Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 1354 
Introduced by 4Ps Partylist Representative 
JC M. ABALOS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This legislative measure seeks to safeguard the Filipino people from the 
impact of all diseases of public health importance through the creation of the 
Philippine Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) .  
It aims to achieve this by developing comprehensive policies, plans, and 
protocols that enhance all areas identified in the International Health Regulations 
(IHR) hazards. Further, this bill will clarify governance, decision-making, 
communication, and coordination processes related to identifying, diagnosing, 
forecasting, preventing, controlling, eliminating, eradicating, and monitoring 
diseases of public health importance. Moreover, this will ensure swift, coordinated, 
and data-driven surveillance and response through key bodies such as the 
Department of Health (DOH), Epidemiology and Surveillance Units, public health 
laboratory systems, points of entry, and the Disaster Risk Reduction and 
Management system. 
The bill also provides an overarching national framework and strategic 
direction for establishing a robust health laboratory system. It mandates maintaining 
a pool of in-house experts who will serve as the technical authority on standards, 
technologies, and analytics for epidemiology, disease control, prevention, 
elimination, eradication, monitoring, and health emergency preparedness and 
response to ensure evidence-informed guidance. It further ensures the development 
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and implementation of a shared risk and crisis communication plan in collaboration 
with the DOH and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 
The CDC will serve as the designated technical authority, responsible for 
forecasting, analysis, strategy formulation, and standards development concerning 
the prevention and control of all diseases of public health importance and health 
security events, whether domestic or international in origin. Additionally, the CDC 
will coordinate with global CDCs and act as the national focal point for the 
Philippines regarding IHR concerns. 
This bill was filed in the 19th Congress and was passed by the Lower House 
in the third and final reading, hence, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
JC M. ABALOS 
Representative 
4Ps Partylist 
2 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 1354 
Introduced by 4Ps Partylist Representative 
JC M. ABALOS 
AN ACT CREATING THE PHILIPPINE CENTERS FOR DISEASE 
PREVENTION AND CONTROL, DEFINING THEIR POWERS AND 
FUNCTIONS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
ARTICLE I 
TITLE AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Centers 
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 enunciated under 
Republic Act (RA) No. 1 1223, or the Universal Health Care (UHC) 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 between 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 
3 


 
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 on an identified 
areas in the International Health Regulations (HR) hazards; 
 
(c)​Clarify 
governance, 
decision-making, 
communication, 
and 
coordination 
processes 
and 
protocols 
related 
to 
identifying, 
diagnosing, forecasting, preventing, controlling, eliminating and 
eradicating, and monitoring diseases of public health importance; 
 
(d)​Ensure swift, coordinated, and data-driven surveillance and response 
through the Department of Health (DOH), Epidemiology and 
Surveillance Units (ESUs), public health laboratory, systems, points of 
entry, and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) system; 
 
(e)​Provide the overall national framework and strategic direction for the 
establishment of a health laboratory system; 
 
(f)​ Maintain a pool of in-house experts that shall serve as the technical 
authority who shall provide evidence-informed guidance on standards, 
technologies, 
and analytics for epidemiology, disease control, 
prevention, elimination, eradication, health emergency preparedness 
and response; and 
 
(g)​Ensure the development and implementation of a shared risk and crisis 
communication plan with the DOH and the Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA). 
 
ARTICLE II 
DEFINITION OF TERMS 
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act: 
(a)​Commodities for public health emergencies refer to health products 
necessary for the public health emergency response. It 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 
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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; 
 
(c)​Disease control refers to the reduction of disease incidence, prevalence, 
morbidity, or mortality to a locally acceptable level as a result of 
deliberate efforts and continued intervention measures to maintain the 
reduction; 
 
(d)​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; 
 
(e)​Emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases refer to diseases that are 
characterized by the following traits: 
(i)​
have not occurred in humans before; 
(ii)​
have occurred previously but affected only small numbers of 
people in isolated areas; 
(iii)​
are caused by previously undetected or unknown infectious 
agents; 
(iv)​
are due to mutant or resistant strains of a causative organism; or 
(v)​
were once major health problems in the country, and then 
declined dramatically, but are again becoming health problems 
for a significant proportion of the population. 
 
