropical
diseases
of
public
health
importance and to produce vaccines for the control of
vaccine-preventable diseases.
b)
To engage and help formulate national health policy and
strategy,
conduct
research
efforts
directed
towards
the
development of new diagnostic techniques as well as effective
and efficient strategies for the control of infectious and/or
tropical diseases.
Generally, the Research Institute shall also:
a) Provide high quality tertiary care to both in-patients and
out-patients suffering from tropical diseases included within
the scope of the Institute's research activities.
b) Undertake research activities in the diagnosis, control and
prevention of tropical diseases that are major causes of
mortality and morbidity in the Philippines.
c)
Develop
cost
effective
strategies
for
the control of
infectious/tropical diseases.
d)
Conduct clinical trials according to accepted Good Clinical
Practice (GCP) guidelines, aimed at better understanding and
control of tropical diseases.
10


e) Conduct regular training courses for medical and paramedical
personnel in the control of common tropical diseases in the
country.
f)
Participate in the technical cooperation programs with foreign
government in research activities in the diagnosis, control and
prevention of tropical diseases.
CHAPTER III
REGULATIONS TO CONTROL COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Sec. 15. Promulgation and enforcement by the Secretary of Health. The
Secretary of Health upon the recommendation of the Executive Director,
is authorized to make and enforce such regulations as in his/her
judgment are necessary to prevent the introduction, transmission, or
spread of communicable diseases from foreign countries into the
Philippines or its territory. For purposes of carrying out and enforcing
such regulations, the Secretary of Health, or the Executive Director upon
delegation by the Secretary of Health, may provide for such inspection,
fumigation, disinfection, sanitation, pest extermination, destruction of
animals or articles found to be so infected or contaminated as to be
sources of dangerous infection to human beings, and other measures, as
in his/her judgment may be necessary.
Sec. 16. Apprehension, detention, or conditional release of individuals.
Regulations prescribed under this Chapter shall not provide for the
apprehension, detention, or conditional release of individuals except for
the purpose of preventing the introduction, trans mission, or spread of
such communicable diseases as may be specified from time to time in
Executive orders of the President upon the recommendation of the
Secretary of Health and/or the Executive Director.
Sec. 17. Application of regulations to persons entering from foreign
countries. Except as specifically provided by law, regulation prescribed
under this section, insofar as they provide for the apprehension,
detention, examination, or conditional release of individuals, shall be
applicable only to individuals coming into Philippine territory from a
foreign country or a possession.
Sec. 18. Apprehension and examination of persons reasonably believed
to be infected.
(1)
Regulations prescribed under this Chapter may provide for the
apprehension and examination of any individual reasonably believed to
be infected with a communicable disease in a qualifying stage and (A) to
be moving or about to move within the Philippines; or (B) to be a
probable source of infection to individuals who, while infected with such
disease in a qualifying stage, will be moving within the Philippines. Such
regulations may provide that if upon examination any such individual is
11


found to be infected, he may be detained for such time and in such
manner as may be reasonably necessary.
(2) For purposes of this Section, the term "qualifying stage", with respect
to a communicable disease, means that such disease- (A) is in a
communicable stage; or (B) is in a precommunicable stage, if the disease
would be likely to cause a public health emergency if transmitted to
other individuals
Sec. 19. Suspension of entries and imports from designated places to
prevent spread of communicable diseases. Whenever the Executive
Director determines that by reason of the existence of any communicable
disease in a foreign country there is serious danger of the introduction of
such disease into the Philippines, and that this danger is so increased by
the introduction of persons or property from such country that a
suspension of the right to introduce such persons and property is
required in the interest of the public health, the Secretary of health, upon
the recommendation of the Executive Director, in accordance with
regulations approved by the President shall have the power to prohibit,
in whole or in part, the introduction of persons and property from such
countries or places as he shall designate in order to avert such danger,
and for such period of time as he may deem necessary for such purpose.
Sec. 20. Special quarantine powers ill time of war. To protect the
military and naval forces and war workers of the Philippines, in time of
war, against any communicable disease, the President, in consultation
with the Secretary of Health and the Executive Director, is authorized to
provide by regulations for the apprehension and examination, in time of
war, of any individual reasonably believed (1) to be infected with such
disease and (2) to be a probable source of infection to members of the
armed forces of the Philippines or to individuals engaged in the
production or transportation of arms, munitions, ships, food, clothing, or
other supplies for the armed forces. Such regulations may provide that if
upon examination any such individual is found to be so infected, he may
be detained for such time and in such manner as may be reasonably
necessary.
Sec. 21. Quarantine regulations governing civil air navigation and civil
aircraft. The Executive Director and the Secretary of Health are jointly
authorized to provide by regulations for the application to air navigation
and aircraft of any of the provisions of sections 12 and 13 of this Act and
regulations prescribed thereunder (including penalties and forfeitures
for violations of such sections and regulations), to such extent and upon
such conditions as they deem necessary for the safeguarding of the
public health.
Sec. 22 Penalties. Any person who violates any regulation prescribed
under this Chapter, or who enters or departs from the limits of any
quarantine station, ground, or anchorage in disregard of quarantine
rules and regulations or without permission of the quarantine officer in
charge, shall be punished by a fine of not more than Five Million Pesos
12


