Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

RECEIVED

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 322

Introduced by: Hon. Iris Marie D. Montes

AN ACT
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR DISEASE PREVENTION AND
CONTROL, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 15, Article II of the 1987 Constitution declares that, "The State shall
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health
Consciousness among them.

Section 11, Article XIII also declares that it is the responsibility of the State
to "adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which
shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available
to all the people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the
underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. The State shall
endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers."

Pursuant thereto, this bill seeks to establish a Center for Disease Prevention
and Control (CDC), under the Department of Health (DOH), which shall be
responsible for preventing and controlling diseases; strengthening public health
emergency preparedness and response; and expanding global health security
capacity.

The CDC is envisioned to serve as the technical authority on forecasting,
analysis, strategy, and standards development for the prevention and control of all
diseases of public health importance and health security events, whether domestic
or international in origin.

It is also tasked to implement disease surveillance, recommend actions
against public health threats, build local capacity for surveillance and health
research, and lead public and health risk communications.

The CDC will serve as the DOH's arm that is dedicated solely to disease
control, spearheading the country’s research and development for communicable
and non-communicable diseases; improving the operational capacity of our health
laboratories and facilities; and providing capacity building and technical assistance
to local governments, among others.

A unique feature of this measure is its affirmation of the critical role of
women in building resilient communities and ensuring global health security along
with the recognition that women and girls are often disproportionately affected by
health emergencies. Consequently, it provides for the creation of the Office of
Women’s Health in order to raise public awareness to risk factors and other
conditions that impact women and girls’ health.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Gender roles and
unequal gender relations interact with other social and economic factors, making


women and girls more vulnerable to health emergencies and less likely to access
essential information, care, and services during these crises.’”

Moreover, the WHO recognizes that “Being a man or a woman has a
significant impact on health, as a result of both biological and gender-related
differences. The health of women and girls is of particular concern because, in
many societies, they are disadvantaged by discrimination rooted in sociocultural
factors.”?

The creation of our won CDC is urgently needed to serve as a specialized
agency that will lead and coordinate the government's response to address diseases
and future public health threats.

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

IRIS MARIE D. MONTES
Kababaihan, Kabaiikatan para sa Kapakanan
‘at Kaunlaran ng Bayan (4K) Party-tist

+ Invest in Women, World Health Organization (hitps://e
Accessed on 09 June 2025
? Women’s health, WHO (11
09 June 2025

‘anet.who.int/sph/invest-women)

schealth) Accessed on

‘/oovew. wh. ith-topics)



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 32 2

Introduced by: Hon. Iris Marie D. Montes

AN ACT
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR DISEASE PREVENTION AND
CONTROL, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, 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 Center
for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to protect and
promote the right to health of all Filipinos and instill health consciousness among
them. To this end, the State shall adopt an integrated, comprehensive, and
evidence-informed approach consistent with the direction under Republic Act No.
11223 or the Universal Health Care Act, and adopt a framework that shall foster a
whole-of-system, whole-of-government, and whole-of-society approach, ensuring
clear delineation of tasks among existing agencies and maximizing current
mandates. The State shall also allot the necessary support and institutional
resources to provide for effective disease prevention and control through a high-
level public institution imbued with the capacity, competence, and authority to
confront global and local public health risks.

SEC. 3. Objectives. — The objectives of this Act are the following:

(a) Protect the Filipino people from the impact of all diseases of public
health importance;

(b) Develop policies, plans, and protocols to improve identified areas in
the International Health Regulations hazards;

(c) Clarify governance, decision-making, communication, and coordination
processes and protocols related to identifying, diagnosing, forecasting,
preventing, controlling, eliminating, eradicating, and monitoring all
diseases of public health importance;

(d) Formulate and implement policies, plans, programs and projects for
the promotion of scientific and technological activities for both the
public and private sectors, and ensure that the results of scientific and
technological activities are properly applied and utilized to uphold
technical and scientific integrity in decision-making and response;

(e) Ensure swift, coordinated, and data-driven surveillance and response
through the Department of Health (DOH), epidemiology and
surveillance units, public health laboratory systems, points of entry,
and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System; g) Maintain
a pool of in-house experts who shall serve as the technical authority
and shall provide evidence-informed guidance on standards,
technologies, and analytics for epidemiology, disease control,
prevention, elimination, eradication, health emergency preparedness,
and response; and

(f) Ensure the development and implementation of a shared risk and crisis
communication plan with the DOH, the Food and Drug Administration


(FDA), and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), to be
known under this Act as the Philippine Research Institute of Medicine.

ARTICLE II
DEFINITION OF TERMS:

SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms shall
mean:

(a)Commodities for public health emergencies refer to health products
necessary for public health emergency response. These may include
vaccines, therapeutics, medical devices, and ancillary supplies;

(b) Disease refers to pathologic acute or rapidly developing and chronic or long-
standing conditions that cause harmful deviations from normal structure
or function and may be due to infectious agents or their toxic products,
which may be transmitted from a reservoir to a susceptible host (either
directly from an infected person or animal or indirectly through the
agency of an intermediate plant or animal host, vector, or the inanimate
environment, or coming from laboratories intentionally or unintentionally)
or may be the result of a combination of genetic, physiological,
environmental, and behavioral factors. This shall refer to all diseases,
including communicable and non-communicable diseases;

(c) Disease surveillance refers to the ongoing systematic collection, analysis,
interpretation, and dissemination of outcome-specific data for use in the
planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice in
terms of epidemics, emergencies, and disasters. A disease surveillance
system includes the functional capacity for data analysis as well as the
timely dissemination of these data to persons who can undertake effective
prevention and control activities;