(f)​ Epidemiological investigation refers to an inquiry to the incidence, 
prevalence, extent, source mode of transmission, causation of, and 
other information pertinent to a disease occurrence; 
 
(g)​Health research refers to research or research-related activities that seek 
to provide timely and quality evidence to address knowledge gaps on 
areas related to identifying, diagnosing, forecasting, preventing, 
controlling, eliminating and eradicating, and monitoring diseases of 
public health importance; 
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(h)​International health regulations (IHR) refer to an international agreement 
managed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and 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 
define the standards that countries must meet to be able to prevent, 
detect, and respond to public health threats; 
 
(i)​ Notifiable disease refers to a disease that, by legal requirements, must be 
reported to the public health authorities; 
 
(j)​ Public health emergency refer to an occurrence or imminent threat of an 
illness or health condition that: 
1.​ Is caused by any of the following: 
a.​ Bioterrorism; 
b.​ Appearance of a novel or previously controlled or 
eradicated infectious agent or biological toxin; 
c.​ Natural disaster; 
d.​ Chemical attack or accidental release; 
e.​ Nuclear attack or accident; or 
f.​ Attack that uses or is caused by an accidental release of 
radioactive materials; and 
2.​ Poses a high probability of any of the following: 
a.​ Large number of deaths in the affected population; 
b.​ Large number of serious injuries or long-term disabilities 
in the affected population; 
c.​ 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; 
d.​ International exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that 
poses a significant risk to the health of citizens of other 
countries; or 
e.​ Trade and travel restrictions. 
 
(k)​Public health event refers to either a public health emergency or a public 
health 
threat 
due to biological, chemical, radio-nuclear, and 
environmental agents; 
 
(l)​ Public health laboratories refer to facilities responsible for providing 
timely and reliable diagnostic results primarily for improvement of 
patient 
outcomes, 
disease 
prevention, 
control, 
surveillance, 
population-based interventions, and outbreak emergency response. 
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They shall perform core public health and environmental activities, 
including reference tests for diseases of public health importance; 
 
(m)​
Public health threat refers to any situation or factor that may present 
a danger to the health of the people; 
 
(n)​Quarantine refers to the restriction of activities 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; 
 
(o)​Response refers to the implementation of specific activities to control the 
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 III 
CREATION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE PHILIPPINE CENTERS FOR DISEASE 
PREVENTION AND CONTROL 
 
SEC. 5. Creation of the Philippine Centers for Disease Prevention and 
Control. — There is hereby established an agency to be known as the Philippine 
Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, hereinafter referred to as "CDC." The 
CDC shall be an agency directly under the Office of the Secretary of the DOH. 
 
SEC. 6. Functions of the CDC. — The CDC 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 global 
CDCs and act as the national focal point of the Philippines for IHR concerns. 
 
The functions of the CDC include 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)​Set standards and policies for private laboratories; 
(f)​ Recommend actions for public health threats to appropriate national 
government bodies, 
(g)​Lead public health and risk communications; 
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(h)​Conduct and manage health research and evidence synthesis; 
(i)​ Build local capacity for surveillance and health research; 
(j)​ 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 functions under this Act. 
 
The CDC shall submit annual detailed cost work plans relating to its functions 
to the Secretary of Health (SOH) for approval. 
 
SEC. 7. Structure of the CDC. — 
(a)​The CDC shall establish component centers that shall lead and 
coordinate the major functions of the CDC and in this capacity, 
establish strategic linkages and partnerships to fulfill the stated 
functions. In line with their functions, each of the following component 
centers shall be headed by a Deputy Director General: 
(i)​
Center for Health Statistics (CHS). The CHS shall provide the 
national leadership data analytics and health information 
systems 
management services in the conduct 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 to complement the national health 
surveys being managed by other national agencies; 
 
(ii)​
Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance (CES). The CES shall 
lead and execute a national public health surveillance strategy 
and shall perform the functions and obligations of the 
Epidemiology Bureau (EB) and the DOH under Sections 5, 6, 
and 8 of RA No. 11332,otherwise known as 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 
8 


 
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 IHR 
processes; and to expand its technical expertise to include other 
and emerging branches and types of epidemiology and relevant 
epidemiologically-related approaches; 
 
