NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 2508
V- of tlie ■ c:.ar
23 DEC--6 P3 49
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING AND RATIONALIZING THE REGULATORY CAPACITY OF 
THE BUREAU OF QUARANTINE (BOQ), RENAMING IT TO PHILIPPINE 
QUARANTINE AUTHORITY (PQA), REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT 9271 (RA 
9271), AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical importance of a robust 
and adaptive pubiic heaith infrastructure. As we continue to grappie with the 
repercussions, of the giobal health crisis, it becomes evident that the existing 
mechanisms for managing outbreaks and epidemics in the Philippines require 
reinforcement and modernization. In response to these pressing chaiienges, this bill 
seeks to transform the Bureau of Quarantine into the Philippine Quarantine Authority 
(PQA) and restore the military ranks to its officials to fortify their authority in dealing 
with outbreaks and public health emergencies.
The proposed conversion to the PQA is grounded in the recognition of the need 
for a certain level of coercive authority to effectively manage and mitigate the impact 
of outbreaks and public health emergencies. By returning military ranks to quarantine 
officials, the PQA will be empowered to act swiftly and decisively, ensuring the 
immediate implementation of quarantine measures and the enforcement of public 
health protocols.
The bill acknowledges the valuable lessons learned from the COVID-19 
pandemic, particularly the importance of managing the ingress and egress of


individuals and goods to prevent the entry and spread of potential health hazards. The 
PQA will play a pivotal role in safeguarding the nation by implementing rigorous 
quarantine measures, thereby minimizing the risk of infectious diseases entering the 
country.
The creation of the PQA is complementary to the Center for Disease Control 
(CDC) Act. While the CDC focuses on research activities, the PQA will serve as the 
regulatory and implementing agency responsible for executing and enforcing these 
regulations on the ground. This synergy ensures a comprehensive and coordinated 
approach to public health management, aligning research efforts with practical 
measures for effective disease prevention and control.
In conclusion, the conversion of the Bureau of Quarantine into the Philippine 
Quarantine Authority (PQA) is a crucial step towards building a resilient public health 
infrastructure. By learning from the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, this 
bill seeks to equip the country with the necessary tools and authority to effectively 
manage outbreaks and epidemics, protecting the health and well-being of our citizens.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
Senator


v.,:;!; &uaaii
of tiif €: • ■' -'f' (■;■■
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
S. No
SENATE
2508
23 DEC “6 P3 ‘A9
RECEIVED BV;
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
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AN ACT
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STRENGTHENING AND RATIONALIZING THE REGULATORY CAPACITY OF
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THE BUREAU OF QUARANTINE (BOQ), RENAMING IT TO PHILIPPINE
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QUARANTINE AUTHORITY (PQA), REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT 9271 (RA
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9271), AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Tide. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Quarantine
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Authority Act of 2023".
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SECTION 2. Change of Name. - The Bureau of Quarantine is hereby renamed
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as the Philippine Quarantine Authority (PQA).
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SECTION 3. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to
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improve the delivery of health care services to the people, and to protect the people
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from public heaith threats during public heaith emergencies through the efficient and
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effective response system for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, diseases
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for eiimination and eradication, epidemics, and heaith events, inciuding chemicai,
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bioiogicai, radio-nuclear and environmental agents of public health concern. Pursuant
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to this policy, the State must enhance the regulatory policy to strengthen its capabiiity
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with regard to the inspection, surveiilance, apprehension, and detention of any pubiic
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health threats.


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SECTION 4. Reinstitution of Miiitary Rank of Commissioned Officers of the
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PQA. - The Director General shall have the rank of Rear Admiral or higher and all
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quarantine medical officers, including other allied health officers, under him shall have
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the ranks of Commodore, Captain, Commander, Lieutenant Commander, Lieutenant
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(senior grade). Lieutenant (junior grade). Such quarantine officers shall be
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commissioned by the President, upon the recommendation of the Director General of
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the PQA with the approval of the Secretary of Health.
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SECTION 5. The Director Generai and Other Officers of PQA. - The following
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are the officers of PQA and their qualifications:
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a. The' PQA shall be headed by a Director General, with the rank of 
Undersecretary, who must be a Doctor of Medicine, preferably with a relevant 
master's degree in public health. In addition, he or she shall have management 
experience in his or her field or discipline or profession and in any development, 
surveillance, or regulatory work as covered in this Act.
b. The Director General shall be assisted by two (2) Deputy Director Generals, 
one for Field Regulatory Operations and another for Administration and 
Finance.
c. The Director General and Deputy Director Generals shall be appointed by 
the President of the Republic of the Philippines from among the flag officers in 
the PQA.
d. The Deputy Director General for Field Regulatory Operations of the PQA, 
with the rank of Assistant Secretary, must be a Doctor of Medicine, preferably 
with a relevant master's degree in public health. In addition, he or she shall 
have management experience in his or her field or discipline or profession and 
in any development, surveillance, or regulatory work as covered in this Act.
e. The Deputy Director General for Administration and Finance of the PQA, with 
the rank of Assistant Secretary, shall be a lawyer, certified public accountant or 
shall possess a master's degree in accounting, management, economics or any


