EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES 
Second Regular Session
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SENATE 
S.B. No. 1801
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
FILED
NDEX
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING PHILIPPINE HEALTH SECURITY AND EMERGENCY 
PREPAREDNESS, READINESS AND RESPONSE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
As the country surged past 200,000 cases, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the 
gaps in the country's preparedness and readiness in responding to heaith 
emergencies. Early lessons from our COVID-19 response indicated the need for political 
and financial commitments to preparedness and readiness as Integral component of 
public health emergency plan and response.
Likewise, a whole-of-govemment and whole-of-soclety approach to public health 
emergency response would require enhanced national-local and multi-stakeholder 
coordination mechanisms.
At the same time, as State party to the International Health Regulations (IHR), the 
Philippine government is required to develop minimum core capacities to detect, assess, 
report, and respond to acute public health events and emergencies.
To assess and build our IHR core capacities, the World Health Organization (WHO) 
and the Department of Health (DOH) engaged in a Joint External Evaluation (JEE) in 2018 
and recommended for the government to enhance high-level political commitment and 
accountability to advance the implementation of the IHR; to develop an overarching 
national action plan for health security; to designate an over-all high level, multi-sectoral 
and health-led body that would direct, oversee and coordinate implementation of national 
action plan; to optimize public health emergency preparedness and response action at 
regional and local levels; and to continuously Improve based on lessons learned and best 
practices in health security and emergency response.


Based on these recommendations, this bill seeks to provide a policy framework 
that would establish a national action plan for health security and emergencies, define its 
Institutional and implementation mechanisms, determine national-local coordination level, 
and identify source of funding. The bill also intends to enable our health sector to lead in 
the realization and implementation of our IHR commitments with an end view of saving 
more lives and preventing social disruption In time of public health security and 
emergendes.
In light of this, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
RISA HONTIVEROS U 
Senator


\ II k. r*'
4^0?m
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES 
Second Regular Session
o
E-FILED
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1801
I Hi r>A Tit;. Sept 01 2020 m
iCO
time:
9:00 a.m.
SY
BItt
INDEX
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING PHILIPPINE HEALTH SECURITY AND EMERGENCY 
PREPAREDNESS/ READINESS AND RESPONSE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of tee Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
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Section 1. We. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Heaith Security and
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Emergency Act of 2020".
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The 1987 Constitution (Article II, Section 15)
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declares that the State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and
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instill health consciousness among them.
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As a State Party to the International Health Regulations (IHR), the Philippines is
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required to build its core capacities to detect, assess, report and respond to public health
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events and emergencies.
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In light of a more coordinated implementation of the IHR, the State shall invest in
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preparedness, readiness and response to prevent and protect its people against the
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spread of diseases and other health ha2ards, as part of broader efforts to move towards
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universal health care.
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Sec. 3. General Objectives. -
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a. Establish an over-arching national action plan for health security and
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emergency which will harmonize the implementation of the IHR.
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b. Create a high-level and health-sector led Inter-agency body that will
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develop and ensure the implementation of the national action plan for
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health security and emergency.
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c. Foster the Institutional capacity of the health sector to lead the
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prevention, detection and response in the event of a public health
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emergencies resulting from an outbreak of a contagious and/or
Infectious disease, and biological, chemical, or nuclear attack.
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Sec. 4. Definition of Terms - For purposes of this Act, the following terms are
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herein defined:
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a. "Biological Attack" means an attack against the population with the use
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of weapons employing biological agents.
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b. "Chemical Attack" means an attack against the population with the use
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of weapons employing chemical agents.
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c. "Contagious disease" Is a disease that can be transmitted from person
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to person, animal to person, or Insect to person.
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d. "Health Security" refers to the activities required to minimize the danger
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and Impact of acute public health events that endanger the collective
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health of the population;
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e. "Infectious disease" Is a disease caused by a living organism or virus. An
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Infectious disease may, or may not, be transmissible from person to
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person, animal to person, or insect to person.
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f. "International Health Regulations" refer to a legally binding Instrument
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of international law that aims to assist countries to work together to save
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lives and livelihoods endangered by the international spread of diseases
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and other health risks and avoid unnecessary interference with
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international trade and travel;
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g. "National Action Plan for Health Security" refers to a country owned,
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multi-year, planning process that can accelerate the Implementation of
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IHR core capacities and is based on with One Health and whole-of
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government approach for all hazards. It captures national priorities for
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health security, brings sectors together, Identifies partners and allocates
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resources for health security capacity development. The NAPHS also
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provides an overarching process to capture all ongoing preparedness
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initiatives in a country along with a country’s governance mechanism for
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emergency and disaster risk management;
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h. "National IHR Focal Point" refers to the national center, which shall be
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accessible at all times for communications with the World Health
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Organization (WHO) International Health Regulations (IHR) contact
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points In the WHO regional offices;
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i. "Nuclear Attack" means an attack against the population with the use of
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weapons employing nuclear agents.
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j. "Public health emergency" means the occurrence or imminent risk of an
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illness or health condition that may be caused by epidemic or pandemic