(iii)​
Center for Health Evidence (CHE). The CHE shall be established 
to lead evidence-informed policy-making for the prevention and 
control of all diseases, through the synthesis of all available 
evidence, the conduct of high-quality health research, the 
development of evidence-informed strategies and standards of 
care, the provision of scientific inputs to guide the development, 
evaluation, and improvement of public health programs,and the 
development of 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)​
Center for Health Laboratories (CHL). The CHL shall develop 
and provide the overall strategic direction, policies, standards, 
and plans in the implementation of the Philippine Health 
Laboratory System (PHLS) and the institutionalization of 
stand-alone CDC public health laboratories, including national 
reference laboratories, subnational, and regional public health 
laboratories (RPHLS). 'The Philippine Health Laboratory System 
shall be established by streamlining all 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. 
Further,the CHL shall lead the country's public health 
laboratory response for rapid detection of emerging and 
re-emerging public health threats, It shall promote and develop 
innovative science, technologies, and processes that support 
CDC's ability to protect the Philippines from health, safety, and 
security threats, both foreign and local. 
 
9 


 
(b)​The CDC shall also have three (3) offices directly under the Director 
General that shall provide support to all Centers, namely: 
(i)​
Office for Health Economics; 
(ii)​
Office for Policy and Planning; 
(iii)​
Office for Administration, Finance, and Legal Affairs. 
 
(c)​Regional CDCs shall be established, consisting of counterparts of CHL, 
CHS, and CES. 
 
(d)​Additional offices may be created in accordance with the mandate of 
the CDC, upon the assessment and recommendation of the Director 
General, approval of the SOH, availability of funds, and to accordingly 
respond to the emerging needs of the health sector. 
 
The establishment of regional CDCs and creation of additional offices shall be 
endorsed by the DOH to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for 
review and approval.  
 
 
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 Office of the SOH. 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 (BOQ). 
The CDC shall set the standards for international health surveillance 
and surveillance at ports of entry and coordinate with the BOQ for 
operational and stakeholder management.  
 
(c)​Relationship between Regional CDCs and DOH Regional Offices. The 
CDC shall have regional counterparts of its CHL, CHS, and CES to 
form the Regional CDC's separately from DOH Regional Offices. The 
DOH, through its regional offices, shall work closely with CDC, 
through its regional CDCs to support implementation of strategies and 
standards of the CDC. 
 
(d)​Relationship between CDC and local government units (LGUs). LGUs 
shall adopt and localize standards and guidelines developed by the 
10 


 
CDC, as operationalized by the DOH, in the performance of activities 
related to disease prevention and control. Further, LGUs shall allocate 
funding for the establishment of functional ESUs based on standards 
set by the DOH and as provided for by law including the creation of 
positions for the necessary Disease Surveillance Officers (DSOs) and 
field epidemiologists and in line with the goal of building local 
capacity for health surveillance: Provided, That LGUs that do not have 
the capacity to achieve these standards shall be eligible to receive 
resource augmentation from the National Government. 
 
SEC. 9. Transfer of Agencies. — 
(a)​Restructuring of Affected Offices and Units. The following offices, 
including their administrative units, shall be restructured to ensure 
that the CDC and DOH shall co-exist synergistically and facilitate the 
smooth operation of the CDC. 
(i)​
The different units of the Research Institute for Tropical 
Medicine (RITM) shall be absorbed in the different Centers of 
the CDC: 
(1)​The RITM's national reference laboratories shall be 
absorbed by the CHL; 
(2)​Its clinical research units, hospital ancillary services, and 
research laboratory departments shall be absorbed by the 
CHE; 
(3)​Its biological research and manufacturing units shall be 
temporarily absorbed by the CHE until an agency is 
finally tasked by the government to handle their role and 
functions. 
(ii)​
The Health Laboratory Division, also referred to as the Office for 
Health Laboratories of the Health Facility Development Bureau 
of the DOH and other identified national reference laboratories 
shall be absorbed by the CHL. 
 
(iii)​
The Epidemiology Bureau (EB) shall be transferred to the CHS 
and CES in phases. All previous functions of the EB and all 
disease and public health surveillance functions assigned to the 
DOH by law shall likewise be transferred to the CES. In line 
with this, all Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Units and 
Field Health Service Information System Units of the DOH 
Regional Offices shall be transferred to and placed under the 
sole supervision and control of the Regional CDCs upon the 
effective transfer of the EB to the CDC. 
11 


 
(1)​The 
Knowledge 
Management 
and 
Information 
Technology Service of the DOH shall restructure and 
rationalize its functions to eliminate or minimize overlaps 
in and duplication of the standards and sectoral policy 
function of the CHS. 
 