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business course, and have management experience in a position related to his 
or her field of discipline or profession.
f. Each field operation cluster and finance and administrative cluster shall be 
headed by a Director who shall be assisted by an assistant director. These 
directors shall be appointed by the Director General, upon the recommendation 
of the Deputy Director Generals.
g. The existing Directors and Division Chiefs shall be given preference in the 
appointment as Deputy Director General, provided that if the current officers 
of the PQA applying for the above positions lack the required third level civil 
service.eligibility, they will have to comply with the said requirement within 
three (3) years from the appointment, otherwise their appointment shall be 
revoked immediately;
h. The Director General shall control, direct and manage all quarantine stations, 
grounds, anchorages and designate their boundaries. With the approval of the 
Secretary of Health, he shall establish such additional quarantine stations, 
grounds and anchorages. The Director General, in the same manner, may also 
order the closure of non-functional quarantine stations, grounds and 
anchorages; and
i. The Director General has the authority to appoint personnel from assistant 
director and below, as deemed necessary, subject to the requirements and 
guidelines provided by law.
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SECTION 6. Jurisdictions of the PQA. - The following are the jurisdictions of
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the PQA:
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a. The examination at points of entry and exit in the Philippines of incoming 
and outgoing vessels and aircrafts, the necessary surveillance over their 
sanitary conditions, as well as over their cargoes, passengers, crews, and all 
personal effects, and the issuance of quarantine certificates, bills of health, or 
other equivalent documents;


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b. The examination of interisland ports of entry and exit in the Philippines of 
incoming and outgoing vessels and aircrafts, their sanitary conditions, and the 
necessary surveillance on passengers and crew. In the event of quarantine 
certificates, bills of threat, examination over their cargoes, all personal effects, 
the issuance of quarantine certificates, bills of health, or other equivalent 
documents shall be vested in and be conducted by the PQA;
c. The PQA shall have jurisdiction over incoming and outgoing vessels and 
aircrafts, both domestic and foreign, private and government-owned, including 
those of the armed forces;
d. Authority over quarantine stations nationwide;
e. The wharfage, seaport, and airport terminals, including the 400-meter 
controlled perimeter for vector management program;
f. Food service establishments, service provider for food and water supplies at 
seaport and airport terminals and inside perimeter; and
g. Authority over designated national quarantine facilities for international 
travelers.
SECTION 7. Authority to Promulgate and Enforce Rules and Regulations. -
(a) The Director General with the approval of the Secretary of Health, is 
authorized to promulgate and enforce rules and regulations as in his judgment 
are necessary to prevent the introduction, transmission or spread of "public 
health emergencies of international concern" from foreign countries into the 
Philippines or from one (1) domestic seaport/airport to another.
For purposes of implementing these regulations, the Director General may 
provide intervention strategies such as health education and advisories, 
inspections, fumigation, disinfection, pest extermination, vaccination for 
international travel, medical examination of aliens/foreigners for immigration 
purposes and destruction of animals or articles found to be infected or 
contaminated as to be sources of infection to human beings in coordination
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with other concerned quarantine agencies such as veterinary quarantine, piant
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quarantine, etc. and other measures as in his judgment may be necessary.
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(b) Regulations prescribed under this section shaii provide for the
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apprehension, detention or surveiliance for the purpose of preventing the
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introduction, transmission or spread of such pubiic heaith emergencies of
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international concern as may be specified from time to time in Department
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Orders by the Secretary of Health upon the recommendation of the
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internationai heaith surveiiiance.
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(c) Whenever it is deemed necessary for the protection of the pubiic heaith of
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the nation from public heaith emergencies of international concern,
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immunization and other preventabie measures against these diseases shaii be
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mandatory on all persons arriving at any seaport/airport of entry in the
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Phiiippines.
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(d) The Secretary of Heaith, upon the recommendation of the Director Generai,
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may prescribe examination of any individual believed to be infected with a
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disease of internationai concern on board vesseis and aircraft entering any
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seaport or airport in the Phiiippines. Such ruies and reguiations may provide
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that if upon examination, any such individual is found to be infected or has
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been exposed to infection considered as dangerous contact, he may be isoiated
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aboard a vessei, in a hospitai with facilities for infectious diseases, at a
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quarantine station, or at any isolation facility, and in such a manner as may be
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proscribed by the said reguiations.
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SECTION 8. Prohibition of Entry of Hazardous Cargo and Materiais. -
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Whenever the Director General determines that there is an existence of any pubiic
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health emergency of international concern in a foreign country, and that there is
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imminent danger of the introduction of hazardous cargoes or materiais into the
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Phiiippines, he, in coordination with the Bureau of Customs and other concerned
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agencies, may recommend to the President, through the Secretary of Heaith, the
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prohibition of its entry for public health interest.


