NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. No. 12
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Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND 
PREVENTION, DEFINING ITS POWERS AMD FUNCTIONS, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Since the country recorded its first COVID-19 case on January 21, 2020, we 
have realized the importance of strengthening our healthcare system to protect every 
Filipino from existing and emerging health emergencies that pose a threat to their 
lives. One key lesson from this pandemic is the importance of being more prepared 
for other future crises, including other public health events. According to the Center 
for Global Development, there is a 47% to 57%chance of another global pandemic as 
deadly as COVID in the next 25 years.1
As the Chairperson of the Sub-Committee on Center for Disease Control, under 
the Committee on Health and Demography, the undersigned filed and sponsored 
Senate Bill No. 2505, under Committee Report No. 586, or the Philippine Center for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Act 6mnq the 18th Congress.
This bill, which is the output of the said sub-committee, particularly seeks to 
establish the CDC, an agency under the Department of Health, that will act as the 
technical authority on forecasting, preventing, controlling, and monitoring
1 Smitham, E., & Glassman, A. (2021, August 25). The next pandemic could come soon and be deadlier.
https://www.cgclev.org/blog/the-next-panciemic-could-come-soon-and-be-deacHier


communicable and non-communicable diseases in the country. Through this measure, 
we aim to adopt a framework that fosters a whole-of-system, whole-of-government, 
and whole-of-society approach that would streamline science-based decision-making, 
especially during public health emergencies. The CDC shall have different established 
centers that shall lead and coordinate the agency's major functions. These centers are 
as follows: (a) The Center for Health Statistics; (b) The Center for Surveillance and 
Epidemiology; (c) The Center for Health Evidence, and (d) The Center for Reference 
Laboratories.
As a party to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, it 
is our duty to ensure that the Philippines is on track with our targets under the 
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 on Good Health and Well­
being, which targets to strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular 
developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national 
and global health risks.
Now more than ever, we need to invest in our healthcare system to prepare us 
better for other possible health emergencies and to help us build a more sustainable 
future beyond COVID-19.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
PIA S. CAMpTANOAfl/


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 12
THE Q
DATE:
Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND 
PREVENTION, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
ARTICLE I
2 
TITLE AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES
3 
Section. 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Center for Disease
4 
Control and Pre vention (CDC) Act.
5 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to protect and
6 
promote the right to health of all Filipinos and instill health consciousness among them.
7 
Towards this end, the State shall adopt an integrated, comprehensive, and evidence-
8 
based approach that recognizes devolution of health care, consistent with the direction
9 
under Republic Act No. 11223, or the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act which integrates
10 
province- and city-wide health systems. It shall also adopt a framework that fosters a
11 
whole-of-system, whole-of-government, and whole-of-society approach, ensuring
12 
clear delineation of tasks between existing agencies and maximizes current mandates.
13 
The State shall also allot the necessary support and institutional resources to provide
14 
for an effective disease control and prevention program through a high-level public
15 
institution imbued with the capacity, competence, and authority to confront global and
16 
local public health risks.
17 
Sec. 3. Objectives. — The objectives of this Act are the following:
18 
(a) Protect the Filipino people from the impact of communicable and non-


1 
communicable diseases of public health importance;
2 
(b) Develop policies, plans, and protocols to improve on all Identified areas in the
3 
International Health Regulations (IHR) hazards;
4 
(c) Clarify governance, decision-making, and coordination processes and
5 
protocols related to forecasting, preventing, controlling, and monitoring
6 
diseases of public health importance;
7 
(d) Ensure swift, coordinated, and data-driven surveillance and response through
8 
Epidemiology and Surveillance Units (ESUs), public health laboratory systems,
9 
point of entries, and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) for
10 
Health system;
11 
(e) Maintain a pool of in-house experts that shall serve as the technical authority
12 
who will provide evidence-based guidance on standards, technologies, and
13 
analytics for epidemiology and disease control; and
14 
(f) Ensure the development and implementation of a shared risk and crisis
15 
communication plan with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and
16 
Drug Administration (FDA).
17 
ARTICLE II
18 
DEFINITION OF TERMS
19 
Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms shall
20 
mean:
21 
(a) Communicabie diseases - refer to infectious diseases or illnesses due to
22 
infectious agents or their toxic products, which may be transmitted from a
23 
reservoir to a susceptible host, either directly from an infected person or
24 
animal or indirectly through the agency of an intermediate plant or animal
25 
host, vector, or the inanimate environment, or coming from laboratories.
26 
(b) Disease - refers to an illness due to a specific toxic substance, occupational
27 
exposure or infectious agent, which affects a susceptible individual, either
28 
directly or indirectly, as from an infected animal or person, or indirectly
29 
through an intermediate host, vector, or the environment.
30 
(c) Disease control - refers to the reduction of disease incidence, prevalence,
31 
morbidity, or mortality to a locally acceptable level as a result of deliberate