(2)​The CES shall set the standards for international health 
surveillance and surveillance at ports of entry and shall 
coordinate with the BOQ for operational and stakeholder 
management. Further, the screening and quarantine 
processes for inbound and outbound international 
travelers as provided for in Sections 4 and 5 of RA No. 
9271 or the "Quarantine Act of 2004" shall remain with 
BOQ, aligned to the standards promulgated by CDC. 
 
(iv)​
The Disease Prevention and Control Bureau (DPCB) shall be 
transformed into the Public Health Strategy and Management 
Bureau, and shall be responsible for developing operational 
strategy and guidelines that are aligned with CDC's standards, 
setting up intersectoral collaboration platforms, and ensuring 
strategic management of national health programs. The DPCB's 
previous standards development function shall be transferred to 
the CDC's CHE. The DOH Undersecretary for Operations and 
the DOH Regional Offices shall continue to perform their roles 
in 
operational 
planning, 
coordination 
and 
performance 
management. 
 
(v)​
The Communications Office of the DOH shall be a shared 
service among all DOH offices, including the FDA and CDC, 
and shall perform the following functions: 
(1)​Develop strategic communication plans, including, but 
not limited to, corporate 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; 
12 


 
(4)​Develop and implement corresponding capacity-building 
activities in relation to corporate 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 
partnerships and communication networks with public 
and private health institutions. 
 
(b)​Transfer of Human Resource and Material. 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. 
(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 offices/bureaus and shall conduct 
matching to positions within the new offices/bureaus created 
based on the set qualification standards. The Department shall 
develop a technical working group to ensure that RA 6656, 
entitled "An Act to Protect the Security Tenure of Civil Service 
Officers and Employees in the Implementation of Government 
Reorganization", shall be properly observed towards the 
protection of tenure of affected employees and shall institute 
mechanisms for retooling. 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 shall be entitled to 
receive separation, and early retirement benefits and other 
benefits under applicable laws and issuances such as RA No. 
6656 within ninety (90) days from the date of effectivity of their 
separation. Provided they are not entitled to said benefits, 
employees concerned shall be paid a separation gratuity in the 
amount equivalent to one (1) month salary for every year of 
service; 
(ii)​
The CDC shall employ scientific, technical, and non-technical 
staff, where a compensation and accountability mechanism shall 
be created for all in-house experts employed in highly technical 
13 


 
positions. Correspondingly, the DOH shall determine the 
organization and plantilla of the CDC in accordance with the 
salary and compensation for positions developed for the CDC to 
the DBM for review and approval. 
(1)​The salary and compensation of all employed staff under 
managerial, technical, and administrative positions shall 
be subject to the existing compensation and position 
classification 
system 
and 
prevailing 
qualification 
standards 
and 
regulations 
of 
the 
Civil 
Service 
Commission (CSC). 
(2)​The compensation mechanism for the expert pool shall be 
in accordance with the rules and regulations in this Act 
and its IRR and shall be exempt from existing 
qualification standards and regulations of the CSC 
(3)​All in-house experts shall be allowed to practice their 
profession and receive additional compensation from 
such engagements. 
(4)​All employed staff and in-house experts shall submit a 
declaration of conflict-of. interest (COI), a non-disclosure 
agreement (NDA), and other pertinent documents 
requirements as may be deemed necessary. 
(iii)​
The 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. Structure and Staffing Pattern. — Subject to the review and approval 
of the DBM the SOH shall determine the organizational structure and staffing 
pattern of the CDC, in accordance with existing civil service laws, rules and 
regulations. 
 
SEC.11. Director General (DG), Deputy Directors General, and Directors. — 
(a)​Appointment of the Director General (DG). The CDC shall be headed 
by a DG who shall hold the rank of Undersecretary. The DG shall be 
appointed by the President, upon the recommendation of the SOH, 
based on technical expertise, academic background, and appropriate 
work experience. 
 
(b)​Appointment of the Deputy Directors General. The DG shall be 
assisted by Deputy Directors General who shall hold the rank of 
Assistant Secretary. They shall oversee the performance of the Offices 
14 


 
and Centers and any additional offices created in accordance with Sec. 
7 (d) of this Act. The Deputy Directors General shall likewise be 
appointed by the President, upon the recommendation of the SOH, 
based on technical expertise, academic background, and appropriate 
work experience. 
 
