Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____________ 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by Representative 
BRIAN DANIEL POE LLAMANZARES, PhD, MNSA 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT STRENGTHENING AND RATIONALIZING THE REGULATORY CAPACITY 
OF THE BUREAU OF QUARANTINE (BOQ), REORGANIZING AND RENAMING IT 
TO PHILIPPINE QUARANTINE AUTHORITY (PQA), REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT 
9271 (RA 9271), AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The State is mandated under Article II, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution to “protect 
and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.” In 
furtherance of this constitutional duty, it is imperative to strengthen and modernize the country’s 
quarantine system in order to effectively safeguard public health and national security. 
The Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), created under Republic Act No. 9271 or the 
“Quarantine Act of 2004”, has served as the principal agency responsible for preventing the 
entry and spread of infectious diseases and other public health threats through the regulation of 
ports of entry and exit. However, the evolving landscape of public health emergencies—such as 
the COVID-19 pandemic and the rising threats of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, 
as well as hazards brought about by chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and 
environmental agents has underscored the limitations of the existing structure and mandate of the 
BOQ. 
This proposed measure seeks to reorganize and strengthen the Bureau of Quarantine by 
establishing the Philippine Quarantine Authority (PQA) as a first-class line agency under the 
1 
September 8, 2025
5:07 pm
4427


Department of Health. The PQA shall be vested with enhanced regulatory powers and 
institutional capacity to effectively prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats and 
emergencies. It will exercise authority over quarantine stations nationwide, regulate and inspect 
incoming and outgoing vessels and aircrafts, and implement surveillance and preventive 
measures to secure the country’s borders against potential health threats. The bill further 
empowers the PQA to establish, manage, and, when necessary, close or reorganize quarantine 
facilities and stations, to issue and enforce rules and regulations aligned with the International 
Health Regulations of the World Health Organization, and to impose both criminal and 
administrative penalties for violations of quarantine laws. 
The measure also provides the PQA with mechanisms for fiscal autonomy through the 
retention and utilization of a portion of its income to augment operational requirements. 
Moreover, it ensures the security of tenure of existing employees of the Bureau of Quarantine by 
mandating their absorption into the PQA, thereby strengthening institutional continuity while 
professionalizing and upgrading its organizational capacity. 
Through these reforms, the PQA shall be equipped to respond with greater efficiency, 
speed, and authority to public health emergencies, thereby ensuring the protection of Filipinos 
and strengthening the country’s compliance with international health standards. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. BRIAN DANIEL POE LLAMANZARES, PhD, MNSA 
Representative 
FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-List 
2 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____________ 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by Representative 
BRIAN DANIEL POE LLAMANZARES, PhD, MNSA 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT STRENGTHENING AND RATIONALIZING THE REGULATORY CAPACITY 
OF THE BUREAU OF QUARANTINE (BOQ), REORGANIZING AND RENAMING IT 
TO PHILIPPINE QUARANTINE AUTHORITY (PQA), REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT 
9271 (RA 9271), AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Quarantine 
Authority Act of 2025". 
SECTION 2. Office of the Director General. - The Bureau of Quarantine is hereby 
reorganized and renamed as the Philippine Quarantine Authority (PQA) which shall be headed 
by a Director General. 
SECTION 3. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to improve the 
delivery of health care services to the people, and to protect the people from public health threats 
during public health emergencies through the efficient and effective response system for 
emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, diseases for elimination and eradication, 
epidemics, and health events, including chemical, biological, radio-nuclear and environmental 
agents of public health concern. Pursuant to this policy, the State must enhance the regulatory 
3 
4427