(Php5,000.000.00) or by imprisonment for not more than two years, or
both.
Sec. 23. Administration of oaths by quarantine officers. Medical officers,
when performing duties as quarantine officers at any port or place
within
the
Philippines,
are
authorized
to
take
declarations
and
administer oaths in matters pertaining to the administration of the
quarantine Jaws and regulations of the Philippines.
CHAPTER IV
MANAGEMENT OF SUDDEN ON SET HEALTH EMERGENCIES
Sec. 24. Health Emergency Coordination Council (HECC). - There shall
be
created
a
Health
Emergency
Coordinating
Council
(HECC),
hereinafter referred to as the Council, composed of the following:
a.
Secretary of Health as Chairperson;
b. The Executive Secretary as Co-Chairperson;
c.
The Executive Director of the CDCP as Secretary;
d. The Secretary of Foreign Affairs as Member;
e.
The Secretary of National Defense as NDRRMC
Chairman as Member;
f The Secretary of Interior and Local Government as Member;
g. The Secretary of Justice as Member;
h. The Secretary of Budget and Management as Member;
1.  The Secretary of Trade and Industry as Member;
J.   The Secretary of Agriculture as Member;
k.
The Press Secretary as Member;
I.
The National Security Adviser as Member.
m. The Chairman of the Philippine Red Cross as Member;
n. The Executive Director of the Philippine Council for
Health Research and Development as Member; and
o. The President of PhilHealth as Member.
Other government agencies not under the authority or jurisdiction of the
standing members of the Council may be included should their
inclusion be determined by the Council as necessary.
The Center shall act as Secretariat of the HECC.
The HECC shall meet at least once every quarter, and shall meet as often
as recommended by the Executive Director. Upon the motion of the
Executive Director, it shall be the duty of the HECC to declare a state of
health emergency upon a vote of the majority of its members. Only the
council may declare a state of health emergency which may be national,
or local as defined.
SEC. 25. Authorization to use calamity funds. The declaration of a state
of health emergency shall serve as an authorization for covered local
13


government units (LGUs) to use their calamity funds in a manner duly
consulted with the CDC.
SEC. 26 Sudden Onset Health Emergency Management Plan. - A Sudden
Onset
Health
Emergency
Management
Plan
(SORE.MP)
shall
be
formulated by the Council, as supported by the CDC, within six (6)
months after the effectivity of this Act. The SOHEMP shall serve as the
framework
for
the
government's
response
to
any
public
health
emergency. It shall set out goals and specific objectives to detect, prevent
the spread, contain and manage public health emergencies resulting
from an outbreak of highly contagious and/or infectious diseases, and
biological or biochemical disaster.
SEC. 27. Emergency Powers during a sudden onset health outbreak. - The
council may certify to the existence of a state of health emergency during
a sudden onset health outbreak. The basis for such a declaration shall be
made public by the Council through the mass and social media and a
written report shall be submitted to both Houses of Congress. The
declaration shall take effect for a period of sixty (60) days, unless
extended or terminated earlier by the President, upon recommendation
by the Secretary of Health.
SEC. 28 Health Care Facilities and Services During a Sudden Onset
Health Outbreak. - During the period of a Sudden Onset Health
Outbreak, the Council may, within reasonable and necessary grounds for
emergency response to a public health emergency, require privately­
owned health care facilities to provide services or the use of their
facilities.
SEC. 29. Dangerous Facilities and Materials. - During the State of
Health Emergency, the Council may exercise, in coordination with
national
government
agencies,
local
governments,
and
other
organizations responsible for the implementation of the SOHEMP, the
following powers over facilities or materials that may be considered
dangerous due to contamination or exposure to chemical, nuclear or
biological agents or infectious disease pathogen,
To close, direct and compel the evacuation of, or to decontaminate or
cause to be decontaminated, any facility of which there is reasonable
cause to believe that it may endanger the public health; and
To decontaminate or cause to be decontaminated, any material of which
there is reasonable cause to believe that it may endanger the public
health.
SEC. 30. Control of Pharmaceutical Agents or Medical Supplies. - After
the declaration of a State of Public Health Emergency, the Council may
authorize concerned agencies to purchase, store or distribute anti-toxins,
14