(c)​Appointment of Directors. The DG shall likewise be assisted by the 
following: 
(i)​
Director for Health Economics Service with the rank of Director 
IV; 
(ii)​
Director for Policy and Planning with the rank of Director IV; 
(iii)​
Director for Administration, Finance, and Legal Affairs with the 
rank of Director IV; 
 
(d)​Qualifications and Eligibilities. 
(i)​
The DG shall be a public health professional, must be a licensed 
medical doctor, with at least 15 years of combined post-graduate 
work experience in relevant fields of medicine, public health, 
research, and management 
 
(ii)​
The Deputy Director General of each Center shall possess a 
postgraduate degree, preferably a doctorate degree in fields 
related 
to 
medicine, 
public 
health, 
or 
research, 
with 
management experience in such fields; and 
 
(iii)​
The Directors directly under the Office of the DG 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. 
 
(e)​Powers and Functions of the Director General. 
(i)​
Provide leadership, policy guidance, coordination, technical 
expertise, and services to promote the development and 
implementation of the CDC's national programs; 
 
(ii)​
Certify to the SOH the presence of a public health emergency; 
 
(iii)​
Notify the WHO and other focal points of any public health 
emergency or incident in accordance with IHR guidelines, and 
coordinate public health response with the WHO, IHR and 
national focal points; 
15 


 
 
(iv)​
Recommend to the President, through the SOH, the exercise of 
special powers in the case of public health emergencies, 
including 
mobilization 
of 
the 
governmental 
and 
nongovernmental agencies, including the private sector, to 
respond to the threat in performing the following functions; 
(v)​
Develop and implement national policies to prevent and 
mitigate further transmission of diseases of public health 
importance; 
 
(vi)​
Ensure that LGUs follow 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 
national policy, rules and regulations; Develop and implement 
flexibilities in procurement of essential commodities and 
implement programs in response to a public health emergency; 
 
(vii)​
Ensure the adequate and equitable distribution of health 
workers during public health emergencies and the provision of 
social benefits and protection to health workers and their 
families and other household members against discrimination; 
 
(viii)​
Enforce measures to protect the people from hoarding, 
profiteering, injurious speculations, manipulation of prices, 
product deceptions, monopolistic practices, other acts in 
restraint of trade, or other pernicious practices affecting the 
supply, distribution, and movement of food, clothing, hygiene 
and sanitation products, medicines and medical supplies 
devices, implements, 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; 
 
(ix)​
Ensure that donations intended to address the 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 for 
donation that are duly certified by the national regulatory 
authorities (RA) or their accredited third party representatives 
from 
countries 
with 
established 
regulations 
shall 
be 
automatically cleared; and 
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(x)​
Perform such other functions and activities, as deemed 
necessary. 
 
(f)​ Institute public health surveillance programs in accordance with RA 
11332 and as such, impose the following: 
(i)​
All public and private hospitals, clinics, health facilities, 
laboratories, institutions, workplaces, schools, prisons, ports, 
airports, 
establishments, 
communities, 
other 
government 
agencies, and non-governmental organizations are required to 
accurately and immediately report notifiable disease and public 
health events to CDC; 
 
(ii)​
All public and private hospitals, clinics, health facilities, 
laboratories 
shall 
be 
required 
to 
submit 
health 
and 
health-related data, which shall include administrative, public 
health, medical, pharmaceutical, and financing data to the CDC; 
 
(iii)​
DSOs, ESUs, CDC laboratories, PHLS, pharmacies and those 
employed by the LGUs to perform surveillance and response 
activities shall furnish information required by the CDC at all 
times and as soon as practicable: and 
 
(iv)​
Failure of said establishments to report to the CDC shall 
constitute a violation of Section 9, paragraphs (d) and (e) of 
Republic Act No. 11332, or the "Mandatory Reporting of 
Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern 
Act. 
 