policy to strengthen its capability with regard to the inspection, surveillance, apprehension, and 
detention of any public health threats. 
SECTION 4. The Director General and Other Officers of PQA. - The following are the 
officers of PQA and their qualifications: 
a.​ The PQA shall be headed by a Director General, with the rank of Undersecretary, 
who must be a Doctor of Medicine, preferably with a relevant master's degree in 
public health. In addition, he or she shall have management experience in his or 
her field or discipline or profession and in any development, surveillance, or 
regulatory work as covered in this Act. 
b.​ The Director General shall be assisted by two (2) Deputy Director Generals, one 
(1) for Field Regulatory Operations and another for Administration and Finance. 
c.​ The Director General and Deputy Director Generals shall be appointed by the 
President of the Republic of the Philippines upon recommendation of the 
Secretary of Health. 
d.​ The Deputy Director General for Field Regulatory Operations of the PQA, with 
the rank of Assistant Secretary, must be a Doctor of Medicine, preferably with a 
relevant master's degree in public health. In addition, he or she shall have 
management experience in his or her field or discipline or profession and in any 
development, surveillance, or regulatory work as covered in this Act. 
e.​ The Deputy Director General for Administration and Finance of the PQA, with 
the rank of Assistant Secretary, shall be a lawyer, certified public accountant or 
shall possess a master's degree in accounting, management, economics or any 
business course, and have management experience in a position related to his or 
her field of discipline or profession. 
f.​ fEach field operation cluster and finance and administrative cluster shall be 
headed by a Director who shall be assisted by an assistant director. These 
directors shall be appointed by the Director General, upon the recommendation of 
the Deputy Director Generals. 
g.​ The existing Directors and Division Chiefs shall be given preference in the 
appointment as Deputy Director General, provided that if the current officers of 
the PQA applying for the above positions lack the required third level civil 
service eligibility, they will have to comply with the said requirement within three 
(3) years from the appointment, otherwise their appointment shall be revoked 
immediately. 
h.​ The Director General shall control, direct and manage all quarantine stations, 
grounds, anchorages and designate their boundaries. With the approval of the 
Secretary of Health, he shall establish such additional quarantine stations, grounds 
and anchorages. The Director General, in the same manner, may also order the 
closure of non-functional quarantine stations, grounds and anchorages. 
4 


i.​ The Director General has the authority to appoint personnel from assistant 
director and below, as deemed necessary, subject to the requirements and 
guidelines provided by law. 
SECTION 5. Powers and/functions of the PQA. - The PQA shall, in carrying out the 
purposes for which it is created, have the following powers and functions: 
a.​ Examination, at points of entry and exit in the Philippines, of incoming and 
outgoing vessels and aircrafts, the necessary surveillance over their sanitary 
conditions, as well as over their cargoes, passengers, crews, and all personal 
effects, and the issuance of quarantine certificates, bills of health, or other 
equivalent documents; 
b.​ Examination of interisland ports of entry and exit in the Philippines of incoming 
and outgoing vessels and aircrafts, their sanitary conditions, and the necessary 
surveillance on passengers and crew. In the event of quarantine certificates, bills 
of threat, examination over their cargoes, all personal effects, the issuance of 
quarantine  certificates,  bills  of  health,  or  other equivalent documents​ shall​
be vested m and be conducted by the PQA; 
c.​ Authority over incoming and outgoing vessels and aircrafts, both domestic and 
foreign, private and government-owned, including those of the armed forces, for 
the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this Act; 
d.​ Authority over quarantine stations nationwide; 
e.​ Authority over designated national quarantine facilities for international travelers; 
f.​ Grant, within its capabilities and consistent with its mandate, request for 
assistance of other government agencies in the performance of their functions; 
g.​ Detain and hold all passengers, vessels, aircrafts, and cargoes for the purpose of 
preventing the introduction, transmission or spread of infectious diseases, 
emerging diseases and public health emergencies of international concern; and 
h.​ Perform such other powers that may be necessary in the attainment of the 
objectives of this Act. 
SECTION 6. Authority to Promulgate and Enforce Rules and Regulations. - 
a.​ The Director General with the approval of the Secretary of Health, is authorized 
to promulgate and enforce rules and regulations as in his judgment are necessary 
to prevent the introduction, transmission or spread of "public health emergencies 
of international concern" from foreign countries into the Philippines or from one 
(1) domestic seaport/airport to another. 
b.​ For purposes of implementing these regulations, the Director General may 
provide intervention strategies such as health education and advisories, 
inspections, fumigation, disinfection, pest extermination, vaccination for 
5 