1 
efforts and continued intervention measures to maintain the reduction.
2 
(d) Emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases (EREID) - refer to diseases that:
3 
(i) 
have not occurred in humans before;
4 
(ii) 
have occurred previously but affected only small numbers of people in
5 
isolated areas;
6 
(iii) are caused by previously undetected or unknown infectious agents;
7 
(iv) 
are due to mutant or resistant strains of a causative organism; or
8 
(v) 
once were major health problems in the country, and then declined
9 
dramatically, but are again becoming health problems for a significant
10 
proportion of the population.
11 
(e) Epidemic or outbreak - refers to an occurrence of more cases of disease
12 
normally expected within a specific place or group of people over a given
13 
period of time.
14 
(f) Epidemiological investigation - refers to an inquiry to the incidence,
15 
prevalence, extent, source, mode of transmission, causation of, and other
16 
information pertinent to a disease occurrence.
17 
(g) Epidemiology - refers to the study of the distribution and determinants of
18 
health-related states or events, including diseases, and the application of this
19 
study to the control of diseases and other health problems.
20 
(h) Public health event- refers to either a public health emergency or a public
21 
health threat due to biological, chemical, radio-nuclear, and environmental
22 
agents.
23 
(i) Non-communicable diseases - refer to chronic diseases or those which tend
24 
to be of long duration and are the result of a combination of genetic,
25 
physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors.
26 
(j) Notifiable disease - refers to a disease that, by legal requirements, must be
27 
reported to the public health authorities.
28 
(k) Public health emergency - refers to an occurrence or imminent threat of an
29 
illness or health condition that
30 
(i) Is caused by any of the following:
31 
(1) Bioterrorism;
32 
(2) The appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicated


1 
infectious agent or biological toxin;
2 
(3) A natural disaster;
3 
(4) A chemical attack or accidental release;
4 
(5) A nuclear attack or accident; or
5 
(6) An attack or accidental release of radioactive materials; and
6 
(ii) Poses a high probability of any of the following:
7 
(1) A large number of deaths in the affected population;
8 
(2) A large number of serious injuries or long-term disabilities in the
9 
affected population;
10 
(3) Widespread exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses
11 
a significant risk of substantial harm to a large number of people
12 
in the affected population;
13 
(4) International exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses
14 
a significant risk to the health of citizens of other countries; or
15 
(5) Trade and travel restrictions.
16 
(I) Public health laboratories - refer to laboratories that are responsible for
17 
providing timely and reliable diagnostic results primarily for disease
18 
prevention, control, surveillance, population-based interventions, outbreak
19 
emergency response, and performing core public health and environmental
20 
activities, including reference tests for diseases of public health importance.
21 
(m) Public health threat - refers to any situation or factor that may present a
22 
danger to the health of the people.
23 
(n) Quarantine - refers to the restriction of activities and/or separation from
24 
others of suspect persons who are not ill, or of suspect baggage, containers,
25 
conveyances, or goods, in such a manner as to prevent the possible spread
26 
of infection or contamination.
27 
(o) Response - refers to the implementation of specific activities to control the
28 
further spread of infection, outbreaks, or epidemics and prevent
29 
reoccurrence. It includes verification, contact tracing, rapid risk assessment,
30 
case measures, treatment of patients, risk communication, the conduct of
31 
prevention activities, and rehabilitation.