(g)​Issue an order requiring any person or institution to furnish CDC any 
sample of any substance or matter in the possession or control of that 
person, whether taken pursuant to this Act or otherwise, as 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; 
 
(h)​Request the Philippine National Police or the National Bureau of 
Investigation to locate any patients or persons suspected of contracting 
a communicable disease; 
 
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(i)​ Certify the termination of a public health emergency which may serve 
as basis for the de- escalation and eventual termination of emergency 
response activities; 
 
(j)​ Develop policies with provisions on penalties for local implementation 
and enforcement: 
(i)​
The Director General, upon consultation with the SOH, shall 
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)​
For purposes of implementing these regulations, the Director 
General upon consultation with the SOH, shall provide public 
health preventive measures and intervention strategies such as 
health 
education, 
promotion, 
and 
advisories, 
isolation, 
veterinary and plant 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 and 
other measures as may be necessary. 
 
(k)​Develop containment strategies for inland contagion or community 
transmission of public health threats and shall coordinate these with 
the SOH. During public health emergencies, the DOH Health 
Emergency Management Bureau shall coordinate with DOH BOQ in 
controlling, directing, and managing all quarantine stations, grounds, 
and anchorages, and in designating their boundaries in accordance 
with Section 6 of RA No 9271, or the "Quarantine Act of 2004"; 
 
(l)​ Provide or obtain technical assistance for regional and local health 
departments, private agencies, and international and supranational 
agencies before, during, and after public health emergencies; 
 
(m)​
Develop a shared risk communication plan in coordination with the 
DOH and the FDA; 
 
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(n)​Liaise 
with 
other 
government 
agencies, 
NGOs, 
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; 
 
(o)​Coordinate with appropriate DOH Offices regarding administrative 
and program matters;  
 
(p)​Appoint eligible persons in accordance with civil service laws, rules 
and regulations, and this Act; 
 
(q)​Delegate the powers vested under this Act to the Deputy Directors 
General; and 
 
(r)​ Perform such other functions as may be mandated by law, or as may be 
delegated by the SOH or the President. 
 
 
ARTICLE V 
RESPONSE ACTION 
 
SEC. 12. Response Cascade. — In case of public health emergencies due to 
biological, chemical, and toxic events: 
(a)​The CDC shall, through the CHE, prepare and disseminate to the public and 
private sector the relevant technical information and guidance; 
 
(b)​﻿The DOH shall, through the PHSMB, develop operational and intersectoral 
strategies guided by the strategies and standards developed by the CDC; 
 
(c)​﻿The DOH shall, through its regional offices, work closely with CDC, through 
its regional CDCs to immediately respond to the public health emergency. 
When necessary, the DOH shall tap into the DRRM system to effectively 
respond to public health emergencies; 
 
(d)​﻿The CHL 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 CES shall certify to the veracity of the official data to be used as basis for 
response and for public reporting, and provide standards and overall 
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guidance to the BOQ for the institution of disease surveillance at all points of 
entry and exit; 
 
(f)​ The National Telecommunications Commission and any telecommunications 
entity as defined under RA 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 may undertake the following functions in case of 
public health events; 
(i)​
Hiring, transfer, and deployment of health personnel; 
 
(ii)​
﻿Implementation of whole-of-government and whole-of-society public 
health emergency preparedness and response in cooperation with the 
Department of the Interior and Local Government, LGUs, and private 
sector; 
 
(iii)​
﻿Strict 
enforcement 
and 
augmentation 
of border control and 
surveillance in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs, 
DOH-BOQ, Bureau of Immigration, Philippine Ports Authority, 
Department of Agriculture, and Bureau of Customs; 
 
(iv)​
﻿Commissioning of research in coordination with DOST; 
 
(v)​
Promotion of the treatment of, 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 of treatment: Provided, That the 
guidelines for the exercise of such power shall be formulated in 
coordination with the Department of Justice; 
 
(vi)​
﻿Decontamination of any facility or decontamination or destruction of 
any material when the CDC reasonably suspects that such facility or 
material may endanger public health, subject to just compensation; 
 
(vii)​
﻿Issuance and enforcement of measures for safe handling and disposal 
of human and animal remains; and 
 
(viii)​
﻿Requiring any health or funeral facility authorized by law to perform 
such services as are reasonable and necessary to respond to a public 
health emergency. 
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ARTICLE VII 
SPECIAL POWERS / AUTHORITY TO ENABLE RESPONSE 
 
SEC. 13. Authority for Other Professions to Administer, Dispense, and 
Provide Commodities for Public Health Emergencies. — In addition to physicians, 
other health and allied medical professionals such as pharmacists and midwives 
who are duly trained by the DOH or its authorized representatives may dispense 
and administer commodities considered as vital - for public health emergencies with 
special authorization or regular certificate of registration from the FDA 
notwithstanding any law to the contrary. 
 