(d)Health Research refers to research or research-related activities that seek to
provide timely and quality evidence to address knowledge gaps in areas
related to identifying, diagnosing, forecasting, preventing, controlling,
eliminating and eradicating, and monitoring diseases of public health
importance;

(e) International Health Regulations refer to an international agreement
managed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is focused on
addressing serious public health threats that have the potential to spread
beyond a country's borders to other parts of the world, and defines the
standards that countries must meet to be able to prevent, detect, and
respond to public health threats;

(f) Public health emergency refers to an occurrence or imminent threat of

an iliness or health condition that:

(i) _ Is caused by any of the following:

(1) Bioterrorism;

(2)Appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicated
infectious agent or biological toxin;

(3) Natural disaster;

(4) Chemical attack or accidental release;

(5) Nuclear attack or accident; or

(6)Attack that uses or is caused by an accidental release of
radioactive materials; and

(ii) Poses a high probability of any of the following:

(1) Large number of deaths in the affected population;
(2)Large number of serious injuries or long-term disabilities in the
affected population;


(3)Widespread exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses
a significant risk of substantial harm to a large number of
people in the affected population;

(4)International exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses
a significant risk to the health of citizens of other countries;
or

(5)Trade and travel restrictions

(g)Public health event refers to either a public health emergency or a public
health threat due to biological, chemical, radio-nuclear, or environmental
agents;

(h)Public health laboratories refer to facilities responsible for providing timely
and reliable diagnostic results primarily for improvement of patient
‘outcomes, disease prevention, control, and surveillance, population-based
interventions, and outbreak emergency response. They shall perform core
public health and environmental activities, including reference tests for
diseases of public health importance;

(i) Public health threat refers to any situation or factor that may present a
danger to the health of the people;

(j) Notifiable disease refers to a disease that, by legal requirements, must be
reported to the public health authorities;

(k) Quarantine refers to the restriction of activities and/or separation from others
of suspect persons who are not ill, or of suspect baggage, containers,
conveyances, or goods, in such a manner as to prevent the possible
spread of infection or contamination; and

(I) Response refers to the implementation of specific activities to control further
spread of infection, outbreaks, or epidemics and prevent reoccurrence. It
includes verification, contact tracing, rapid risk assessment, case
measures, treatment of patients, risk communication, the conduct of
prevention activities, and rehabilitation.

ARTICLE IIT
CREATION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR DISEASE
PREVENTION AND CONTROL

SEC. 5. Creation of the Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
— There is hereby established an agency to be known as the Philippine Center for
Disease Prevention and Control, hereinafter referred to as "CDC." The CDC shall be
an agency directly under the DOH's Office of the Secretary.

SEC. 6, Functions of the CDC. — The CDC shail be a science-based
organization that shall be the technical authority on forecasting, analysis, strategy,
and standards development for the prevention and control of all diseases of public
health importance and health security events, whether domestic or international in
origin. The CDC shall coordinate with centers for disease control of other countries
and act as the National Focal Point of the Philippines for International Health
Regulations concerns.

For purposes of this Act, the “National Focal Point" shall refer to a national
office or center that is accessible at all times for International Health Regulations
related communications with the WHO and relevant sectors within the country.

The functions of the CDC shail include, but not limited to, the following:

(a) Develop strategies, standards, and policies for disease prevention and
control;

(b) Implement disease surveillance and field epidemiology activities;

(c) Perform data collection and analytics;

(d) _ Establish and strengthen public health laboratories;


(e)

(f)
(9)
(h)
10)

Recommend actions for public health threats to appropriate national
government bodies;

Lead public health and risk communications;

Conduct and manage health research and evidence synthesis;

Build local capacity for surveillance and health research; and

Promote scientific integrity by ensuring that all its products are
technically accurate, scientifically and ethically sound, and useful to
the government and the intended population through the
institutionalization of appropriate mechanisms and bodies.

The CDC shall perform other functions as may be mandated by law or

duly delegated by relevant authorities, as well as those that may be
necessary or expedient for the performance of its mandate under this Act.

The CDC shall submit annua! detailed cost work plans relating to its

functions to the Secretary of Health for approval.

SEC. 7. Structure of the CDC. ~

(a) The CDC shall be headed by a Director General;

(b) The CDC shall have established component centers that shall
lead and coordinate the major functions of the CDC and
establish strategic linkages and partnerships to fulfill its
mandate. In line with the CDC's functions, each of the following
component centers shall be headed by a Deputy Director
General:

(i) Center for Health Statistics. - The Center for Health Statistics
shall provide the national leadership in health statistics, data
analytics, and health information systems management of non-
epidemiologic surveys in coordination with the Philippine
Statistics Authority and shall complement the roles and
responsibilities of the DOH related to sectoral policy and
planning by providing relevant health statistics. It shall likewise
progressively develop and expand its methodological and
analytical capacity; its use of informatics, digital tools,
innovations, among others; and expand its portfolio of national
health-related surveys that it develops and manages to
complement existing national health surveys being managed by
other national agencies;

(il) Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance. - The Center for
Epidemiology and Surveillance shall lead and execute a national
public health surveillance strategy and shall perform the
functions and obligations of the Epidemiology Bureau and the
DOH under Sections 5, 6, and 8 of Republic Act No. 11332, or
the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health
Events of Public Health Concern Act. Further, it shall
progressively enhance its epidemiology and surveillance
functions to further develop its overall analytical capacity; to
expand the scope of surveilled events and diseases; to set
standards for and continually expand tools for data management
and surveillance systems; to expand the scope of data collected;
to lead in the development of epidemiology and surveillance
capacities for all diseases and their causes, including social
determinants of health; to lead in implementing international
health surveillance and International Health Regulations
processes; and to expand its technical expertise to include other
and emerging branches and types of epidemiology and relevant
epidemiologically related approaches;