1 
ARTICLE III
2 
CREATION AND FUNCTIONS
3 
OF THE PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR DISEASE
4 
CONTROL AND PREVENTION
5 
Sec. 5. Creation of the Philippine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. —
6 
There is hereby established an agency to be known as the Philippine Center for
7 
Disease Control and Prevention, hereinafter referred to as "CDC." The CDC shall be
8 
an agency directly under the Office of the Secretary of the DOH.
9 
Sec. 6. Functions of the CDC — The CDC shall be the technical authority on
10 
forecasting, preventing, controlling, and monitoring communicable and non-
11 
communicable diseases whether domestic or international in origin. These functions
12 
include, but not be limited to, the following:
13 
(a) Policy and standards development;
14 
(b) Disease detection and surveillance;
15 
(c) Capacity building;
16 
(d) Data collection and analytics;
17 
(e) Public health communications; and
18 
(f) 
Research and evidence synthesis.
19 
The CDC shall perform such other functions as may be mandated by law or
20 
duly delegated by relevant authorities, as well as those that may be necessary or
21 
expedient for the performance of its functions under this Act.
22 
CDC shall submit annual detailed cost work plans relating to its functions to the
23 
Secretary of Health for approval.
24 
Sec. 7. Structure of the CDC —
25 
(a) The CDC shall have established centers that shall lead and coordinate the
26 
major functions of the CDC, especially during public health emergencies and
27 
disasters, and in this capacity, establish strategic linkages and partnerships
28 
to fulfill the stated functions. In line with their functions, each of the following
29 
centers shall be headed by a Director:
30 
(i) Center for Health Statistics. The Center for Health Statistics shall
31 
provide the national leadership in health statistics, data analytics, and
32 
health information systems management and shall be the counterpart


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office of the DOH on sectoral policy and planning, which shall include, 
but not be limited to, the following functions:
(1) Obtain health data and other relevant information from 
PhilHealth, in accordance with Section 31 of Republic Act 11233, 
otherwise known as the "Universal Health Care Act;"
(2) 
Develop policies and standards for integrated health statistics 
and data analytics;
(3) 
Design and develop health-related survey and surveillance 
research methodologies for national and sub-national levels;
(4) 
Design and collaborate with PhilHealth for interoperable 
electronic health information systems to collect extensive 
information at the individual level;
(5) 
Generate information from the health data provided by 
PhilHealth to guide research and policy-making;
(6) 
Manage and ensure the quality of health data collected, 
including but not be limited to epidemiological and service 
coverage data; and
(7) 
Regularly publish statistics for use by the general public and 
researchers.
(ii) Center for Surveillance and Epidemiology. The Center for Surveillance 
and Epidemiology will lead and execute a national public health 
surveillance strategy, which shall include, but not be limited to, the 
following functions:
(1) 
Develop policies and procedures in the conduct of surveillance 
and epidemiology (e.g., information transfer, models, forecasts, 
case definitions of diseases, syndromes, events, contact tracing, 
and other public health interventions related to epidemiology);
(2) 
Design and develop electronic health information systems to aid 
early warning and signal detection;
(3) 
Analyze data to determine patterns, identify risks, and areas to 
flag;
(4) Set the standards and the process for the establishment of


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ESUs, as required under Section 8 of Republic Act No. 11332 or 
also known as the "Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases 
and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act" and assist 
DOH-retained hospitals, local health facilities, and private 
hospitals and laboratories in establishing ESUs, and assess their 
performance; and
(5) Lead the training of field epidemiologists through the Philippine 
Fields Epidemiology Training Program.
(iii) Center for Health Evidence. The Center for Health Evidence shall be 
established to synthesize available evidence, and conduct high-quality 
health research to provide inputs in the development and evaluation 
of public health policy and programs for the prevention and control of 
diseases, which shall include, but not be limited to, the following 
functions:
(1) 
Lead and coordinate the generation of health research on the 
prevention and control of diseases;
(2) 
Oversee the development, adoption, and utilization of clinical 
practice guidelines as part of the National Practice Guidelines 
Program;
(3) Translate research evidence to knowledge products publications 
for public health policy and programs for the prevention and 
control of diseases;
(4) 
Conduct capability building and strengthening activities on 
evidence synthesis, health research, and disease control and 
management;
(5) 
Develop multi-sectoral systems and processes for evidence 
synthesis and health research for the prevention and control of 
diseases;
(6) 
Coordinate the formation, internal proceedings, and external 
relations of ad-hoc expert groups convened by DOH during 
public health emergencies; and
(7) Coordinate and lead the development of policies and programs


