Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1363

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REP. CHRISTOPHER S. CO and REP. RODEL M. BATOCABE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to mandate local goverment units, communities, households, business
establishments and schools to participate in the nationwide program against Dengue. Given
that the disease is preventable, this bill seeks to provide a community-based prevention and
control in endemic areas, and strengthens existing policies that are already being implemented
by the DOH and local goverment units (LGUs).

The DOH has reported 70, 204 dengue cases as of September 10, 2011. This data has
decreased by around 25%-50% in the past year depending on the season. This significant
reduction is attributable to the concerted efforts of all the stakeholders, especially local
‘governments and communities.

However, according to the Department of Health (DOH), Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever
has remained as one of the major health problems during the rainy season and is prevalent in
urban centers where population density is high, and where solid waste collection and water
supply and storing is inadequate. Prevalence of dengue is also attributable to the fact that
countries in the tropics and sub-tropics, such as the Philippines, are the most vulnerable to
Dengue, It is an all-year round disease and a threat to public health

The efforts of DOH and local government units are admirable as they have already
significantly reduced dengue cases. However, since most transmission happen among family
members and inside the homes, where breeding places of the mosquitoes are most of the time
overlooked, this bill engages private individuals, households, and establishments in the
participation to effectively eliminate dengue

Furthermore, because there is still no vaccine against Dengue, policies should focus on
preventive measures which includes, but are not limited to, cleanliness of surroundings,
personal hygiene, awareness of symptoms, and active reporting of possible incidence of
dengue, which in general, are ways to prevent mosquito bites. Policies should also include
early recognition and prompt support treatment that can lower the risk of acquiring the full-
blown disease

This bill not only encourages maintaining clean surroundings but mandates pro-active
participation of both private and public sectors and provides penalty to violators

Chfistgpher S. Co



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1363

HOUSE BILL NO.

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CONTROL AND ELIMINATION OF DENGU!
PRESCRIBING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREOF AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

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

Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Anti-Dengue Act of 2013"

Section 2, Declaration of Policy.- It is the declared policy of the State to protect and
promote the right to health of the people. Towards this end, a system for the control,
prevention of the spread, and eventual eradication of dengue shall be provided

Section 3. National Dengue Prevention and Control Program. - It is hereby mandated that
there shall be a National Dengue Prevention and Control Program to be implemented by a
multi-agency/multi-sectoral committee chaired by the National Center for Disease Prevention
and Control of the Department of Health. The program shall be a multi-agency effort in
controlling and eliminating Dengue in the country. Among its component activities include:
(J) institutionalization of regular clean-up drives including search and destroying mosquito
breeding sites and fogging in barangays, schools, and government offices: (2) encouragement
‘of awareness and self-protection and prevention programs; (3) provision of consultation at the
nearest health centers, and (4) conduct of information and education campaign on the
prevention and control of Dengue. The program shall be implemented by the Department of
Health (DOH), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of the Interior
and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Education (DepEd), as well as the Metro
Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Local Government Units (LGUs) with the
assistance of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Non-
Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and People's Organizations (POs),

Sec. 4, Responsibilities of Households and Establishments ~ All households and
establishments shall be required to:
(a) Dispose, empty. seal, store under a roof containers that are usually filled with
rainwater such as discarded tires, bottles, broken appliances, garbage, paint cans;
(b) Cover, maintain in good condition, clean containers or replace water for containers
that are usually filled with water by people such as drums, aquariums, ponds, fountains,
animal feeding bowls, and pools.
(c) Keep surroundings and areas of responsibility clean and remove puddles of water;
(d) Maintain in good condition and supply with running water fountains, and other
artificial or ornamental water containers:
(e) Advice water authorities of broken water-meters, tanks, and pipelines,
(8 Conduct fogging if practicable;
(g) Report to the doctor and the nearest health center if any household member and
employee has any of the symptoms of Dengue;
(h) Implement other preventive actions that the Department of Health may provide:



