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House Bill No. 2408 RS inoey

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
2" District, locos Norte

EXPLANATORY NOTE

With the emergence and the reemergence of infectious diseases such as
Ebola, SARS, MERS, avian flu, swine flu, chikungunya, and Zika, focus has
shifted to health care system capacity. The Covid-19 pandemic further exposed
the weaknesses of the country’s health system, particularly the isolation and
quarantine capabilities of government hospitals.

Isolation and quarantine are considered effective health strategies in
times of public health emergencies, but without having the proper facilities,
these strategies are proven futile.

This bill seeks to mandate the establishment of isolation and quarantine
facilities such as building, wing, or ward in all government hospitals to
prevent the spread of contagious and highly contagious diseases or emerging
and re-emerging infectious diseases. The establishment of these facilities will
strengthen preparedness and response capabilities of government hospitals,
especially in times of public health emergencies like the Covid-19 pandemic.

In normal conditions, the said facilities shall be utilized as infectious
disease facility or in other instances as may be deemed necessary by the
Department of Health (DOH), or upon request by the concerned government
hospital.

The proposed measure also seeks to institutionalize the conversion of
public buildings into isolation and quarantine facilities to help ease the
burden of hospitals and ensure the health and safety of the community during
a public health emergency.

In light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is
earnestly sought.

ANGI .COS BARBA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2408

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
24 District, Ilocos Norte

AN ACT MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ISOLATION
AND QUARANTINE FACILITIES IN ALL GOVERNMENT
HOSPITALS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Isolation and
Quarantine Facilities Act”.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the declared policy of the State
to improve the delivery of health services to the people. To protect people
from public health threats, there is a need to establish isolation and
quarantine facilities to prevent the spread of contagious and highly contagious
diseases.

SECTION 3. Definition of terms. —

a. Infectious disease or diseases - is or are caused by pathogenic
microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi; the
diseases can be spread, directly or indirectly, from one person to
another.

b. Isolation facility — a place or space for persons who are ill or infected
to prevent its transmission to others.

¢. Quarantine facility — a place or space for persons who are not ill but
may have been exposed to an infectious agent or contagious disease,
with the objective of monitoring their symptom and ensuring early
detection of cases.

SECTION 4. Establishment of Isolation and Quarantine Facilities in
Government Hospitals. — All government hospitals shall establish isolation
and quarantine facilities, such as building, wing, or ward, to prevent the
spread of contagious diseases or emerging and re-emerging infectious disease,
in accordance with international standards and _ guidelines or
recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO).


Isolated individuals shall be confined separately from quarantined
individuals.

The isolation and quarantine facilities dedicated to be used during public
health emergencies shall have at least 25 beds, respectively; Provided, that
during normal times, these facilities shall be utilized as infectious disease
facility or in other instances as may be deemed necessary by the Department
of Health (DOH), or upon request by the concerned government hospital.

SECTION 5. Conversion of Government-Owned Buildings into Isolation
and/or Quarantine Facilities. — In case of public health emergencies or when
public safety requires, government-owned buildings or facilities shall be
converted into isolation and/or quarantine facilities to prevent household
infection, reduce community spread of the disease, and decongest hospitals.

The conversion of these facilities must comply with the isolation and
quarantine standards set by the DOH and the WHO.

SECTION 6. Lead Agency. - The DOH, in coordination with the local
government units and other relevant government agencies, shall lead the
establishment of these facilities.

SECTION 7. Appropriations. — The initial amount necessary for the
establishment of the isolation and quarantine facilities in government
hospitals shall be charged from the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of
the DOH. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the establishment and
maintenance of these facilities shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within thirty (30)
days from approval of this Act, the DOH, in consultation with stakeholders,
shall issue the implementing rules and regulations of this Act. This shall
include the guidelines on the procedure and proper use of the isolation and
quarantine facilities,

SECTION 9. Separability Clause. — Any portion or provisions of this Act
that is declared unconstitutional shall not have effect of nullifying other
portions or provisions hereof as long as such remaining portions can still
subsist and be given effect in their entirety.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. — Any provision of law, decree, order,
rule or regulation inconsistent with this Act is hereby repealed and/or
modified accordingly.

SECTION 11. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,