SEC. 14. Issuance of Special Regulatory Authorizations. — Pursuant to 
Section 4 of Republic Act No. 3720, or the "Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act”, as 
amended by Republic Act No. 9711 or the "Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 
Act of 2009," the FDA shall be given authority to issue special authorizations for 
commodities for public health emergencies, Provided, That: 
(a)​Based on the totality of available scientific evidence, including data from 
adequate and well-documented controlled trials, it is reasonable to believe 
that the health product may be effective to prevent, diagnose, or treat the 
diseases of concern; 
 
(b)​﻿The potential benefits of the health product when used to diagnose, prevent, 
or treat diseases 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 
year (1) from the date of lifting of the declaration for the sole purpose of exhausting 
remaining supplies. 
 
Distribution and administration of unauthorized commodities for public 
health emergencies shall be prohibited. 
 
SEC. 15. Health Technology Assessment and Evidence Review. — The 
requirement for a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) shall not be a prerequisite to 
procurement of commodities for public health emergencies as an exemption to 
Section 34 of the RA 11223. Further, the HTA shall not be required for: 
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(a)​﻿Donated health products; 
(b)​﻿Unregistered commodities for public health emergency which are qualified 
for compassionate use according to the guidelines set by the FDA; and 
(c)​Repurposing or stock realignment of commodities for public health 
emergencies that have already been procured by the DOH, LGUs, private 
sector entities: Provided, That repurposing or stock realignment shall be in 
accordance with the indication of its use as approved by the FDA. 
 
The DOH, FDA, Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC), and other 
relevant offices shall, without need for notice or demand, immediately provide each 
other with any and all information, including proprietary submissions of data by 
manufacturers, traders, distributors, or other sources, for the purpose of expediting 
the review of the evidence, product authorization or registration, and the 
appropriate release of recommendations and supporting policies: Provided, That a 
non-disclosure agreement among all parties involved shall be executed and enforced 
prior to the sharing of the said information. 
 
SEC. 16. Procurement of Commodities and Services for Public Health 
Emergencies by the DOH. — 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)​﻿WHO; 
(b)​HTAC; 
(c)​﻿DOH-approved clinical practice guidelines or interim guidelines; or 
(d)​﻿Similar emergency authorizations from other stringent NRAS. 
 
For the purposes of this provision, the DOH and authorized parties may 
immediately enter into alternative modes of expedited procurement with United 
Nations agencies, international organizations, or international financing institutions 
and their operational arms, such as the WHO, United Nations Office for Project 
Services, and United Nations Children's Fund, subject to the rules and policies set by 
the DOH. 
Section 88 of Presidential Decree No. 1445, as amended, otherwise known as 
the "Government Auditing Code of the Philippines", and any law to the contrary 
notwithstanding, the DOH may disburse funds as advance payment if required by 
the manufacturer, trader, or distributor: Provided, That the authority to 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. 
 
Distribution and administration of unauthorized commodities for public 
health emergencies shall be prohibited. 
22 


 
 
SEC. 17. Donation of Excess Supply of Commodities. — In case of an excess 
supply of commodities as may be determined by the DOH, the DOH may donate 
them to other LGUs, bureaus, agencies, instrumentalities, or private entities. The 
national government, led by the DFA, in coordination with the DOH, may also 
donate the excess supply to other countries: Provided, That the DOH, DBM, and 
Commission on Audit shall issue separate operational guidelines that set forth 
expedited procedures to facilitate the receipt and acceptance of any donations 
pursuant to this provision, any law to the contrary notwithstanding. 
 
SEC. 18. Authority to Direct the Operations of Private Establishments 
During Public Health Emergencies. — The President, during public health 
emergencies, may direct the operations of any privately-owned establishment 
including, among others, hospitals and medical and health facilities, passenger 
vessels, and other private enterprises, to perform functions and provide support 
services for public health emergency response, including housing health workers 
serving in quarantine areas, quarantine centers, medical relief and aid distribution 
locations, or other temporary medical facilities, and ferrying health, emergency, and 
frontline personnel: 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 conditions have stabilized or at the soonest time practicable. 
 