1 
on the prevention and control of communicable and non-
2 
communicable diseases.
3 
(iv) Center for Reference Laboratories. The Center for Reference
4 
Laboratories shall develop and provide the overall strategic direction,
5 
policies, programs, and plans in the development of the public health
6 
laboratories, which shall include, but not be limited to, the following
7 
functions:
8 
(1) Serve as the technical authority in developing laboratory safety
9 
and security standards, policies, plans, and measures to detect,
10 
prevent, and reduce the risk of any chemical, biological,
11 
environmental, and other threats of public health importance;
12 
(2) Evaluate the performance of public health and clinical
13 
laboratories by ensuring compliance with laboratory quality
14 
management system and quality assurance program;
15 
(3) Participate in the inter-agency international networks for
16 
laboratory response to uphold national security and prevent
17 
international threats;
18 
(4) Oversee the operations and lead the development of the
19 
network of Public Health Laboratories to ensure appropriate
20 
service delivery for responsive diagnostic surveillance under
21 
their catchment;
22 
(5) Develop and implement laboratory-related training programs
23 
across all Public Health Laboratories;
24 
(6) Ensure implementation of diagnostic surveillance of Public
25 
Health Laboratories; and
26 
(7) Maintain an integrated laboratory information system.
27 
(b) The CDC shall have an Administrative and Finance Office, which shall report
28 
to the Director General, as provided under Section 12 of this Act, and will be
29 
in-charge of the following functions, among others:
30 
(i) Human Resource Management;
31 
(ii) Property and Logistics Management;
32 
(iii) Assets and Financial Management; and
8


1 
(iv) Information and Communication Technology.
2 
(c) Additional offices may be created in accordance with the mandate of the CDC,
3 
upon the assessment and recommendation of the Director General, approval
4 
of the Secretary of Health, and the availability of funds.
5 
ARTICLE IV
6 
OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE,
7 
MANAGEMENT, AND STAFF OF THE CENTER
8 
Sec. 8. Coordination with Centers for Health Development and the Local
9 
Government Units. —
10 
(a) General Health. As an agency directly under the Office of the Secretary of the
11 
DOH, the CDC shall ensure effective surveillance and response by
12 
coordinating all efforts with established DOH Centers for Health Development
13 
(CHDs), national, regional, and province-wide Disaster Risk Reduction and
14 
Management Centers (DRRMCs), and Local Government Units. In addition,
15 
the CDC shall:
16 
(i) Govern and build country capacity through the DSOs and ensure the
17 
country trains sufficient epidemiologists; and
18 
(ii) Govern the National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) through the Center
19 
for Reference Laboratories while the DOH CHDs shall govern
20 
Subnational Reference Laboratories (SNLs) and RPHLs.
21 
(b) State of Public Health Emergency. During state of Public Health Emergencies
22 
all health personnel, including DSOs, SNLs, and those employed by the local
23 
government units, shall directly report to the CDC as necessary.
24 
For purposes of this Act, "disease surveillance" shall refer to the ongoing
25 
systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of outcome-specific
26 
data for use in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice
27 
in terms of epidemics, emergencies, and disasters. A disease surveillance system
28 
includes the functional capacity for data analysis as well as the timely dissemination
29 
of these data to persons who can undertake effective prevention and control activities.
30 
Sec. 9. Transfer of Agencies. —
31 
(a) Restructuring of Affected Offices and Units. The following offices shall be


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restructured to ensure that the CDC and DOH shall co-exist synergistically 
and facilitate full operations of the CDC within a two-year transition plan.
(i) 
The Epidemiology Bureau of the DOH shall be abolished, and its 
functions shall be shared between Centers for Health Statistics and 
Epidemiology and Surveillance.
(ii) 
The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) shall be 
transferred to the CDC.
(1) The RITM shall retain its research, training, development, and 
reference laboratory functions, with its hospital strengthened to 
be a specialized premier facility to support and sustain its 
mandates.
(2) The RITM Biologicals Manufacturing Division shall likewise be 
transferred with RITM to fulfill its training and research 
functions on Biologicals, as well as its manufacturing and 
vaccine storage function.
(iii) 
The Office for Health Laboratories (OHL) of the DOH, including the 
following public health laboratories, shall also be transferred to the 
CDC:
(1) 
All NRLs currently housed in RITM;
(2) 
NRL for Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) and SNL for 
EREID, currently housed in San Lazaro Hospital;
(3) 
NRL for environmental and occupational health, toxicology, 
micronutrient assay, and chemical emergencies currently 
housed in East Avenue Medical Center;
(4) 
NRL for heart diseases, and Anatomical Pathology for Cardiac 
disease currently housed in Philippine Heart Center;
(5) 
NRL for Hematology, Microscopy, and Anatomical Pathology for 
Renal and other unassigned organs, currently housed in 
National Kidney and Transplant Institute;
(6) 
NRL for Chemistry and Anatomic Pathology for Respiratory 
disease and SNL for EREID, currently housed in the Lung Center 
of the Philippines; and
10