international travel, medical examination of aliens/foreigners for immigration 
purposes 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 such as veterinary quarantine, plant 
quarantine, etc. and other measures as in his judgment may be necessary. 
c.​ Regulations prescribed under this section shall provide for the apprehension, 
detention or surveillance for the purpose of preventing the introduction, 
transmission or spread of such public health emergencies of international concern 
as may be specified from time to time in Department Orders by the Secretary of 
Health upon the recommendation of the international health surveillance. 
d.​ Whenever it is deemed necessary for the protection of the public health of the 
nation from public health emergencies of international concern, immunization and 
other preventable measures against these diseases shall be mandatory on all 
persons arriving at any seaport/airport of entry in the Philippines. 
e.​ The Secretary of Health, upon the recommendation of the Director General, may 
prescribe examination of any individual believed to be infected with a disease of 
international concern on board vessels and aircraft entering any seaport or airport 
in the Philippines. Such rules and regulations may provide that if upon 
examination, any such individual is found to be infected or has been exposed to 
infection considered as dangerous contact, he may be isolated aboard a vessel, in 
a hospital with facilities for infectious diseases, at a quarantine station, or at any 
isolation facility, and in such a manner as may be proscribed by the said 
regulations. 
SECTION 7. Duties of the PQA. - The PQA, with the category ofa first-class line agency 
under the Department of Health, shall perform the following duties: 
a.​ Implement the country's international commitment, to advance health security 
capacity, in accordance with the International Health Regulations (IHR) of the 
World Health Organization (WHO); 
b.​ Conduct surveillance, apprehension, and detention of any individuals and goods 
considered as imminent public health threat; 
c.​ Conduct vector management of wharfage, seaport, and airport terminals, 
including the areas within the 400- meter controlled perimeter; 
d.​ Issuance of permits and certificates to food service establishments and service 
provider for food and water supplies at seaport and airport terminals and inside 
perimeter; 
e.​ Uphold preventive care to travelers by formulating policies and guidelines on core 
components of travel medicine and code of ethical practice of travel medicine in 
the country; and 
f.​ Establish and maintain quarantine facilities nationwide. 
6 


SECTION 8. Quarantine Documentary Requirements and Bills of Health. - 
a.​ All vessels or aircraft from foreign ports arriving at any port of the Philippines 
shall be required to submit the required maritime declaration of health and general 
declaration and other documents as prescribed by the regulations. 
b.​ All ocean-going vessels or international aircraft from foreign seaports or airports 
calling at any seaport or airport in the Philippines to disembark its passengers or 
discharge its cargo, or for other purposes must secure a quarantine clearance in 
compliance with the health regulations. This quarantine certificate or clearance 
(Pratique) shall be a prerequisite to customs clearance. 
c.​ After compliance with the quarantine laws and regulations, all vessels or aircraft 
leaving any seaport or airport of the Philippines shall secure quarantine outgoing 
clearance. This certificate or clearance shall also be a prerequisite to customs 
clearance of outgoing vessels and aircraft. 
d.​ Subject to quarantine laws and regulations, all vessels or aircraft entering and 
leaving any domestic seaport or airport of the Philippines shall secure quarantine 
documents during outbreak or regional public health emergency. 
e.​ Subject to quarantine laws and regulations, during an outbreak or national public 
health emergency, for local and international travel, individuals shall secure 
applicable bills of health. 
f.​ All immigrant visa applicants, student visa applicants, pre-arranged employment 
visa applicants, visa applicants obviously afflicted with Class A condition and 
tourist visa applicants from selected countries based on WHO Guidelines, shall, 
as a pre-requisite to the issuance of their respective visa by the Bureau of 
Immigration, secure a Quarantine Clearance from the PQA and no visa shall be 
issued by the Bureau of Immigration, to the aforementioned applicants, without 
the required Quarantine Clearance from the PQA. 
g.​ Such other documents which may be required by WHO and other international 
and national regulatory bodies relating to the purposes of this Act. 
SECTION 9. Prohibition of Entry of Hazardous Cargo and Materials - Whenever the 
Director General determines that there is an existence of any public health emergency of 
international concern in a foreign country, and that there is imminent danger of the introduction 
of hazardous cargoes or materials into the Philippines, he/she, in coordination with the Bureau of 
Customs and other concerned agencies, may recommend to the President, through the Secretary 
of Health, the prohibition of its entry for public health interest. 
SECTION 10. Penalties. - 
a.​ Criminal liability of persons violating quarantine laws. 
7 


i.​
Whoever violates or refuses to comply with the provisions of this Act or 
whoever enters or departs from the limits of any quarantine stations, 
grounds or anchorages without prior compliance with the quarantine rules 
and regulations or without permission from the quarantine officer in 
charge, shall be punished by a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos 
(Php50,000.00) but not more than One Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos 
(Phpl50,000.00), or by imprisonment of not more than one (1) year, or 
both, at the discretion of the court. 
ii.​
If the act or omission penalized by this Act be committed by an 
association, partnership, corporation or any other institution, its managing 
head, directors or partners shall be liable to the penalties provided in this 
Act for the offense. 
iii.​
Criminal action arising from a violation of the provisions of this Act may 
be commenced by the PQA either under this Act, or in appropriate cases, 
under the Revised Penal Code. Provided, that such criminal action may be 
filed by the PQA in the city or municipality where the PQA Quarantine 
Station is located if the violation was committed within its territorial 
jurisdiction or in Metro Manila, at the option of the PQA. 
 