Section 5, Responsibilities of Government Agencies. - The following government agencies,
which shall jointly implement the National Dengue Prevention and Control Program, shall be
tasked to’

A, Department of Health:
(1) Improve and upgrade existing laboratory diagnostic capabilities to ensure better
services to the people.
(2) Ensure the availability and adequate supply of medications at all times
(3) Stimulate the development, improvement and implementation of new strategies and
interventions to improve our understanding of dengue progression and pathogenesis,
(4) Design projects and studies to help identify ways to better describe the impact of
dengue infections, reduce intra-household spread of dengue infections, medical
complications and case fatality rates;
(5) Implementation and evaluation of train-the-trainer program to instruct healthcare
providers on the clinical management of dengue infections, and
(6) Design hospital-based surveillance systems for suspected dengue cases;
(7) Coordinate with the DepEd in the development of appropriate health education
strategy to inform the public on Dengue prevention and control;
(8) Encourage collaborative activities with the DOST, DepEd, DILG, DENR, NGOs, POs
and other concerned sectors.

B. Barangays and other LGUs. - All Barangays shall be required to
(1) Ensure that all households and establishments comply with their responsibilities
within their respective areas,
(2) Allocate funds to augment the implementation of the National Dengue Prevention
and Control Program, particularly for fogging and the financing of supplies needed for
prevention:
(3) Enact additional local ordinances that will support the National Dengue Prevention
and Control Program and initiate programs in which should include awareness campaign,
preventive measures, and clean-up drives:
(4) For purposes of ensuring the administrative feasibility of implementing the provisions
of this Act, the LGU shall collect the fines. Any and all fines collected pursuant to this
‘Act shall be used for the enhancement of the National Dengue Prevention and Control
Program within the locality concemed, as well as the achievement of the objectives
envisioned in this Act

The DILG shall ensure compliance of these responsibilities by the LGUs.

C. Department of Education
(1) Strengthen dengue education program through schoo! health teaching/curriculum;
(2) Conduct clean-up drives in school premises and surrounding areas;
(3) Advice water authorities of broken water-meters, tanks, and pipelines;
(4) Conduct regular fogging in school premises,
(5) Report to the school clinic if any student, faculty, or staff shows any of the symptoms
of Dengue and coordinate with health centers, hospitals, or DOH of any of dengue cases,
(6) Encourage collaborative activities and information-sharing with the DOH, DILG,
DENR, NGOs, POs and other concerned sectors,
(7) Integrate proper information and education in the relevant subjects in the Elementary
and High School levels, and
(8) Implement other preventive actions that the Department of Health may provide.

Sec. 6. Assistance of NGOs and the Academe. - The agencies tasked to implement the anti-
Dengue program shall seek the assistance and participation of NGOs in any of the following
activities:

(1) Community mobilization

(2) Health education/information dissemination on Dengue.

(3) Mass anti-Dengue campaign

(4) Promotion of the anti-Dengue campaign.


(5) Surveillance/reporting of Dengue cases.
(6) Any other activities geared towards the prevention and complete eradication of
Dengue.

Section 7. Penalties. - Households, establishments and schools who fail or refuse to eliminate
breeding places of mosquitoes shall be punished by a fine of Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00),

Section 8, Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DA, in coordination with the DOH,
DILG, DepEd, DENR, NGOs and POs shall issue the necessary rules and regulations within
sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act

Section 9. Appropriations. - The amount of One Hundred Million Pesos (P100,000,000.00)
necessary to implement the provisions of this Act shall be initially charged against the
appropriations of the DOH, DOST, DENR, DILG and DepEd under the General
Appropriations Act. For the LGUs, the requirements shall be taken from their Internal
Revenue Allotment and other local funds. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its
continued implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act

Section 10. Separability Clause - In case any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the other provisions shall remain in full force and effect

Section 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes
earlier

Approved