Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____ 
Introduced by the Honorable Precious Hipolito Castelo 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Last February 26, 2021, Republic Act No. 11525 or the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act 
was passed into law. Said law provides for the government’s strategy in carrying out the 
country’s vaccination program, including plans and policies for vaccine sourcing, procurement, 
and inoculation procedures. 
Under Section 12 of said law, it is provided that the DOH shall maintain a central database of 
vaccinations and mandate a uniform format for the vaccine card. Unfortunately, the delegation 
of printing of vaccine cards to LGUs and private entities made it logistically difficult to 
implement the issuance of uniform vaccine cards throughout the country. For every local 
government unit, there appears to be a different format and design for the vaccine cards. 
As a result, there is no easy way to validate the authenticity of the vaccine cards issued by 
LGUs. While this may not be a glaring issue in the ultimate goal of achieving herd immunity, it 
may present a problem in the future especially when the presentation of vaccine cards 
becomes necessary for whatever purpose. 
For instance, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. said last August 10 that Hong Kong 
does not recognize vaccination cards issued by LGUs in the Philippines since they are not 
connected to a single source and cannot be authenticated.1 Since vaccination certificates are 
required from OFWs in Hong Kong, they cannot therefore be permitted entry despite being 
already inoculated against COVID-19. 
Thus, this bill proposes the creation of a safe and secure database where vaccinated 
individuals may access their own e-vaccine cards at any time. The e-vaccine cards shall be in 
uniform format throughout the countryregardless of where the original printed vaccine cards 
were issued.  
The e-vaccine card will ensure the safe mobility of vaccinated individuals, locally and 
internationally, and will prevent the proliferation of counterfeit vaccine cards since 
authentication can be easily done through the database. 
The immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought. 
PRECIOUS HIPOLITO CASTELO 
1 https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/08/11/2119077/hong-kong-rejects-pinoy-vax-cards-issued-lgus 
August 11, 2021
1:54 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____ 
Introduced by the Honorable Precious Hipolito Castelo 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR AN E-VACCINE CARD TO ALL VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS TO 
ENSURE THE SAFE MOBILITY OF VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS, LOCALLY AND 
INTERNATIONALLY 
AND 
TO 
PREVENT 
THE 
PROLIFERATION 
OF 
COUNTERFEIT VACCINE CARDS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC 
ACT NO. 11525, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 12 of Republic Act No. 11525 is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
“SEC 12. COVID-19 Vaccine Card. – Subject to the provisions of Republic Act 
No. 10173 or the “Data Privacy Act of 2012”, the DOH shall issue a vaccine card to all 
persons vaccinated. To fast track the process, the DOH may delegate the processing 
and issuance of vaccine cards to LGUs and private entities, subject to guidelines to be 
promulgated by the DOH. The vaccine card shall contain the following: 
(a) Basic personal information such as full name, present and/or permanent address,
and birthdate;
(b) Manufacturer, brand name, and batch number or other identifier of the COVID-19
vaccine;
(c) Date of vaccination;
(d) Name of the hospital, health center, or health facility where the vaccine was
received;
(e) Name, signature, and license number of the duly licensed physician, nurse or other
health worker administering the vaccine;
(f) Date of the last RT-PCR testing and the name of the laboratory that conducted the
last RT-PCR testing, if applicable; and
(g) Such other information which may be determine as necessary by the Secretary of
Health or the IATF-EID in line with the declared policy of this Act.
The issuance of a vaccine card is intended to be digital, but shall remain 
accessible through other means such as printed cards. The DOH, through the 
Department of Information and Communications Technology, shall develop the LGU-
based digital systems and applications that will meet the objectives of the COVID-19 
Vaccination Program while maintaining quality, safety, ease of use, and accessibility 
for all Filipinos: Provided, That the DOH shall maintain a central database of 
vaccinations, and mandate a uniform format for the vaccine card, the contents of which 
shall be updated accordingly to always conform with globally accepted standards: 
Provided further, That the vaccine cards shall not be considered as an additional 
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mandatory requirement for education, employment and other similar government 
transaction purposes. 
 
THE CONTENTS OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE CARD SHALL BE 
DIGITALLY AVAILABLE TO FILIPINOS THROUGH A SAFE AND SECURE 
DATABASE. ANY VACCINATED INDIVIDUAL MAY ACCESS HIS OWN E-
VACCINE CARD ONLINE AT ANY TIME AND THE E-VACCINE CARD MAY BE 
PRESENTED FOR ANY LEGAL PURPOSE IT MAY SERVE, SUCH AS, BUT NOT 
LIMITED TO: 
 
(A) INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL, AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY FOREIGN 
JURISDICTIONS; 
(B) DOMESTIC TRAVEL, IN COMPLIANCE WITH IATF-EID RULES AND 
REGULATIONS. 
 
Individuals vaccinated against COVID-19 as indicated in the vaccine card shall 
not be considered immune from COVID-19, unless otherwise declared by the DOH 
based on reliable scientific evidence and consensus. 
 
No fees shall be collected for the issuance, amendment, or replacement of a 
vaccine card. The amount needed for the initial implementation shall be charged 
against available funds for the purpose. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary 
for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual General appropriations 
Act. 
 
The falsification of a vaccine card shall be punishable under Act No. 3185, as 
amended, otherwise known as the “Revised Penal Code”.” 
 
SEC. 2. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within thirty (30) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Department of Health and the Department of Information and 
Communications Technology shall jointly issue such rules and regulations as may be 
necessary to implement the provisions of this Act. 
 
SEC. 3. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
 
 
SEC. 4. Repealing Clause.  – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, 
letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with, the 
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
 
 
 
SEC. 5. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,