(c)

Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) - The RITM,
which shall henceforth be referred to as the Philippine Research
Institute of Medicine, shall be directly under the CDC and
continue to perform its current functions through its Clinical
Research Division, Laboratory Research Division, and Biologies
Manufacturing Division. To complement the CDC's functions, the
Philippine Research Institute of Medicine shall perform’ the
following additional functions:

(i) lead evidence-informed policy-making for the prevention and
control of all diseases, which as defined in Section 4 of this Act
includes communicable and non-communicable diseases,
through the synthesis of available evidence;

(ii) conduct high-quality health research and develop evidence
informed strategies and standards of care, and provide scientific
inputs to guide the development, evaluation, and improvement
of public health programs;

(ili) develop science-informed standards to address public health
threats, in partnership with academe, professional societies,
research bodies. National Institutes of Health, and the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST);

(iv) develop and provide the overall strategic direction, policies,
standards, and plans in the implementation of the Philippine
Health Laboratory System (formerly the RITM's laboratories,
DOH's Health Laboratories, and other identified national
laboratories) and the institutionalization of stand-alone CDC
public health laboratories, including national reference
laboratories, subnational, and regional public _ health
laboratories, which shall be expanded through the establishment
of streamlined diagnostic tests and surveillance of diseases of
public health importance into stand-alone laboratories across
the nation and by ensuring an effective and efficient quality
management system for all clinical and other health laboratories
in partnership with the DOH: Provided, That the Philippine
Research Institute of Medicine shall lead the country's public
health laboratory response for rapid detection of emerging and
reemerging public health threats;

(v) promote and develop innovative science, technologies, and
processes in support of CDC's ability to protect the country from
heaith, safety, and security threats, both foreign and local;

(vi) manufacture vaccines and biologicals, consistent with the
self reliance action plan, subject to a positive recommendation
issued by an independent study or body commissioned by
relevant national government agencies;

(vii) develop and implement, together with other agencies, such
as DOST and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI),
programs for vaccine and biologies capacity building on human
resources, infrastructures, and technology, among others;

(viii) coordinate, oversee, and lead the development of the
vaccine self reliance national action plan, including sustainability
models and plans on local vaccine development and involvement
of the manufacturing industry;


(ix) promote and advocate technology transfers and cross-
border exchanges of scientific information, data, and physical
samples both at the vaccine and biologies research and
development, and other steps in the manufacturing and trade
value chain;

(x) establish linkages with local and international public and
private partners and industries in vaccine and_biologies
development and manufacturing initiatives and collaborations;
and

(xi) perform such other necessary functions mandated under
this Act, or as may be mandated by law, or as may be delegated
by the Secretary of Health and/or the President.

Provided, That nothing in this Act shall prohibit the CDC from
establishing additional divisions, bureaus, and offices under the
Philippine Research Institute of Medicine.

(d) The CDC shall have three (3) offices directly under the Director
General to support the Center for Health Statistics, Center for
Epidemiology and Surveillance, and the Philippine Research
Institute of Medicine, namely:

(i) Office for Health Economics;
(ii) Office for Policy and Planning; and
(ili) Office for Administration, Finance, and Legal Affairs.

(e) Technical committees, boards, commissions, councils,
conferences, task forces, or similar groups shall be established
to provide technical expert advice, ideas, and diverse opinions
to the CDC. Advisory committees shall be composed of experts
from different sectors with specific expertise necessary to fulfill
their mandate: Provided, That membership to the advisory
committee shall be renewed every three (3) years, but may be
terminated earlier as deemed necessary;

(f) Regional Centers of the CDC shall be established to strengthen
local technical capacity for epidemiology and surveillance, health
statistics, laboratory, and research that would support DOH
regional offices and local government units (LGUs);

(g) The Office of Women’s Health shall be created as a central point
for women’s health and to raise visibility of risk factors and
other conditions that impact women and girls’ health. It shall
promote public health research, evidence-based programs,
policies, and strategies to improve the health and well-being of
women and girls; and

(h) Additional offices may be created in accordance with the
mandate of the CDC with the recommendation of the Director
General and approval of the Secretary of Health in view of
emerging needs of the health sector.

ARTICLE IV

OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE, MANAGEMENT, AND STAFF OF THE CENTER

SEC. 8. Relationship with Existing Agencies and Offices. ~

(a)

Relationship between CDC and DOH Operations. The CDC shall be an
agency under the DOH's Office of the Secretary. The DOH shall
develop operational and intersectoral policies to support
implementation of strategies and standards developed by the CDC;


(b) Relationship between CDC and the DOH Bureau of Quarantine. The
CDC shall set the standards for international health surveillance and
surveillance at ports of entry and coordinate with the Bureau of
Quarantine for operationalization and stakeholder management;

(c) Relationship between CDC and University of the Philippines-National
Institute of Health (UP-NIH). The UP-NIH shall provide support to the
CDC in developing and implementing its research agenda and in
implementing programs to ensure the continuation of professional,
academic, and personal capacity development of multisectoral
stakeholders that will be engaged with the CDC;

(d) Relationship between Regional Office of the CDC and DOH Regional
Offices. The CDC shall have regional counterparts that will maintain
technical capacity for epidemiology and surveillance, health statistics
laboratory, and research, as support to DOH regional offices and LGUs
to support implementation of strategies and standards of the CDC. e)
Relationship between CDC and LGUs. Provinces, cities, and
municipalities shall adopt and localize standards and guidelines
developed by the CDC, as operationalized by the DOH, in the
performance of activities related to disease prevention and control.
Further, LGUs shall allocate the necessary funding for the
establishment of functional Epidemiology and Surveillance Units based
on standards set by the Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance and
as provided for by law, including the creation of positions for needed
Disease Surveillance Officers and field epidemiologists in line with the
goal of building local capacity for health surveillance: Provided, That
the CDC will provide technical support to LGUs;

SEC. 9. Transfer of Agencies. —

(a) Restructuring of Affected Offices and Units. The following offices,
including their administrative units, shall be restructured to ensure
synergistic co-existence of the CDC and DOH to facilitate full operations
of the CDC.