SEC. 19. Transition to Regular Authorization. — For this purpose, the FDA 
shall be given authority 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 and to avoid a monopoly by a single supplier of 
health products for public health emergencies. The granting of a regular certificate of 
registration by the Philippine 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 remaining stocks covered by a 
special authorization that has been revoked pursuant to this provision, but which 
still have a valid shelf life, shall either be donated to a country where its use is still 
23 


 
authorized by its NRA, or held in storage until it is disposed of appropriately upon 
the termination of its shelf-life. 
 
SEC. 20. Authority for Other Professions to Administer, Dispense, and 
Provide Commodities for Public Health Emergencies. — In addition to physicians, 
other health and allied medical professionals such as pharmacists and midwives 
who are duly trained by the DOH or its authorized representatives may administer, 
dispense and provide commodities for public health emergencies with special 
authorization or regular certificate of registration from the FDA. 
 
SEC. 21. Immunity from Liability. — Notwithstanding any law to the 
contrary, program implementers, public officials and employees, health care workers 
and non-health care workers, whether public or private who are authorized to carry 
out and are actually carrying out the 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 commodities 
and counter measures under the public health emergency response and in the 
discharge of the authorized person's official duties, except those arising from willful 
misconduct and gross negligence. 
 
The members of the FDA and the National Adverse Events Following 
Immunization 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, unless the said members' 
actions are tantamount to gross negligence or willful misconduct. 
 
 
ARTICLE VIII 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
 
SEC. 22. Intergovernmental Collaborative Activities. — The Secretary of 
Foreign Affairs and the SOH are jointly mandated to review and recommend to the 
CDC multilateral and bilateral agreements which the country may adopt to 
strengthen its collaborative mechanisms with other countries. 
 
SEC. 23. Transitory Provision. — The CDC shall, in coordination with the 
DOH and LGUs, craft a multi-year plan to ensure the timely implementation and 
progressive realization of this Act. To this end, the multi-year plan shall include: 
(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; 
 
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(b)​Requiring that every province and city-wide health system have full-time 
DSOs, without prejudice to the need for the designation of DSOs in 
municipalities when necessary; 
 
(c)​Establishing 
Sub-National 
Laboratories 
and 
Regional 
Public Health 
Laboratories; 
 
(d)​Emergency funding and procurement of commodities and hiring during 
public health emergencies; and 
(e)​Establishment of infrastructure and acquisition of parcels of land to house the 
national offices under the CDC. 
 
The DOH shall, upon coordination with CDC, 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 in relation to their devolved 
functions under the UHC Act and other existing laws, LGUs shall appropriate the 
necessary funds to ensure the proper implementation of this Act. 
 
SEC. 24. Modernization Program. — The Director General shall, in 
consultation with the DOH and other concerned agencies of government and the 
private sector, develop a modernization program that will strengthen the human 
health resource of the CDC, which is the key component of the country's disease 
prevention and control policy. The modernization program shall include 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, upon the recommendation of the DOH and DBM Secretaries, 
submit the modernization program for the consideration and approval of Congress. 
 
The modernization program shall be implemented over a period of five (5) 
years. The funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations 
Act (GAA). 
 
SEC. 25. 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 the upgrading of its facilities, equipment outlay, human resource 
25 


 
development and expansion, and the acquisition of the appropriate office space 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 which shall be deposited and maintained in a separate account or fund 
in addition to the annual budget of the CDC which may be used or disbursed 
directly by the Director General for the purpose of which the fund was originally 
intended 
 
The Director General shall likewise be authorized to retain other transfers of 
ownership and possession of real or personal property 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. 
 
SEC. 26. Tax Exemptions. — Donations, grants, gifts, endowments, legacies, 
and contributions used actually, directly and exclusively for the purpose of the CDC 
shall be exempt from the 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 Sec. (H)(2)(a) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 
1997, as amended. Likewise, such other transfers of ownership and/or possession of 
real or personal properties of all kinds shall be exempt from all taxes. 
 
SEC. 27. Annual Report. — The CDC shall submit to Congress and the Office 
of the President an annual report containing an evaluation of the current and 
emerging threats to health in the country and the progress made with respect to IHR 
commitments and the initiatives undertaken to address these, and recommendations 
for legislation, if necessary. 
SEC. 28. 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. 29. 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. 30. 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. 
 
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SEC. 31. 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. 32. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspapers of general circulation 
 
 
 
 
 
27