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(7) Other designated SNL and RPHLs.
2 
(iv) The technical units of the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau of
3 
the DOH shall be abolished and its functions shall be absorbed in the
4 
Centers for Health Evidence, and the remaining shall be restructured
5 
into the Public Health Strategy and Management Bureau.
6 
(v) The Communications Management Unit (CMU) of the DOH to be
7 
institutionalized as shared service between DOH, FDA, and CDC with
8 
the following functions:
9 
(1) Develop corporate risk and crisis communication plans;
10 
(2) Manage and implement risk communication activities and
11 
initiatives, such as, but not be limited to development and
12 
issuance of information and education communication (lEC)
13 
materials, events, stakeholder meetings, and other media
14 
engagement activities;
15 
(3) Manage and activate crisis communication protocol for health
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risks and hazards, and institutional reputational risks;
17 
(4) Develop and implement corresponding capacity building
18 
activities in relation to corporate risk and crisis communications;
19 
(5) Perform internal communication functions within the institution;
20 
(6) Develop and facilitate the approval of communication materials
21 
and policies as aligned with the approved communication plans;
22 
(7) Manage different platforms of the institution for release of
23 
communication materials; and
24 
(8) Foster, maintain, and continuously build external partnerships
25 
and communication networks with public and private health
26 
institutions.
27 
(vi) Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service (KMITS)
28 
of the DOH shall restructure and rationalize its functions to eliminate
29 
or minimize overlaps and duplication with the standards and sectoral
30 
policy function of the Center for Health Statistics.
31 
(b) Transferor Material. The offices affected by the transfer of agencies shall also
32 
transfer applicable funds and appropriations, records, equipment, and
11


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property to the CDC subject to a two-year transition plan.
2 
(c) Personnel.
3 
(i) As a result of the reorganization under this Act, the DOH and the CDC
4 
shall absorb qualified employees, as needed, without diminution of
5 
their salaries and benefits: Provided, That those whose employment
6 
contracts are terminated may re-apply and must comply with the
7 
qualification standards under this Act.
8 
(ii) Affected employees who are not absorbed by the CDC shall have the
9 
option to transfer to other DOH units;
10 
(iii) Employees who opted to be separated from service within six (6)
11 
months from the effectivity of this Act shall receive separation benefits
12 
to which they may be entitled under Republic Act No. 6656: Provided,
13 
That those who are qualified to retire under existing retirement laws
14 
shall be allowed to retire and receive retirement benefits to which they
15 
may be entitled under applicable laws and issuances.
16 
(iv) All technical positions in CDC shall be considered as part of the
17 
scientific career position.
18 
Sec. 10. Structure and Staffing Pattern. — Subject to the review and approval
19 
of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Secretary of Health shall
20 
determine the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the CDC, in accordance
21 
with existing Civil Service laws, rules and regulations.
22 
Sec. 11. Expansion of Functions. — In cases of biological, chemical, and toxic
23 
events, the Health Emergency and Management Bureau (HEMB) of the DOH and
24 
Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centers (RDRRMCs) shall directly
25 
coordinate with CDC and expand their functions to include preparation and response.
26 
The BOQ of the DOH is also tasked with border control and border surveillance and
27 
shall directly coordinate with CDC.
28 
Sec. 12. Director General and Deputy Director Generals. —
29 
(a) Appointment of the Director General. The CDC shall be headed by a Director
30 
General, with the rank of Undersecretary, who shall be appointed by the
31 
President, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Health, based on
32 
technical expertise, academic background, and appropriate experience.
12