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SECTION 9. Powers and Functions. - The PQA, with the category of a first-
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class line agency under the Department of Health, shall have the following powers
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and functions;
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a. Implement our international commitments in accordance with the 
International Health Regulations (IHR) of the World Health Organization 
(WHO);
b. Conduct surveillance, apprehension, and detention of any individuals and 
goods considered as imminent public health threat;
c. Uphold preventive care to travelers by formulating policies and guidelines 
on core components of travel medicine and code of ethical practice of travel 
medicine in the country;
d. Establish and maintain quarantine facilities nationwide with international 
ports;
e. Grant, within its capabilities and consistent with its mandate, request for 
assistance of other government agencies in the performance of their functions;
f. Detain and hold all passengers, vessels, aircrafts, and cargoes found 
violating quarantine laws of the Philippines; and
g. Perform such other functions that may be necessary in the attainment of 
the objectives of this Act.
SECTION 10. Quarantine Documentary Requirements and Bills of Health.-
a. All vessels or aircraft from foreign ports arriving at any port of the Philippines 
shall be required to submit the required maritime declaration of health and 
general declaration and other documents as prescribed by the regulations;
b. All ocean-going vessels or international aircraft from foreign seaports or 
airports calling at any seaport or airport in the Philippines to disembark its 
passengers or discharge its cargo, or for other purposes must secure a