serums,
vaccine,
immunizing
agents,
antibiotics,
and
other
pharmaceutical agents or medical supplies that it considers advisable in
the interest of preparing for or controlling a public health emergency,
with the right to take immediate possession thereof.
if a State of Public Health Emergency results in a nationwide or regional
shortage or threatened shortage of any product covered by the preceding
paragraph, the Council may control, restrict, and regulate by rationing
and using quotas, prohibitions on shipments, price fixing, allocation or
other means, the use, sale, trading, distribution, or transportation of the
relevant product necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of
the people.
SEC. 31. Sudden Onset Health Hazards and Emergencies Management
Service. There shall be created, within the CDC, a Sudden Onset Health
Hazards and Emergencies Management Service (SOHHEMS), under the
DEMB, which shall perform the following functions:
a. Oversee on-the-ground operations of the CDC in the event
of a public health emergency;
b.
Assess and improve the readiness of health facilities for a
public health emergency;
c.
Develop a National Epidemic and Rapid Onset Emergency
Response plan, and assist local governments in fonnula6ng
their local public health emergency response plans;
d. Capacitate
government
instrumentalities
and
private
organizations in on-the-ground response to public health
emergencies;
e.
Coordinate
the
logistical
requirements
of
delivering
national government assistance to local governments in
case of a public health emergency;
f.
Operate a national health emergency hotline;
g. Serve as a central receiving center for relevant information
during a health emergency;
h.
Oversee the National Health Emergency Response Unit
(NHERU);
i.
Perform such other functions as may be delegated by the
Secretary of Health, or as may be needed to perform its role
as the coordination body for ground operations during a
public health emergency.
SEC. 32. National Health Emergency Response Unit There shall be
created a National Health Emergency Response Unit to perform the
following functions:
a.
Execute, in coordination with relevant law enforcement
authorities,
orders
for
seizure,
surveillance,
search,
and
disposal issued by the President, the Secretary of Health, the C
DC, or the HECC;
15


b. Act as the first-response unit of the SOHHEMS during a public health
emergency;
c.
Conduct investigative and intelligence gathering activities as
ordered by the CDC or by the Secretary of Health;
d.
Verify reports of cases of serious infectious diseases, the
presence of serious amounts of biohazards; and such other
reports whose verification is in the interest of protecting public
health;
e.
Perform such other functions as may be inherent in its role as
the first-response unit of the PHEMS, or as may be assigned by
the Secretary of Health and/or the CDC Executive Director.
Due to the nature of their duties, frontline personnel of the NHERU shall
be entitled to hazard pay. The Department of Budget and Management
shall formulate and promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for
the implementation of this paragraph.
SEC. 33. Right to information during a sudden onset health outbreak -
The Secretary of Health shall make publicly available information which
he/she deems essential to preserving the health and safety of the public.
During a sudden onset health outbreak, the right to vital information
shall take precedence over the right to privacy.
SEC. 34. Special supervision over the Bureau of Quarantine - During a sudden
onset health outbreak, or as may be mandated by the Secretary of Health in
the interest of preventing an outbreak, the Bureau of Quarantine shall report
directly to the Executive Director of the CDC. The Bureau of Quarantine
shall at all times practice full transparency with the Executive Director of the
CDC. The CDC shall have full access to information in the possession of the
Bureau of Quarantine.
SEC. 35 Safe disposal of infectious waste. The CDC may exercise, for
such period as the state of public health emergency exists, the following
powers regarding the safe disposal of infectious waste –
a.
Adopt measures. To adopt and enforce measures to provide for
the safe disposal of infectious waste as may be reasonable and
necessary to respond to the public health emergency. Such
measures may include, but are not limited to, the collection,
storage, handling, destruction, treatment, transportation and
disposal of infectious waste.
b.
Control of facilities. To require any business or facility
authorized to collect, store, handle, destroy, treat, transport,
and dispose of infectious waste under the law, and any
landfill business or other such property, to accept infectious
waste, or provide services or the use of the business, facility,
or property if such action is reasonable and necessary to
respond to the public health emergency as a condition of
licensure, authorization, or the ability to continue doing
business in the country as such a business or facility. The use
of the business, facility, or property may include transferring
the management and supervision of such business, facility, or
16