1 
(b) Appointment of the Deputy Director General. The Director General shall be
2 
assisted by one (1) Deputy Director General, with the rank of Assistant
3 
Secretary, who shall oversee the functions of the Administrative and Finance
4 
Office, and any additional offices created in accordance with Sec. 7 (c) of this
5 
Act. The Deputy Director General shall likewise be appointed by the President,
6 
upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Health, based on technical
7 
expertise, academic background, and appropriate experience.
8 
(c) Eligibility. The Director General shall be a public health professional,
9 
preferably a Medical Doctor, with at least 15 years of post-graduate
10 
qualification experience in relevant fields of medicine, public health, and in
11 
managerial positions.
12 
(d) Powers and Functions. The Director General shall perform the following
13 
powers and functions:
14 
(i) Provide leadership, policy guidance, coordination, technical expertise,
15 
and services to promote the development and implementation of CDC's
16 
national programs;
17 
(ii) Certify to the Secretary of Health the occurrence of a Public Health
18 
Emergency. The Secretary of Health upon 
consultation with public
19 
health officials may signal the initiation of a public health emergency
20 
response including, but not be limited to:
21 
(1) Immediate hiring, transfer, and deployment of health
22 
personnel;
23 
(2) Implementation of inter-agency public health emergency
24 
preparedness and response in cooperation with the NDRRMC,
25 
DILG, and LGUs; and
26 
(3) Strict enforcement and augmentation of border control and
27 
surveillance in coordination with the DFA and DOH BOQ.
28 
(iii) Certify the termination of a Public Health Emergency which may serve
29 
as basis for the de-escalation and eventual termination of response;
30 
(iv) Recommend to the President, through the Secretary of Health, the
31 
exercise of special powers in the case of an epidemic;
32 
(v) Develop policies with provisions on penalties for local implementation
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and enforcement:
(1) The Director General, upon consultation with the Secretary of 
Health and through the DOH HEMB, Is authorized to establish 
and prescribe 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
(2) 
For purposes of implementing these regulations, the Director 
General, upon consultation with the Secretary of Health and 
through the DOH HEMB, may provide public health preventive 
measures and intervention strategies such as health education 
and advisories, apprehensions, detention, isolation, quarantine, 
inspections, fumigation, disinfection, disinfestation, pest 
extermination, vaccination for international travel, medical 
examination of aliens/foreigners, 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, and other measures as may be necessary.
(vi) 
Establish or create containment for inland contagion or community 
transmission of public health threats, and shall coordinate these with 
the Secretary of Health. During public health emergencies, DOH HEMB 
shall also expand and coordinate with DOH BOQ on controlling, 
directing, and managing all quarantine stations, grounds, and 
anchorages, and in designating their boundaries in accordance with 
Section 6 of Republic Act No. 9271 or also known as the Quarantine 
Act of 2004;
(vii) 
Provide or obtain technical assistance for regional and local health 
departments and private agencies before, during, and after an 
epidemic;
14


1 
(viii) Develop a shared risk communication plan in coordination with the
2 
DOH and the FDA;
3 
(ix) Coordinate international health activities, through the Bureau of
4 
International Health Cooperation, relating to disease elimination,
5 
prevention, and control;
6 
(x) Liaise with other government agencies, non-government organizations
7 
(NGOs), international organizations, including the World Health
8 
Organization (WHO), learning and academic institutions, and other
9 
pertinent groups or entities in the conduct of activities relating to
10 
disease prevention and control;
11 
(xi) Coordinate with appropriate DOH Offices regarding administrative and
12 
program matters;
13 
(xii) Appoint eligible employees of CDC in accordance with Civil Service Law,
14 
rules and regulations, and this Act;
15 
(xiii) Delegate the powers vested under this Act to the Deputy Director
16 
General; and
17 
(xiv) Perform such other functions as may be mandated by law, or as may
18 
be delegated by the Secretary of Health and/or the President.
19 
(e) Security of Tenure and Grounds for Removal. To ensure and uphold the
20 
independence of CDC, the Director General and Deputy Director General shall
21 
have the security of tenure and shall not be removed from office, except when
22 
any of the following grounds is present, the President of the Philippines may
23 
remove the Director General and Deputy Director General:
24 
(i) Inefficiency and incompetence in the performance of official duties;
25 
Provided, That the performance of the Director General and/or the
26 
Deputy Director General shall be evaluated by a panel formed by the
27 
Department of Health for that purpose, which shall be composed of
28 
the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission and public health
29 
experts; and
30 
(ii) Inability to discharge the duty of the office, whether arising from the
31 
infirmity of the mind or body, grave misconduct, or in the public
32 
interests, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Health and the
15