b.​ Administrative Penalties. 
i.​
The PQA shall, motu proprio or upon a complaint or charge by any 
individual, corporation, association, or organization, against any person, 
vessel or aircraft, or their agent, or any of its personnel who violated the 
provisions of this Act, its Implementing Rules and Regulations, terms and 
conditions, orders, instructions or rules and regulations of PQA, 
investigate and verify if such person vessel, aircraft, or their agent, or any 
of its personnel, is guilty of the charges or complaints. 
ii.​
Any person who violated or otherwise failed to comply with the terms and 
conditions, orders, instructions or rules and regulations of the PQA shall 
be subject to a fine of at least Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php50,000.00) but 
not exceeding One Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php150,000.00),  and  
the  PQA  is  hereby authorized and empowered to impose such fine, after 
due notice and hearing. 
iii.​
Any vessel or aircraft, or their agent, who violated or otherwise failed to 
comply with the terms and conditions, orders, instructions or rules and 
regulations of the PQA shall be subject to a fine of at least Five Hundred 
Thousand Pesos (Php500,000.00) but not exceeding One Million Five   
Hundred​
Thousand​
Pesos (Php1,500,000.00), and the PQA is 
hereby authorized and empowered to impose such a fine, after due notice 
and hearing. 
8 


iv.​
The fines so imposed shall be paid to the PQA, and failure to pay the fine 
in any case within the period specified in the order or decision of the PQA 
shall be deemed good and sufficient reason for withholding the operation 
of the vessel or aircraft, or their agent, until payment shall be made. 
Payment may also be enforced by appropriate action brought in a court of 
competent jurisdiction. The remedy provided in this section shall not be a 
bar to, or affect any other remedy provided in this Act but shall be 
cumulative and additional to such remedy or remedies. 
v.​
Implementation of the orders or decisions of the PQA may also be 
enforced by mandamus or injunction in appropriate cases, or by action to 
compel the specific performance of the orders or decisions so made, or of 
the duties imposed by this Act upon such person, vessel or aircraft, or their 
agent. 
SECTION 11. Fees and Other Incomes - 
a.​ There shall be determined and constituted additional fees such as sale of 
publications and services, assessment fees, fines, penalties, and other fees and 
charges outside the usual fees such as but not limited to vaccination, laboratory, 
quarantine permits; to be known as "other related regulatory fees". 
b.​ The Director General of the PQA, upon approval of the Secretary of Health, shall 
be authorized to promulgate rules and regulations governing the collection of the 
"other related regulatory fees". 
c.​ Upon the sole approval of the Secretary of Health, the authorization and other fees 
shall be reviewed by the PQA every three (3) years. 
SECTION 12. Authority to Utilize Income. - The PQA may be authorized by the 
President, through the Secretary of Health, to retain and/or use not less than fifty percent (50%) 
of its income generated subject to accounting and auditing rules and regulations. 
All such incomes allowed to be retained shall be deposited in an authorized government 
depository bank as a special regulatory fund. Any interest earned by such fund shall form part of 
the retained income. Such fund shall be used to augment the Maintenance and Other Operating 
Expenses (MOOE) and Capital Outlay requirements for existing items in the PQA's budget. 
SECTION 13. Absorption of Employees of Bureau of Quarantine. - The existing 
employees of the Bureau of Quarantine shall enjoy security of tenure and shall be absorbed by 
the PQA, in accordance with their staffing patterns as prescribed under the prevailing laws. 
SECTION 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the PQA shall, in consultation with other concerned government agencies 
9 


and private stakeholders, promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
implementation of this Act. 
SECTION 15. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of this 
Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations for the Bureau of Quarantine. 
Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous implementation of this Act shall be included 
in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA). The PQA shall include in its proposed budget 
the necessary amount to enable it to achieve its mandate of ensuring security against the 
introduction and spread of infectious diseases, emerging diseases and public health emergencies 
of international concern. 
SECTION 16. Separability Clause. - In the event any provision of this Act or the 
application of such provision to any person or circumstances is declared invalid, the remainder of 
this Act or the application of said provisions to other persons or circumstances shall not be 
affected by such declaration. 
SECTION 17. Repealing Clause. - This act explicitly repeals the Republic Act (R.A.) 
No. 9271, or the Quarantine Act of 2004. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations, memorandum orders, memorandum circulars, administrative orders, ordinances, and 
other issuances, or any part thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby revoked, 
amended, or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 18. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HON. BRIAN DANIEL POE LLAMANZARES, PhD, MNSA 
Representative 
FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-List 
10