property to the CDC for a limited or unlimited period of time,
but shall not exceed the termination of the declaration of a
state of public health emergency.
c.
Use of facilities. To procure, by condemnation or otherwise,
any business or facility authorized to collect, store, handle,
destroy, treat, transport, and dispose of infectious waste under
the laws of the country and any landfill business or other such
property as may be reasonable and necessary to respond to the
public health emergency, with the right to take immediate
possession thereof.
d.
Identification. All bags, boxes, or other containers for
infectious waste shall be clearly identified as containing
infectious waste, and if known, the type of infectious waste.
SEC. 36. Safe disposal of human remains. The CDC may exercise, for
such period as the state of public health emergency exists, the following
powers regarding the safe disposal of human remains –
a.
Adopt measures. To adopt and enforce measures to provide for the
safe disposal of human remains as may be reasonable and
necessary to respond to the public health emergency. Such
measures may include, but are not limited to, the embalming,
burial, cremation, interment, disinterment, transportation, and
disposal of human remains.
b.
Possession. To take possession or control of any human
remains.
c.
Disposal. To order the disposal of any human remains of a
person who has died of a contagious disease through burial or
cremation within twenty-four (24) hours after death. To the
extent possible, religious, cultural, family, and individual
beliefs of the deceased person or his or her family shall be
considered when disposing of any human remains.
d. Control
of
facilities
to
require
any
business
or facility
authorized to embalm, bury, cremate, inter, disinter, transport,
and dispose of human remains under the laws of the country
to accept any human remains or provide the use of its business
or facility if such actions are reasonable and necessary to
respond to the public health emergency as a condition
licensure, authorization, or the ability to continue doing
business in the country as such a business or facility. The use
of the business or facility may include transferring the
management and supervision of such business or facility to
the CDC for a limited or unlimited period of time, but shall
not exceed the termination of the declaration of a state of
public health emergency.
e. Use of facilities. To procure, by condemnation or otherwise,
any business or facility authorized to embalm, bury, cremate,
inter, disinter, transport, and dispose of human remains under
the laws of the Philippines as may be reasonable and
necessary to respond to the public health emergency, with the
right to take immediate possession thereof.
17


f.
Labeling. Every human remains prior to disposal shall be
clearly labeled with all available information to identify the
decedent and the circumstances of death. Any human remains
of a deceased person with a contagious disease shall have an
external, clearly visible tag indicating that the human remains
is infected and, if known, the contagious disease.
g. Identification. Every person in charge of disposing of any
human remains shall maintain a written or electronic record of
each human remains and all available information to identify
the decedent and the circumstances of death and disposal. lf
human remains cannot be identified prior to disposal, a
qualified person shall, to the extent possible, take fingerprints
and photographs of the human remains, obtain identifying
dental in formation, and collect a DNA specimen.
All
information gathered under this paragraph shall be promptly
forwarded to the CDC.
SEC. 37 Other powers of control of health care supplies.
a.
Procurement. The CDC may purchase and distribute antitoxins,
serums, vaccines, immunizing agents, antibiotics, and other
pharmaceutical agents or medical supplies that it deems advisable
in the interest of preparing for or controlling a public health
emergency, without any additional legislative authorization.
b.
Rationing. If a state of public health emergency results in a national
or regional shortage or threatened shortage of any product under
(a), whether or not such product has been purchased by the public
health authority, the CDC may control, restrict, and regulate by
rationing and using quotas, prohibitions on shipments, allocation,
or
other
means, the use, sale, dispensing, distribution, or
transportation of the relevant product necessary to protect the
public health, safety, and welfare of the people.
c.
Priority. In making rationing or other supply and distribution
decisions, the CDC may give preference to health care
providers, disaster response personnel, and mortuary staff.
d. Distribution. During a state of public health emergency, the
CDC may procure, store, or distribute any anti-toxins, serums,
vaccines,
immunizing
agents,
antibiotics,
and
other
pharmaceutical agents or medical supplies located within the
country as may be reasonable and necessary to respond to the
public health emergency, with the right to take immediate
possession
thereof
If
a
public
health
emergency
simultaneously affects
more than one state, nothing in this Section shall be construed to
allow the public health authority to obtain anti-toxins, serums,
vaccines,
immunizing
agents,
antibiotics,
and
other
pharmaceutical agents or medical supplies for the primary
purpose of hoarding such items or preventing their fair and
equitable distribution among affected countries.
18