1 
Civil Service Commission.
2 
ARTICLE V
3 
SUPPLEMENTAL FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE CDC
4 
Sec. 13. Public Health Surveillance Program. —
5 
(a) The Director General shall identify priority health problems for prevention and
6 
control;
7 
(b) The Director General, as deemed necessary, may institute public health
8 
surveillance programs or undertake epidemiological investigations or surveys
9 
of people, animals, or vectors in order to determine the existence, prevalence,
10 
or incidence, or to determine the likelihood of a possible outbreak, of:
11 
(i) Any infectious disease; or
12 
(ii) Any other disease which the CDC or the Secretary of Health, by
13 
notification in the official website of CDC and the DOH, declares to be
14 
a disease which this section applies.
15 
(c) For the purpose of any public health surveillance program, epidemiological
16 
investigation, or survey under this Act, the Director General may issue an
17 
order requiring any person to furnish CDC, within the period stated therein,
18 
with:
19 
(i) such information as he or she may require; and
20 
(ii) any sample of any substance or matter in the possession of that person
21 
or control of that person, whether taken pursuant to this Act or
22 
otherwise, as he or she may consider necessary or appropriate.
23 
(d) The Director General should link the different disease-related programs of the
24 
DOH for both communicable and non-communicable diseases with the public
25 
health laboratories in relation 
to laboratory diagnostic surveillance 
and
26 
outbreak investigation.
27 
Sec. 14. Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Public Health Events.
28 
—
29 
(a) Transfer of Functions.
30 
(i) CDC shall perform the functions and obligations of the Epidemiology
31 
Bureau and the DOH under Section 5 and 6 of Republic Act No. 11332,
16


1 
otherwise known as the 'Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases
2 
and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act'
3 
(ii) CDC shall perform the functions and obligations of DOH under Section
4 
31 (b) of Republic Act No. 11223, or also known as Universal Health
5 
Care Act.
6 
(b) Mandatory^ Reporting. All public and private hospitals, clinics, health facilities,
7 
laboratories, institutions, workplaces, schools, prisons, ports, airports,
8 
establishments, communities, other government agencies, and NGOs are
9 
required to accurately and immediately report notifiable disease and public
10 
health events to the CDC;
11 
(c) Mandatory Submission of Service Coverage. All public and private hospitals,
12 
clinics, health facilities, laboratories shall be required to submit health and
13 
health-related data, which shall include, but not be limited to, administrative,
14 
public health, medical, pharmaceutical and financing data to the CDC.
15 
Sec. 15. Laboratories in the Phiiippine Health Laboratoty System (PHLS). —
16 
(a) Establishment There shall be an established Philippine Health Laboratory
17 
System by unifying all diagnostic surveillance of public health importance into
18 
stand-alone laboratories across the nation. The CDC shall:
19 
(i) Identify public health laboratories and designate NRLs, SNLs, and
20 
RPHLs;
21 
(ii) Transition the identified public health laboratories that are currently
22 
housed in their 
existing host hospitals into 
stand-alone laboratory
23 
facilities to serve as diagnostic surveillance centers separate from its
24 
hospital operations within 3 years from the effectiveness of this Act;
25 
and
26 
(iii) Establish an integrated laboratory information system accessible to all
27 
public health laboratories and surveillance units.
28 
(b) Public Health Laboratories. The PHLS shall be composed of Public Health
29 
Laboratories following the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan in
30 
determining the roles, functions, investments, and services delivered within
31 
their determined catchment areas. Public Health Laboratories are authorized
32 
to solicit, receive donations and grants, and accrue or accept service-related
17


1 
fees and reimbursement they provide, which may include but not be limited
2 
to diagnostic testing, training, roll-out of National External Quality Assessment
3 
Scheme (NEQAS), and in vitro diagnostic medical evaluation. This shall be
4 
deposited on an authorized government depository bank and used to
5 
augment the laboratories' capital outlay requirements and maintenance and
6 
other operating expenses (MOOE). The State shall also provide and upgrade
7 
equipment, employ adequate human resources, provide training and
8 
development opportunities, and construct and improve infrastructures at all
9 
levels to deliver the necessary public health laboratory services through its
10 
inclusion in the General Appropriations Act, namely for:
11 
(i) NRLs that will provide end-referral laboratory confirmatory services,
12 
training, implement external quality assurance programs, and perform
13 
surveillance, outbreak response, kit evaluation, research, and technical
14 
standards. They are the responsible entities for facilitating the NEQAS
15 
to ensure compliance to quality standards of all laboratories in the
16 
Philippines.
17 
(ii) SNLs that will conduct confirmatory testing for routine surveillance
18 
samples and performing specialized tests, training, laboratory-related
19 
research, and cascading of protocols and standards set by the NRLs. A
20 
SNL shall be established for each of the following catchment areas:
21 
(1) North Luzon;
22 
(2) NCR and Central Luzon;
23 
(3) South Luzon;
24 
(4) Visayas; and
25 
(5) Mindanao.
26 
(iii) RPHLs that will perform diagnostic tests both for diseases of public
27 
health importance, and laboratory-related research. RPHLs shall be
28 
established and/or designated in all regions.
29 
(c) Oversight and Governance. The CDC shall exercise supervisory and oversight
30 
functions over the development of all Public Health Laboratories in the PHLS,
31 
and oversee their functions and performance through the Center for
32 
Reference Laboratories.
18