(i) The Health Laboratory Division of the Health Facility
Development Bureau of the DOH, also referred to as the Office
for Health Laboratories, and other identified national reference
laboratories shall be absorbed by the Philippine Research
Institute of Medicine and included in the Philippine Health
Laboratory System;

(ji) The Epidemiology Bureau of the DOH shall be transferred to the
Center for Health Statistics and Center for Epidemiology and
Surveillance in phases. The functions of the National Epidemiology
Center of the Epidemiology Bureau and disease and public health
surveillance functions assigned to the DOH by law shall also be
transferred to the Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance. In line
with this, the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Units and Field
Health Services Information System Units of the DOH Regional Offices
shall be transferred to and be under the sole supervision and control of
the CDC upon the effective transition of the Epidemiology Bureau to
the CDC.

The Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance shall set the
standards for international health surveillance and surveillance at ports
of entry and shall coordinate with the Bureau of Quarantine for
operationalization and stakeholder management: Provided, That the
screening and quarantine processes for inbound and outbound
international travelers as provided under Sections 4 and 5 of Republic
Act No. 9271, or the Quarantine Act f2004 shall remain with the


Bureau of Quarantine, aligned with the standards promulgated by the
coc.

(iii) The Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service
(KNITS) of the DOH shall be restructured and rationalize its functions
to eliminate the overlaps and duplication with the standards and
sectoral policy function of the Center for Health Statistics.

(iv) The Disease Prevention and Control Bureau shall be transformed
into the Public Health Strategy and Management Bureau, and shall be
responsible for developing operational strategy and guidelines aligned
with the CDC's standards, stewarding intersectoral collaboration
platforms, and ensuring strategic management of national health
programs. The Disease Prevention and Control Bureau's standards
development function shall be transferred to the Philippine Research
Institute of Medicine: Provided, That the DOH Undersecretary for
Operations and the DOH Regional Offices shall continue to perform
their role in operational planning, coordination, and performance
management.

(v) The Communications Office of the DOH shall be a shared service
among DOH offices, including the FDA, CDC and Philippine Research
Institute of Medicine, and shall perform, but not limited to, the
following functions:

(1) Develop strategic communication plans, including, but not limited
to organizational risk and crisis communication plans;

(2) Manage and implement risk communication activities and
initiatives, such as the development and issuance of information and
education communication materials, events, stakeholder meetings,
and other media engagement activities;

(3) Manage and activate crisis communication protocol for health risks
and hazards, and institutional reputational risks;

(4) Develop and implement corresponding capacity-building activities
in relation to organizational risk and crisis communications;

(5) Perform internal communication functions within the institution;

(6) Develop and facilitate the approval of communication materials and
policies as aligned with the approved communication plans;

(7) Manage different platforms of the institution for release of
communication materials; and

(8) Foster, maintain, and continuously build external partnership and
communication networks with public and private health institutionsb)
Transfer of Human Resource and Properties. The offices affected by
the transfer of agencies shall also transfer human resource, applicable
funds and appropriations, records, equipment, and property to the
CDC, subject to a multi-year transition plan under Section 24 of this
Act.

(i) As a result of the reorganization under this Act, the DOH shall
evaluate the credentials, skills, and work experience of all employees
in affected agencies, offices, or bureaus and shall conduct matching to
positions within the new offices/bureaus created based on the set
qualification standards. The DOH shall develop a technical working
group to ensure that Republic Act No. 6656, or An Act to Protect the
Security of Tenure of Civil Service Officers and Employees in the
Implementation of Government Reorganization shall be properly
observed towards the protection of the security of tenure of affected
employees and shall institute mechanisms for retooling. To this end,
there shall be no diminution of salaries and benefits of affected
employees. Affected employees may opt for voluntary separation from


service within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act and shalt
be entitled to receive separation and early retirement benefits and
other benefits under applicable laws and issuances within ninety (90)
days from the date of effectivity of their separation; and

(ii) Transfer of human resource, applicable funds and appropriations,
records, equipment, and property to the CDC, among others, shall
commence within two (2) years from effectivity of this Act to enable
the smooth transfer of the same from the DOH.

SEC. 10. Salary, Staffing Pattern and Qualifications. — The CDC staffing
requirement shall be supported to ensure its role as the technical authority in the
prevention and control of all diseases of public health importance. Subject to the
review and approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the
Secretary of Health shall determine the organizational structure and staffing pattern
of the CDC, in accordance with existing Civil Service Commission laws, rules and
regulations: Provided, That the existing law on salary scales of government
employees shall not apply in determining the salary scale of scientific and highly
technical staff.

Members of advisory committees shall receive a per diem allowance for each
meeting attended. The CDC shall include a summary of the amounts deemed
necessary for the expenses of advisory committees in its budget recommendations:
Provided, That all in-house technical and scientific staff, expert pools, and members
of advisory committees shall be allowed to practice their profession and receive
additional compensation from such engagements: Provided, further, That all
employed staff and engaged in-house experts shall submit declaration of conflict-
of26 interest, non-disclosure agreement, and other pertinent documentary
requirements as may be deemed necessary.