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disease, or a novel Infectious agent or biological or chemical agent and
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that poses a substantial risk of a significant number of human fatalities,
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widespread Illness, and serious socio-economic Impact,
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k. "Public health risk" refers to an event:
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a. that might adversely affect the health of human populations; and
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b. that satisfies any one or more of the following conditions:
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I. the health effects of the event might spread within the
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Philippines;
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ii. the health effects of the event might spread between the
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Philippines and another country;
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iii. the health effects of the event might spread between two
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(2) other countries;
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iv. the event might present a serious and direct danger.
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Sec. 5. Formulation of the Philippine National Action Plan for Health Security and
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Emergency (PNAPHSE) — There shall be created a Philippine National Action Plan for
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Health Security and Emergency (PNAPHSE), which shall include the following:
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a. Holistic government-wide review and assessment of domestic legislation
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and policies, its funding. Implementation and Impact, to Inform possible
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development and amendments where needed to ensure compliance with
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the IHR.
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b. Identification and prioritization of activities based on risk assessment,
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monitoring and evaluation, detailed costing of activities, and mapping
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resources.
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c. Creation of a multi-hazard emergency response plan with:
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a. Existence of a coordination mechanism. Incident management
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systems, and public health emergency operation center;
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b. Existence of public health emergency operation centers
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maintaining trained, functioning, multi-sectoral rapid response
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teams; and
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c. Existence of a coordinated emergency response team capable of
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activating a coordinated emergency response within 120 minutes
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of the Identification of an emergency.
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Sec. 6. Technical Priority Areas of PNAPHSE. - The PNAPHSE shall act on the
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following:
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a. Antimicrobial resistance. - Strengthen infection prevention and control at
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all health care facilities and animal husbandry;


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b. Zoonotic Disease. - Ensure that the activities of the Philippine Inter-
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Agency Committee on Zoonoses are conducted and Its national zoonoses
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control plans are reviewed regularly;
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c. Food safety.-Conduct risk-based food inspection and food monitoring to
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strengthen the capacity to response in foodbome disease outbreaks;
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d. Biosafety and Biosecurity. - Expand the Inventories of dangerous
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pathogens in all sectors through registration, licensing and Inspection;
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e. Immunization. - Ensure a nationwide vaccine delivery system that is able
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to respond to new disease threats, has effective distnbution and
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accessible to marginalized populations;
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f. National Laboratory System. - Surveillance with a national laboratory
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system, with effective modern point of care, and laboratory-based
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diagnostics, that will Include all relevant sectors;
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g. Chemical Events. - Develop a multi-sectoral and Integrated chemical
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incident preparedness and recovery plan. Incorporating an updated
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national chemical profile and hazard map;
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h. Radiation Emergencies. - Surveillance and response capacity for
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radiological emergencies and nuclear acddents; and
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i. Other priority areas identified based on the guidelines by the WHO.
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Sec. 7. Creation of the Philippine National Health Security and Ennergency Council
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(PNHSEC). - There Is hereby created the Philippine National Health Security Council
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(PNHSEC), which will lead and coordinate the planning, implementation, monitoring and
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evaluation of PNAPHSAE.
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Sec 8. Powers and functions of tiie PNHSEC - The Council shall perform the
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following functions:
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a. Develop the PNAPHSE, in collaboration with relevant government
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agencies, local government units (LGUs), private sectors, civil society
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organizations (CSOs), and other stakeholders;
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b. Ensure the operationalization and implementation of the PNAPHSE;
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c. Strengthen the collaboration between government agencies, local
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governments, private sector and civil society organizations involved in the
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Implementation of the PNAPHSE;
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d. Form committees, task forces, and/or working groups necessary to aid In
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the performance of the duties of the PNHSEC and Implementation of
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PNAPHSE and this Act;