SEC. 38. Vaccination and treatment. During a state of public health
emergency, or a state of sudden onset health outbreak, the CDC may
exercise the following emergency powers over persons as necessary to
address the public health emergency:
a.
Vaccination. To vaccinate persons as protection against
infectious disease and to prevent the spread of contagious or
possibly
contagious
disease.
(1)
Vaccination
may
be
performed by any qualified person authorized to do so by the
CDC. (2) A vaccine to be administered must not be such as is
reasonably likely to lead to serious harm to the affected
individual. (3) To prevent the spread of contagious or possibly
contagious disease the CDC may isolate or quarantine,
pursuant to the provisions of this Act, persons who are unable
or unwilling for reasons of health, religion, or conscience to
undergo vaccination pursuant to this Section.
b.
Treatment. To treat persons exposed to or infected with
disease. (1) Treatment may be administered by any qualified
person authorized to do so by the CDC or DOH. (2) Treatment
must not be such as is reasonably likely to lead to serious
harm to the affected individual. (3) To prevent the spread of
contagious or possibly contagious disease the public health
authority may isolate or quarantine persons who are unable
or unwilling for reasons of health, religion, or conscience to
undergo treatment pursuant to this Section.
CHAPTER V
TRACKING OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES
SEC. 39. Reporting.
a. Illness
or
health
condition.
A
health
care
provider,
medico-legal, or medical examiner shall report all cases of
persons who harbor any illness or health condition that may
be potential causes of a public health emergency, including
emerging and re­emerging infections.
b. Pharmacists. 1n addition to the foregoing requirements for
health care providers, a pharmacist shall report any unusual or
increased prescription rates, unusual types of prescriptions, or
unusual trends in pharmacy visits that may be potential causes
of a public health emergency. Prescription-related events that
require a report include, but are not limited to-- (1) an unusual
increase in the number of prescriptions or over­ the-counter
pharmaceuticals to treat conditions that the CDC identifies
through regulations; (2) an unusual increase in the number of
prescriptions for antibiotics; and (3) any prescription that treats a
disease that is relatively uncommon or may be associated with
bioterrorism.
c. Manner of reporting. The report shall be made electronically
or in ·writing within twenty-four (24) to the Department of
Health or through the CDC. The report shall include as much
of the following information as is available: the specific
19