1 
Sec. 16. Intergovernmental information sharing. — The Secretary of Foreign
2 
Affairs and the Secretary of Health are jointly mandated to review and recommend to
3 
the CDC multilateral and bilateral agreements which the country may adopt to
4 
strengthen its information-sharing mechanisms with other countries, in accordance
5 
with Republic Act No. 10173, otherwise known as the 'Data Privacy Act of 2012'.
6 
Sec. 17. Penalties. —
7 
(a) Violation by Individuals. Any person who violates any regulation prescribed or
8 
order issued pursuant to this Act, or who enters or departs from the limit of
9 
any quarantine station, ground, or anchorage in disregard of quarantine rules
10 
and regulations or without permission of the quarantine officer-in-charge shall
11 
be punished by a fine of not more than Five Million Pesos (Php 5,000,000.00)
12 
or by imprisonment for not more than two (2) years, or both.
13 
(b) Violation by LGUs and Health Care Providers.
14 
(i) Violation of Data Privacy. Any LGU who violates Republic Act No.
15 
10173, or also known as the Data Privacy Act of 2012, shall be
16 
penalized in accordance with Chapter VIII of such Act.
17 
(ii) Violation of Data Submission Guidelines. LGUs, through the CHDs,
18 
must provide the CDC with available health and technical data relevant
19 
to the prevention and control of diseases, in a timely manner. The
20 
penalties stipulated under Section 10 of Republic Act No. 11332,
21 
otherwise known as the 'Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases
22 
and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act', will apply for non-
23 
submission of data.
24 
ARTICLE VI
25 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
26 
Sec. 18. Progressive Realization. — The CDC, in coordination with the DOH and
27 
LGUs, shall craft a multi-year plan to ensure the timely implementation and
28 
progressive realization of this Act. Towards this end, the multi-year plan shall include,
29 
but not be limited to: (a) requiring that every province and city-wide health system
30 
have full-time DSOs, without prejudice to the need for DSOs in municipalities, as may
31 
be deemed necessary, (b) establishing SNLs in North Luzon, NCR and Central Luzon,
19


1 
South Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao under Section 15 (b)(ii), and (c) establishing
2 
RPHLs in designated regions under Section 15 (b)(iii).
3 
The DOH, upon coordination with CDC, shall submit the funding requirements
4 
with corresponding annual targets for the implementation of the multi-year plan to
5 
the DBM and concerned agencies, for the determination of appropriate national budget
6 
allocation: Provided, That for local budget allocation, the LCDs shall also appropriate
7 
the necessary funds to ensure the proper implementation of this Act, in relation to
8 
their devolved functions under the UHC Act and other existing laws.
9 
Sec. 19. Annual Report. — The CDC shall submit to Congress an annual report
10 
containing evaluation of the current and emerging threats to health in the country and
11 
progress to IHR commitments, initiatives undertaken to address these and recommend
12 
legislative measures as may be necessary.
13 
Sec. 20. Appropriations. — The amount needed for the initial implementation
14 
of this Act shall be taken from the current fiscal year's appropriation of the offices and
15 
agency herein absorbed by the CDC. Thereafter, the amount needed for the operation
16 
and maintenance of the CDC shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations
17 
Act.
18 
Sec. 21. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The DOH shall promulgate
19 
the necessary rules and regulations within ninety (90) working days from the
20 
effectivity of this Act.
21 
Sec. 22. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared
22 
unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall not be
23 
affected thereby.
24 
Sec. 23. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations,
25 
other issuances, or parts thereof, inconsistent with any provision of this Act, are
26 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
27 
Sec. 24. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
28 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,
20