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c. Develop and ensure the Implementation of the guidelines and policies 
provided In this Act, Including other policies that may be necessary to 
Implement the PNAPHSE;
f. Enhance data quality, timeliness and completeness to Improve indicator- 
based and event-based surveillance performance;
g. Ensure that there are skilled and competent health personnel for 
sustainable and functional public health surveillance and response at all 
levels of the health system and the effective Implementation of IHR;
h. Establish preparedness and ensure efficient government response to 
assess, monitor, contain, control, and prevent the spread of any potential 
epidemic in the Philippines;
i. Designate and maintain core capacities at international airports and ports 
that Implement specific public health measures required to manage a 
variety of public health risks;
j. Institute efficient mechanisms to address concerns over cybersecurity of 
medical devices and hospital networks and prevention of cybersecurity 
breaches that affect the operation of medical device;
k. Monitor the progress of the commitment of the country to the 
International Health Regulations (IHR) of the World Health Organization 
(WHO);
l. Monitor the implementation of the PNAPHSE, undertake regular 
assessments and evaluate Its impact;
m. Mobilize sources of funds for the PNAPHSE;
n. Mobilize its members to conduct monitoring and evaluation of programs, 
policies, and services within their mandate;
o. Coordinate, organize, and work in partnership with foreign and 
international organizations regarding funding, data collection, research, 
and ensure foreign funded programs are aligned to the national response;
p. Advocate for policy reforms to Congress and other government agencies 
to strengthen the country's health security and emergency preparedness, 
readiness and response;
q. Submit an annual report to the Office of the President, Congress, and the 
members of the Council;
r. Provide the public with daily updates, news bulletins or briefings on the 
progress of the management and containment of the pubiic health


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emergency and shall endeavor to prevent or stop the spread of 
misinformation;
s. Identify the gaps In the national response on the part of government 
agencies and its partners from civil society and international 
organizations. In order to develop and Implement Initial Interventions 
required in health security situations;
t. Enhance the accountability and stewardship of Local Government Units 
(LGUs) for IHR related goals through enhancing their awareness and 
capacity on IHR;
u. Recommend policies and programs that will institutionalize or continue 
the interventions required in addressing the gaps identified in the national 
response to health security;
V. Facilitate and support health security initiatives and activities at the local 
level; and
w. In addition to the powers and functions enumerated under the preceding 
paragraph, the members of the PNHSEC shall also develop and implement 
Individual action plans, which shall be anchored to and Integrated In the 
PNAPHSE.
Such action plans shall be based on the duties, powers, and functions of the Individual 
agencies as identified under Section 8 of this Act.
Sec. 9. Membership and Composition of PNHSEC- The PNHSEC shall be composed 
of the following:
a. Chairperson:
• The Secretary of Health
b. Permanent Members:
• The Executive Secretary
• The Secretary of National Defense
• The Secretary of Justice
• The Secretary of Foreign Affairs
• The Secretary of Budget and Management
• The Seaetary of Rnance
• The Secretary of Socio-Economic Planning
• The Secretary of Interior and Local Governments
• The Secretary of Trade and Industry
• The Secretary of Agriculture
• The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources


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• The Secretary of Social Welfare and Development
• The Secretary of Education
• The Secretary of Labor and Employment
• The President or Secretary General of League of Provinces of the 
Philippines
• The President or Secretary General of League of Cities of the 
Philippines;
• The President or Secretary General of League of Municipalities of 
the Philippines
• The President or Secretary General of the Uga ng mga Barangay.
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Four (4) Representatives from Qvil Society Organizations
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Four (4) Representatives from the Private Sector
• Two (2) Representatives from Medical Sodeties and Associations 
Ex-Officio Members:
The Secretary of Tourism 
The Secretary of Transportation
The Secretary of Information and Communications Technology 
The Press Secretary
The Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education 
The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines 
The Chief of the Philippine National Police 
The Director of the National Bureau of Investigation 
The National Security Adviser
The Director General of the National Intelligence Coordinating 
Agency
The Executive Director General of the Technical Education and 
Skills Development Authority
The Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Health 
Research and Development
The President of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation 
The Director General of the Food and Drug Administration 
The Director of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine 
The Director of the Bureau of Quarantine 
The Director of the Epidemiology Bureau 
The Director of the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau 
The Director of the Disease Emergency Management Bureau


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• The Chairperson of the Committee on Health and Demography of 
the Senate of the Philippines
• The Chairperson of the Committee on Health of the House of 
Representatives
• The President or Secretary General of the Union of Local 
Authorities of the Philippines
The Secretary of Health shall be the permanent Chairperson of the PNHSEC There 
shall be a Vice Chairperson to be designated by the permanent members of the PNHSEC.
Members of the PNHSEC representing the civil society, private sector and medical 
societies shall be selected from among their respective ranks based on the criteria and 
mechanisms to be set by the PNHSEC. The President shall appoint representatives from 
these sectors and shall serve for a term of three (3) years, renewable upon the 
recommendation of the PNHSEC for a maximum of two (2) consecutive terms. They may 
receive honorarium and allowances In accordance with existing laws, rules, and 
regulations and In line with the performance of their duties and responsibilities as merriber 
of the PNHSEC.
The PNHSEC shall meet at least once every quarter. The presence of the 
Chairperson of the PNHSEC and at least 14 permanent members shall constitute a quorum 
to do business and a majority vote of those present shall be sufficient to pass resolutions 
and render decisions. The head of government agencies may be represented by a 
designated official whose rank shall not be lower than Undersecretary for permanent 
members and Assistant Secretary for ex-officIo members or Its equivalent
The PNHSEC shall be fully constituted not later than sixty (60) days after the 
enactment of this Act.
Sec. 10. TTre PNHSEC Secretariat- There shall be Secretariat, headed by an official 
designated as Executive Director with a rank of Assistant Secretary, to provide technical 
and administrative support to the PNHSEC.
The Secretariat will be under the Office of the Secretary of Health and within three 
months from the effectivity of this Act, the PNHSEC will initially be supported by the 
Disease Emergency Management Bureau until the Secretary of Health finalize the 
organizational and operational plan of the PNHSEC.
Sec. 11. Organization at the Regional and Local Government Levels - For the 
purposes of harmonizing and integrating health security and emergency preparedness, 
readiness and response policies, plans and programs, a regional, provincial, and dty level 
health security and emergency council shall be formed.