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quarantine clearance in compliance with the health regulations. This 
quarantine certificate or clearance (Pratique) shall be a prerequisite to customs 
clearance;
c. After compliance with the quarantine laws and regulations, all vessels or 
aircraft leaving any seaport or airport of the Philippines shall secure quarantine 
outgoing clearance. This certificate or clearance shall also be a prerequisite to 
customs clearance of outgoing vessels and aircraft;
d. Subject to quarantine laws and regulations, all vessels or aircraft entering 
and leaving any domestic seaport or airport of the Phiiippines shail secure 
quarantine documents during outbreak or regional public health emergency;
e. Subject to quarantine laws and regulations, during outbreak or national 
public health emergency, for local and international travel, individuals shall 
secure applicable bills of health;
f. All immigrant visa applicants, student visa applicants, pre-arranged 
employment visa applicants, visa applicants obviously afflicted with Class A 
condition and tourist visa applicants from selected countries based on WHO 
Guidelines shall, as a pre-requisite to the issuance of their respective visa by 
the Bureau of Immigration, secure a Quarantine Clearance from the PQA and 
no visa shall be issued by the Bureau of Immigration to the aforementioned 
applicants without the required Quarantine Clearance from the PQA; and
g. Such other documents which may be required by WHO and other 
international and national regulatory bodies reiating to the purposes of this 
Act.
SECTION 11. Penalties. -
a. Penalties for persons violating quarantine iaws
i. Whoever violates or refuses to comply with the provisions of this Act or 
whoever enters or departs from the limits of any quarantine stations, 
grounds or anchorages without prior compliance with the quarantine rules
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and regulations or without permission from the quarantine officer in 
charge, shall be punished by a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos 
(Php 50,000.00) but not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 
100,000.00), or by imprisonment of not more than one (1) year, or both, 
at the discretion of the court.
ii. If the act or omission penalized by this Act be committed by an 
association, partnership, corporation or any other institution, its managing 
head, directors or partners shall be liable to the penalties provided in this 
Act for the offense.
iii. Criminal action arising from a violation of the provisions of this Act may 
be commenced by the PQA either under this Act, or in appropriate cases, 
under the Revised Penal Code. Provided, that such criminal action may be 
filed by the PQA in the city or municipality where the PQA Quarantine 
Station is located if the vioiation was committed within its territorial 
jurisdiction or in Metro Manila, at the option of the PQA.
b. Administrative Penalties
i. The PQA shall, motu proprio or upon a complaint or charge by any 
individual, corporation, association, or organization, against any person, 
vessel or aircraft or any of its personnel who violated the provisions of 
this Act, its Implementing Rules and Regulations, terms and conditions, 
orders, instructions or rules and regulations of PQA, investigate and verify 
if such person vessel, aircraft or any of its personnel, is guilty of the 
charges or complaints.
ii. Any person who violated or otherwise failed to comply with the terms 
and conditions, orders, instructions or rules and regulations of the PQA 
shall be subject to a fine of at least Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php50,000.00) 
but not exceeding One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Phpl00,000.00), and 
the PQA is hereby authorized and empowered to impose such fine, after 
due notice and hearing.
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iii. Any vessel or aircraft who violated or otherwise failed to comply with 
the terms and conditions, orders, instructions or rules and regulations of 
the PQA shall be subject to a fine of at least Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php 
50,000.00) but not exceeding One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 
100,000.00), and the PQA is hereby authorized and empowered to impose 
such fine, after due notice and hearing.
iv. The fines so imposed shall be paid to the PQA, and failure to pay the 
fine in any case within the period specified in the order or decision of the 
PQA shall be deemed good and sufficient reason for withholding the 
operation of the vessel or aircraft until payment shall be made. Payment 
may also be enforced by appropriate action brought in a court of 
competent jurisdiction. The remedy provided in this section shall not be a 
bar to, or affect any other remedy provided in this Act but shall be 
cumulative and additional to such remedy or remedies.
V. Implementation of the orders or decisions of the PQA may also be 
enforced by mandamus or injunction in appropriate cases, or by action to 
compel the specific performance of the orders or decisions so made, or of 
the duties imposed by this Act upon such person, vessel or aircraft.
SECTION 12. Fees and Other Incomes-
a. Upon the sole approval of the Secretary of Health, the authorization and 
other fees shall be reviewed by the PQA every three (3) years.
b. There shall be determined and constituted additional fees such as sale of 
publications and services, assessment fees, fines, penalties, and other fees and 
charges outside the usual fees such as but not limited to vaccination, 
laboratory, quarantine permits; to be known as "other related regulatory fees".
c. The Director General of the PQA, upon approval of the Secretary of Health, 
shall be authorized to promulgate rules and regulations governing the collection 
of the "other related regulatory fees".


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SECTION 13. Authority to Utilize Income. - The PQA may be authorized by
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the President, through the Secretary of Health, to retain and/or use not less than fifty
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percent (50%) of its income generated subject to accounting and auditing rules and
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regulations,
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All such incomes allowed to be retained shall be deposited in an authorized
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government depository bank as a special regulatory fund. Any interest earned by such
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fund shall form part of the retained income. Such fund shall be used to augment the
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MOOE and Capital Outlay requirements for existing items in the PQA's budget.
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SECTION 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The PQA shall
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promulgate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act within sixty (60) days
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after the enactment of this Act.
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SECTION 15. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation
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of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations for the Bureau
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of Quarantine. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous implementation
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of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).
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SECTION. 16. Separability Clause. - In the event any provision of this Act or
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the application of such provision to any person or circumstances is declared invalid,
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the remainder of this Act or the application of said provisions to other persons or
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circumstances shall not be affected by such declaration.
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SECTION 17. Repealing Clause. - This Act explicitly repeals R.A. No. 9271, or
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the Quarantine Act of 2004. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations,
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memorandum orders, memorandum circulars, administrative orders, ordinances, and
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other issuances, or any part thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby
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revoked, amended, or modified accordingly.
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SECTION 18. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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complete publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) national newspapers of
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general circulation.
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Approved,
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