illness or health condition that is the subject of the report; the
patient's name, date of birth, sex, race, occupation, and
current
home and work addresses (including city and
province); the name and address of the health care provider,
coroner, or medical examiner and of the reporting individual,
if different; and any other information needed to locate the
patient for follow-up. For cases related to animal or insect
bites, the suspected locating information of the biting animal
or insect, and the name and address of any known owner,
shall be reported.
d. Animal
diseases.
Every
veterinarian,
livestock
owner,
veterinary diagnostic laboratory director, or other person
having the care of animals shall report animals having or
suspected of having any diseases that may be potential
causes of a public health emergency. The report shall be
made electronically or in writing within twenty­ four (24)
hours to the DOH or the CDC and shall include as much of
the following information as is available: the specific illness
or health condition that is the subject of the report; the
suspected locating information of the animal, the name and
address of any known owner, and the name and address of
the reporting individual.
e. Laboratories. For the purposes of this Section, the definition
of "health care provider" shall include medical laboratories,
provided that such laboratories have agreed to the reporting
requirements of the country. Results must be reported by the
laboratory that performs the test, but a local laboratory that
sends specimens to a laboratory abroad is also responsible for
reporting results.
f.
Enforcement. The CDC may enforce the provisions of this
Section in accordance with existing enforcement rules and
regulations.
SEC. 40. Tracking. The CDC shall ascertain the existence of cases of an
illness or health condition that may be potential causes of a public health
emergency; investigate all such cases for sources of infection and to
ensure that they are subject to proper control measures; and define the
distribution of the illness or health condition. To fulfill these duties, the
CDC shall identify exposed individuals as follows-
a.
Identification of individuals. Acting on information
developed in accordance with Section 34 of this Act, or other
reliable information, the CDC shall identify all individuals
thought to have been exposed to an illness or health condition
that may be a potential cause of a public health emergency.
b.
Interviewing of individuals. The CDC shall counsel and
interview such individuals where needed to assist in the
positive identification of exposed individuals and develop
information relating to the source and spread of the illness or
health condition. Such information includes the name and
address (including city and province) of any person from
whom
the
illness
or
health
condition
may
have
been
20


contracted and to whom the illness or health condition may
have spread.
c.
Examination of facilities or materials. The CDC shall, for
examination purposes, close, evacuate, or decontaminate any
facility or decontaminate or destroy any material when the
authority reasonably suspects that such facility or material
may endanger the public health.
d.
Enforcement. The CDC may enforce the provisions of this
Section in accordance with existing enforcement rules and
regulations. An order of the CDC given to effectuate the
purposes of this Section shall be enforceable immediately.
SEC. 41. Information sharing.
a.
Whenever the CDC or other government agency learns of a
case of a reportable illness or health condition, an unusual
cluster, or a suspicious event that may be the cause of a
public health emergency, it shall immediately notify the
SOHECC and its members.
b. Whenever the CDC learns of a case of a reportable illness or
health condition, an unusual cluster, or a suspicious event
that it reasonably believes has the potential to be caused by
bioterrorism,
it
shall
immediately
notify
public
safety
authorities.
c.
Sharing of information on reportable illnesses, health
conditions, unusual clusters, or suspicious events between
public health and safety authorities shall be restricted to the
information
necessary
for
the
treatment,
control,
investigation, and prevention of a public health emergency.
SEC. 42. Intergovernmental information sharing. The Secretary of
Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of Health are jointly mandated to
review and recommend to the SOHECC multilateral and bilateral
agreements
which
the
country
may
adopt
to
strengthen
its
information-sharing mechanisms with other countries.
CHAPTER VI
OTHER PROVISIONS
Sec. 43. Congressional Oversight Committee on Communicable Disease
Control and Prevention - To monitor the implementation of this Act,
there shall be a Congressional Oversight Committee on Communicable
Disease Control and Prevention, composed of the Chair and four other
members of the House Committee on Health, and the Chair and four
other members of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.
No part of this Act shall be construed as to limit the oversight powers
inherently or actually possessed by the same committees.
Sec. 44. Appropriations. In addition to the appropriations for the units
subsumed in the Center under this Act, there shall be appropriated a
sum of Fifty Million Pesos (Php50,000.000.00) for the implementation of
this Act, including the operations of the Center. Provided, that such
appropriation shall apply only when this Act is passed before the
21


Center
could
be
given
appropriations
under
the
General
Appropriations Act for the nearest upcoming year.
Sec. 45. Staffing. - The Secretary of Health, in consultation with the
Department of Budget and Management (DBM), shall determine the
organizational structures including regional or field offices, qualification
standards, staffing pattern and compensation of the newly created
Center in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations.
Sec. 46. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Secretary of Health
shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations within ninety (90)
working days from the effectivity of this Act.
Sec.47. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is
subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions
hereof which are not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
Sec. 48. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, acts, presidential decrees,
executive
orders,
presidential
proclamations, issuances, rules and
regulations, or parts thereof which are contrary to or inconsistent with
any of the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or
modified accordingly.
Sec. 49. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.
Approved.
22