All CDC personnel shall be authorized to undergo secondment to local and
international academic and science-based organizations, local and international
academic or technical training and capacity-building, or other similar knowledge
exchange mechanisms to maintain the technical expertise necessary to implement
the roles and responsibilities assigned to them: Provided, That the mechanisms for
return of service are implemented, to be determined by the CDC and approved by
the Secretary of Health.

SEC. 11. Director General, Deputy Director Generals, and Directors. —

(1)Appointment of the Director General. The Director General shail be appointed
by the President, with the rank of Undersecretary, upon the
recommendation of the Secretary of Health, based on technical expertise,
academic background, and appropriate work experience;

(2)Appointment of the Deputy Director Generals. The Director General shall be
assisted by Deputy Director Generals, with the rank of Assistant
Secretary. They shall oversee the functions of the Offices and Centers,
and any additional offices created in accordance with Section 7 of this Act.
The Deputy Director Generals shall likewise be appointed by the
President, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Health, based on
technica! expertise, academic background, and appropriate experience;

(3)Appointment of Directors. The Director General shall be assisted by the
following:

(a) Director for Health Economics Service with the rank of Director IV;

(b) Director for Policy and Planning with the rank of Director IV; and

(c) Director for Administration, Finance, and Legal Affairs with the rank of
Director IV.

ies.

(4) Qualifications and Eli


(a) The Director General shall be a public health professional, must be a
licensed medical doctor, with at least 15 years of combined post graduate
experience in relevant fields of medicine, public health, research, and
management;

(b) The Deputy Director General of each Center shall possess a postgraduate
degree, preferably a doctorate, in fields related to medicine, public health or
research, with management experience in such fields; and

(c) The Directors directly under the Office of the Director General shall
possess third level service eligibility with educational background in relevant
fields of medicine, public health, accounting, management, economics or any
business course, and must have management experience in the aforesaid
fields.

(5) Powers and Functions of the Director General.

(a) Provide leadership, policy guidance, coordination, technical expertise,
and services to promote the development and implementation of the
CDC's national programs;

(b) Determine the occurrence of a public health emergency and with the
concurrence of the Secretary of Health, certify to the President of the
Philippines the occurrence of a public health emergency;

(c) Notify the WHO and other focal points of any public health emergency
or incident in accordance to International Health Regulations
guidelines, and lead in the coordination of public health response with
said bodies and National Focal Points;

(d) Institute public health surveillance programs in accordance with
Republic Act No. 11332, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable
Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act and as such,
impose the following:

(i) Require all public and private hospitals, clinics, health
facilities, laboratories, institutions, workplaces, schools, prisons,
ports, airports, establishments, communities, other government
agencies, and non-governmental organizations to accurately and
immediately report notifiable disease and public health events to
cc;

(ii) Require all public and private hospitals, clinics, health
facilities, and laboratories to submit health and health-related
data, which shall include administrative, public health, medical,
pharmaceutical, and financing data to CDC; and

(iii) Direct Disease Surveillance Officers, Epidemiology and
Surveillance Units, CDC Laboratories, Philippine Health
Laboratory System, pharmacies, and those employed by the
LGUs involved in surveillance and response to report information
required by the CDC at all times and as soon as practicable.
Failure of said establishments to report to the CDC shall
constitute as a violation of Section 9 (d) and (e) of Republic Act
No. 11332, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases
and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act

(e) Coordinate with the relevant agencies to furnish the CDC any sample
of any substance or matter in the possession or control of that
person, whether taken pursuant to this Act or otherwise, may be
considered necessary or appropriate, or any information as may
be required by the CDC, within the period it requires for the
purpose of any public health surveillance program,
epidemiological investigation, or survey conducted pursuant to
this Act. For purposes of this Act, "epidemiological investigation”
shall refer to an inquiry to the incidence, prevalence, extent,


source, mode of transmission, causation of, and other
information pertinent to a disease occurrence;

(f) Request the assistance of the Philippine National Police or the
National Bureau of Investigation to locate any patients or
persons suspected of contracting a communicable disease;

(g) Certify to the President of the Philippines, through the Secretary of
Health, the termination of a public health emergency, which may serve
as basis for the de-escalation and eventual termination of emergency
response activities;

(h) Develop policies with provisions on penalties for local implementation
and enforcement, in consultation with the Secretary of Health:

(i) Provide recommendations on the corresponding rules and
regulations, as well as penalties, for local implementation and
enforcement that are necessary to control and prevent diseases within
the country and to prevent the introduction, transmission, or spread of
communicable diseases from other countries into the Philippines or
from one domestic seaport/airport to another; and

(ii) Provide public health preventive measures and intervention
strategies such as health education, promotion and advisories,
isolation, quarantine, inspections, fumigation, _ disinfection,
disinfestation, vector control, pest extermination, and destruction of
animals or articles found to be infected or contaminated as to be
sources of infection to human beings in coordination with other
concerned quarantine agencies such as veterinary quarantine, plant
quarantine, and other measures as may be necessary.