The Regional Health Security and Emergency Council shall be under the Regional 
Development Council, headed by the Regional Director of the Department of Health, with 
its office as Council's Secretariat, and whose membership shall be based on the regional 
counterparts of the pemianent members of the PNHSEC and tasked to adopt and adapt
the PNAPHSE based on the regional context.
In the case of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region In Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), 
the Chief Minister shall have the power and duties to establish its own Health Security 
and Emergency Council and Plans pursuant to RA 11054 or the BARMM Organic Law In 
coordination with the PNHSEC.
Health Security and Emergency Councils (HSECs) shall be formed in the provinces 
and cities in line with the integrated health system wide approach as mandated by RA 
11223 or the Universal Healthcare Law. The Provincial and City MSECS shall be under the 
offices of Provincial Governor and/or City Mayors, headed by their respective health 
officers, witii members coming from local counterparts of the permanent members of 
PNHSEC, and tasked to adopt and adapt the national and regional policies, plans and 
programs based on the provincial and city level Inter-municipality or inter-barangay health 
security and emergency risk assessments and preparedness, readiness and response.
Provided further that nothing In this Act shall be construed as diminishing the 
powers and autonomies granted to local government units under RA 7160 or the Local 
Government Code and their primary responsibility of first responders.
Sec. 12. Authority of the PA/HSEC Chairperson - The Chairperson of the PNHSC 
may call upon any department, bureau, office, agency, or Instrumentality of the 
government, including Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), 
government financial Institutions (GFIs), LGUs, non-government organizations (NGOs) 
and the private sector for assistance In terms of the use of their facilities and resources 
for the protection and preservation of life in the whole range of health security or as the 
circumstances and exigencies may require.
Sec. 13. Promulgation and Enforcement by the Chairperson of the PNHSEC- The 
Chairperson of the PNHSEC is authorized to make and enforce such regulations as may 
be necessary to prevent the Introduction, transmission, or spread of communicable 
diseases from foreign countries Into the Philippines.
For purposes of carrying out and enforcing such regulations, the Chairperson of
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the PNHSEC may provide for such inspection, fumigation, disinfection, sanitation, pest
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extermination, destruction of animals or articles found to be so infected or contaminated
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as to be sources of dangerous infection to human being and other measures.
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Sec. 14. Declaration of State of Public Health Security and Emergency - The 
PNHSEC, through the Secretary of Health, shall recommend to the President of the 
Republic of the Philippines the declaration of State of Public Health Security and 
Emergency based on and Informed by sufficient scientific evidences and technical
investigations.
The declaration shall authorize the President to mobilize governmental and non­
governmental agencies to respond the threat, to warrant International humanitarian
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assistance, and to exercise powers granted under Republic Act No. 10121 when a State
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of Calamity exists.
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Sec. 15. Coordinab'on During Public Health Emergencies and State of Calamity. -
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In time of public health emergencies and of state of calamity, the Chairpersons, Vice
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Chairpersons, and Executive Directors of PNHSEC and the National Disaster Risk
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Reduction and Management Council (NDRMMC) shall constitute the Joint National Public
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Response Taskforce (JNPRT) to take the lead in the preparation, response and recovery
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from the effects of tiie public health security and emergency and the state of calamity.
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Members of the JNPRT shall immediately convene to set the criteria, policies,
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guidelines and mechanisms for coordination and operation during public health
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emergencies and state of calamity from the national, regional and local government 
levels.
Sec 16. Funding Sources- As lead agency to carry out the provisions of this Act, 
the DOH shall be allocated a budget of Rve billion pesos (Php5,000,000,000.00) revolving 
fond starting from the effectivity of this Act.
The member-agencies of the PNHSEC are authorized to charge against their 
current appropriations such amounts as may be necessary for the implementation of this 
Act. Subsequent funding requirements shall be incorporated In the annual budget 
proposals of the respective member-agencies through the General Appropriations Act.
The local governments are authorized to charge against their Local Disaster Risk 
Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF) as provided by RA10121 and Special Health 
Fund (SHF) provided under RA 11223 such amounts as may be necessary for the 
implementation of this Act subject to the guidelines to be developed by tiie DOH in 
consultation with the DBM and the LGUs.
Additional funds and possible fund sources as may be necessary for the 
implementation of this Act shall be identified and provided for by the Department of 
Budget and Management
Sec. 17. Systematic Review and Evaluation - Within three (3) years after the 
effectivity of this Act or as the need arises, the PNHSEC, in coordination with the WHO,
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shall conduct joint external evaluation of the accomplishment and Impact of this Act as
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well as the performance and organizational structure of the implementing agencies to
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determine the capacities and progress In the technical priorities under the IHR and the
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preparedness and readiness to respond to public health security threat and emergencies.
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Sec. 18. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Secretary of Health, in
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consultation with key stakeholders, shall Issue the necessary rules and regulations for the
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effective Implementation of this Act within ninety (90) days after approval of this Act.
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Sec. 19. Separability Clause - If any part, section or provision of this Act Is held
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invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and
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effect
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Sec. 20. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, orders, issuances, rules and
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regulations that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
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amended or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 21. Effecdvity-'ms Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after Its publication
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In the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
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