(i) Develop and coordinate with the Secretary of Health the containment
strategies for inland contagion or community transmission of public
health threats. During public health emergencies, the DOH shall
coordinate with the Bureau of Quarantine in 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 the Quarantine Act of 2004;

(j) Provide or obtain technical assistance to or from regional and local
health departments, private agencies, and international and
supranational agencies before, during, and after public emergencies;

(k) Develop a shared risk communication plan in coordination with the
DOH and the FDA;

(1) Liaise with other government agencies, _ non-governmental
organizations, international organizations, including the WHO, learning
and academic institutions, and other pertinent groups or entities in the
conduct of activities relating to disease prevention and control;

(m) Coordinate with appropriate DOH Offices regarding administrative and
program matters;

(n) Appoint eligible persons in accordance with Civil Service Law, rules and
regulations, and this Act;

(0) Delegate the powers vested under this Act to the Deputy Director
Generals; and

(p) Perform such other functions as may be mandated by law, or as may 4
be delegated by the Secretary of Health and/or the President.

SEC. 12. Special Powers of the President. - Upon the certification of the
existence of a public health emergency, in accordance with Section 11 (5)(b) of this
Act, may exercise the special powers, including mobilization of the governmental
and nongovernmental agencies, including the private sector. The President shall
respond to the threats and be authorized to do the following functions:


(a)Develop and initiate the implementation of national policies to prevent
and mitigate further transmission of diseases of public health importance;

(b)Direct the DILG, for proper information dissemination to LGUs of all rules,
regulations, and directives issued by the National Government pursuant to
this Act: Provided, That all LGUs are authorized to develop localized
policies and interventions provided these are aligned with the national
policy, rules and regulations;

(c) Direct the DOH to ensure adequate and equitable distribution of health
workers during public health emergencies and the provision of social
benefits and protection of health workers and their families and other
household members against discrimination;

(d)Ensure that concerned government agencies implement measure to
protect the people from hoarding, profiteering, injurious speculations,
manipulation of prices, monopolistic practices, other acts in restraint of 25
trade, or other pernicious practices affecting the supply, distribution, and
movement of food, clothing, hygiene and sanitation products, medicines
and medical supplies and devices, machinery equipment and spare parts
required in agriculture, industry, other essential services, and other
articles of prime necessity, whether imported or locally produced or
manufactured;

(e)Ensure through concerned government agencies that the donations
intended to address public health emergencies, the acceptance thereof
and distribution of donated health products and commodities are not
unnecessarily delayed considering their shelf-life, and that health products
and commodities for donation duly certified by the national regulatory
authorities or their accredited third party from countries with established
regulation shall be automatically cleared; and

(f) Perform such other functions and activities, as deemed necessary.

ARTICLE V
RESPONSE ACTION

SEC. 13. Response Cascade. — In case of public health emergencies due to
biological, chemical, and toxic events:

(a)The CDC, through the Philippine Research Institute of Medicine, shall
prepare and disseminate to the public and private sector the relevant
technical information and guidance;

(b)The DOH, through the Public Health Strategy and Management Bureau,
shall develop operational and intersectoral strategies guided by the
strategies and standards developed by the CDC;

(c)The DOH, through its regional offices, shall work closely with CDC,
through its regional CDCs to immediately respond to the public health
emergency. When necessary, the DOH shall tap into the Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management System to effectively respond to public health
emergencies;

(d)The CDC, through the Philippine Research Institute of Medicine, shall
activate the public health laboratory response network and continuously
provide guidance for core laboratory programs in quality management,
laboratory medicine and safety and security programs, laboratory
information management and surveillance, research and development,
and training;

(e)The CDC, through the Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance, shall
certify the veracity of the official data to be used as basis for response
and for public reporting, and provide standards and overail guidance to
the Bureau of Quarantine for the institutionalization of disease
surveillance at all points of entry and exit;

(f) The National Telecommunications © Commission and — any
telecommunications entity as defined under Republic Act No. 7925, or the
Public Telecommunications Policy Act of the Philippines, shall provide


location information of patients or persons suspected of contracting a
disease upon request of the CDC: Provided, That the CDC shall ensure
confidentiality of such information;

(g)The Secretary of Health, in coordination with the CDC, may undertake the
following functions in case of public health events:

(1)Hire, transfer, and deploy health personnel;

(2)Implement a whole-of-government and whole-of-society public health
emergency preparedness and response, in cooperation with the
DILG, LGUs, and the private sector;

(3)Strictly enforce and augment of border control and surveillance, in
coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Bureau of
Quarantine, Bureau of Immigration, Philippine Ports Authority,
Department of Agriculture, and Bureau of Customs;

(4)Commission research in coordination with DOST;

(5)Promote treatment, vaccination, or immunization against a contagious
disease, compelling the isolation or quarantine of persons who are
unable or unwilling, for reasons of health, religion, or conscience, to
undergo immunization or treatment: Provided, That the guidelines
for the exercise of such power shall be formulated with the
Department of Justice;

(6)Decontaminate any facility or decontaminate or destroy any material
when the CDC reasonably suspects that the same may endanger
public health, subject to the payment of just compensation
guaranteed under the Constitution;

(7)Issue and enforce measures for safe handling and disposal of human
and animal remains; and

(8)Require any health or funeral facility authorized by law to perform
such services as are reasonable and necessary to respond to a
public health emergency.

ARTICLE VI
SPECIAL POWERS/AUTHORITY TO ENABLE RESPONSE

SEC. 14. Authority for Other Professions to Administer, Dispense, and Provide
Commodities for Public Health Emergencies. — Notwithstanding any law to the
contrary, the Secretary of Health, with the recommendation of the CDC, shall allow
other health and allied medical professionals, such as pharmacists and midwives,
who are duly trained by the DOH or its authorized representatives, to administer,
dispense, and provide commodities considered as vital for public health
emergencies with special authorization or regular certificate of registration from the
FDA.

SEC. 15. Issuance of Special Regulatory Authorizations. — The CDC shall
recommend to the Secretary of Health the implementation of interventions under
special regulatory authorization issued by the FDA, pursuant to Section 4 of
Republic Act No. 3720, as amended by Republic Act No. 9711, or the FDA Act of
2009. In consultation with the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC), the
FDA shall be authorized to issue special authorizations for commodities during
public health emergencies, provided that the following are complied with:

(2) The special regulatory authorization is based on the totality of
available scientific evidence, including data from adequate and well-
documented controlled trials, and it is reasonable to believe that the
health product may be effective to prevent, diagnose, or treat the
disease/s of concern;

(b) The potential benefits of the health product when used to diagnose,
prevent, or treat disease/s of concern outweigh the known and
potential risks, if any; and

(c) There is no adequate, approved, and available alternative to the health
product for diagnosing, preventing, or treating disease/s of concern. In
the event that the declared public health emergency is lifted, special


authorizations issued by the FDA shall have provisional validity for a
period of one (1) year from the date of lifting of the declaration for the
sole purpose of exhausting remaining supplies.

SEC. 16. Inter-agency Cooperation and Confidentiality. For the purpose of
expediting the review of evidence, product authorization or registration, and the
appropriate release of recommendations and supporting policies, the DOH, FDA,
HTAC, and other relevant government agencies shall, without need for notice or
demand, immediately provide each other with any and all needed information:
Provided, That proprietary submissions of data, which include non-disclosure
agreements with manufacturers, traders, distributors, or other sources, shall also
be subject of non-disclosure agreements with other concerned agencies.

SEC. 17. Procurement of Commodities and Services for Public Health
Emergencies by the DOH. — The CDC shall recommend to the Secretary of Health
the procurement of essential commodities and services during public health
emergencies. The DOH and authorized parties, such as the LGUs and private
entities, shall be allowed to procure commodities for public health emergencies that
are recommended by any of the following:

(a) HTAC, pursuant to Section 34 of Republic Act No. 11223, or the
Universal Health Care Act;

(b) WHO; or

(c) Similar emergency authorizations from reputable and_ stringent
regulatory authorities of other countries.

To this end, the President may authorize the DOH and other parties to enter
into alternative modes of expedited procurement with United Nations Agencies,
international organizations, or international financing institutions and their
operational arms, such as, but not limited to, the WHO, United Nations Office for
Project Services, United Nations Children's Fund, and other third parties, subject to
the rules and policies set by the Department of Finance (DOF).

Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the DOH may disburse funds as
advance payment if required by the manufacturer, trader, or distributor: Provided,
That the authority to make advance payment shall be for the procurement of
commodities for public health emergencies and to secure other goods and services
necessary for their storage, transport, deployment, and administration: Provided
further, That the distribution and administration of unauthorized commodities for
public health emergencies shall be prohibited.

Health Technology Assessment shail not be required for repurposing or stock
realignment of commodities during public health emergencies that have already
been procured by the DOH, LGUs, and private sector entities: Provided, That
repurposing or stock realignment shall be in accordance with the indication of its
use as approved by the FDA.

SEC. 18. Authority to Direct the Operations of Private Establishments During
Public Health Emergencies. — Consistent with Sec. 17, Article XII of the
Constitution, when public interest so requires, the President, during public health
emergencies, may direct the operations of any privately-owned hospitals and
medical and health facilities, including passenger vessels, and other establishments,
to perform functions and provide support services for public health emergency
response, including housing health workers; serving as quarantine areas,
quarantine centers, medical relief and aid distribution locations, or other temporary
medical facilities; and ferrying health, emergency, and frontline personnel and
other persons: Provided, That the management and operation of such
establishments shall be retained by the owners: Provided further, That reasonable
compensation for any additional damage or costs incurred by the owner or the
possessor of the subject property solely on account of complying with the directive


shall be given to the person entitled to the possession of such private properties or
businesses after the situation has stabilized or at the soonest time practicable:
Provided finally, That if the foregoing establishments unjustifiably refuse or signify
that they are no longer capable of operating their enterprises for the purpose stated
herein, the President may take over their operations subject to the limits and
safeguards enshrined in the Constitution.

SEC. 19. Transition to Regular Authorization. — The FDA shall be authorized
to develop specific guidelines on the transition of the regulatory authorization of
commodities for public health emergencies from special use authorization to regular
certificate of registration. This is in consideration of the time needed to process
applications of health products for public health emergencies. The granting of a
regular certificate of registration by the FDA to the first brand deemed suitable for
such registration shall not immediately revoke all other special authorizations
granted by the FDA to other brands, any law to the contrary notwithstanding:
Provided, That once the DOH and the FDA had determined that the suppliers
granted with regular certificate of registration have enough capacity to supply the
country's projected needs, all other special authorizations issued shall be deemed
revoked by this Act, without prejudice to their holders completing the process to
obtain a regular certificate of registration; Provided further, That any remaining
stocks with a valid shelf-life but with a special authorization revoked pursuant to
this provision shall either be donated to a country where its use is still authorized
by its national regulatory authorities, or held in storage until it is registered or
disposed of appropriately upon the termination of its shelf-life.

SEC. 20. Immunity from Liability. — Notwithstanding any law to the contrary,
program implementors, public officials and employees, health care workers and
non9 health care workers, whether public or private who are authorized to carry out
and are actually involved in public health emergency response shall be immune
from suit and liability under Philippine laws with respect to all claims arising out of,
related to, or resulting from the administration or use of covered countermeasures
under the public health emergency response in the discharge of the
abovementioned covered persons’ official duties, except those arising from willful
misconduct and gross negligence.

The members of the FDA and the National Adverse Events Following
Immunization Committee and its regional counterparts during the conduct of
monitoring for probable adverse effects from the commodities for public health
emergency shall similarly enjoy the privileges given under this section, waiving any
liability unless the said members’ actions are tantamount to gross negligence or
willful misconduct.

SEC. 21. Enabling Local Vaccine Manufacturing. — The DOFI and the CDC,
together with the DOST and DTI and other entities concerned, shall develop
initiatives for strengthening scientific and technological capabilities in responding to
public health emergencies, including promoting vaccine self-reliance in the country.

The Vaccine Self-Reliance National Action Plan shall serve as a roadmap for
all stakeholders at all levels to guide the development of policies, strategies, and
initiatives, such as but not limited to, incentivizing investment and maintenance of
vaccine manufacturing infrastructure, both public and private.

The National Government, through the DOF, shall ensure the provision of
incentives, such as tax exemptions, tax breaks, or remittance, and other financing
mechanisms, as applicable, to promote and enable the establishment of local
vaccine manufacturing in the Philippines.


ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SEC. 22. Funding Mechanism for Scientific Projects and Activities. — The CDC
shall establish a grant mechanism to allow direct transfer of funds to eligible public
or private institutions to perform approved scientific projects and activities,
including primary and secondary research and clinical practice guideline
development, increased training and capacity-building opportunities for CDC
personnel, in support of the priorities of the CDC.

SEC. 23. Intergovernmental Collaborative Activities. — The CDC shall
recommend to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of Health
multilateral and bilateral agreements which the country may adopt to strengthen its
collaborative mechanisms with other countries.

SEC. 24. Transitory Provision. — The CDC, in coordination with the DOH and
LCDs, shall craft a multi-year plan to ensure the timely implementation of this Act.

To this end, the multi-year pian shall include, but not limited to the following:

(a) Phased expansion of the capacity of the CDC to cover other health
conditions or threats in view of the needs of the Philippine health
sector;

(b) Transfer of human resource and properties;

(c) _ Require that every province and city-wide health system have full-time
22 Disease Surveillance Officers, without prejudice to the need for
Disease Surveillance Officers in municipalities, as may be deemed
necessary;

(d) Establishment of sub-national laboratories and regional public health
laboratories;

(e) Emergency funding and procurement of commodities and hiring during
public health emergencies; and

(f) Establishment of infrastructure and acquisition of parcels of land to
house the national offices under the CDC. The DOH, upon coordination
with the CDC, shall submit the funding requirements with
corresponding annual targets for the implementation of the multi-year
plan to the DBM and concerned agencies, for the determination of
appropriate national budget allocation: Provided, That for local budget
allocation, the LGUs shall also appropriate the necessary funds to
ensure the proper implementation of this Act, in relation to their
devolved functions under Republic Act No. 11223, or the Universal
Health Care Act, and other existing laws.

SEC. 25. Modernization Program. —The Director General shall, in consultation
with the DOH, other concerned agencies of government and the private sector,
develop a modernization program that will strengthen the human resource of the
CDC, which is the key component of the country’s disease prevention and control
policy. The modernization program shall include, but not limited to, the acquisition
and upgrading of appropriate technologies, laboratories, facilities, equipment, other
needed resources, and the needed relocation and acquisition of additional land or
location that would house the CDC.

Within one hundred eighty (180) days from the effectivity of this Act, the
Director General shall, with the recommendation of the DOH and DBM, submit the
modernization program for the consideration and approval of Congress.

The modernization program shall be immediately implemented and
completed within five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act. Appropriations for
the modernization program shall be charged against the annual General

Appropriations Act.


SEC. 26. Authority to Solicit, Negotiate, and Receive Donations, Grants, Gifts,
Legacies, Endowments, and Contributions. —The CDC may solicit, negotiate with,
and receive from any public or private domestic or foreign sources legacies, gifts,
donations, grants, endowments, contributions or other transfers of ownership
and/or possession of real or personal properties of all kinds for use in its
operations, such as, but not limited to, upgrading of its facilities, and equipment
outlay, development and expansion of human resource, and acquisition of the
appropriate office spaces to improve the delivery of its services to the public.

The Director General shall be authorized to retain, without need of a separate
approval from any government agency, and subject only to existing accounting and
auditing rules and regulations, all the legacies, gifts, donations, grants,
endowments, contributions or other transfers of ownership and/or possession of
real or personal properties of all kinds solicited, negotiated, and received by the
CDC under this Act and other laws that it is mandated to administer based on the
immediately prior year of operations: Provided, That the same, in addition to the
annual budget of the CDC, shall be deposited and maintained in a separate account
or fund, which may be used or disbursed directly by the Director General to fulfill
the original purpose of the funds.

SEC. 27. Tax Exemptions. — Donations, grants, gifts, endowments, legacies,
and contributions used actually, directly and exclusively for the purpose of the CDC
shall be exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be considered as allowable
deduction from gross income for purposes of computing the taxable income of the
donor, in accordance with the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as
amended: Provided, That such other transfers of ownership and/or possession of all
kinds of real or personal properties shall be exempt from all taxes.

SEC. 28. Annual Report. — The CDC shall submit to Congress and the Office
of the President an annual report containing the followin

(a) Evaluation of the current and emerging threats to health in the
country;

(b) Progress in International Health Regulation commitments, as well as
initiatives undertaken; and

(c) Proposed legislative measures to address these threats.

SEC. 29. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the initial
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year appropriations
of the offices and agencies concerned. Thereafter, the funding requirements for the
ensuing years shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 30. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The DOH shall promulgate
the necessary implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) working days
from the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 31. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall not be
affected thereby.

SEC. 32. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations, other issuances, or parts thereof, inconsistent with any provision of this
Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 33. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,