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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 7311

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JOSE “BONG?” J. TEVES, JR.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING MULTI-PURPOSE QUARANTINE FACILITIES IN EVERY
MUNICIPALITIES IN THE COUNTRY, PRIORITIZING THE CONSTRUCTION
THEREOF IN THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH, AND SIXTH CLASS
MUNICIPALITIES, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Philippines is one of the state parties to the International Health Regulation
in 2005 (IHIR 2005) which was entered into force in June 15, 2007. The IHR 2005 seeks
to assist state parties to save lives endangered by the international spread of disease
and other health risks such as COVID-19. Under the IHR 2005, one of the core
functions of public health law is to minimize the transmission of infectious diseases
through isolation and quarantine.! By implementing isolation and quarantine, the
spread of infectious disease will substantially decrease and help flatten the so-called

“curve”.

+ https://www. who .int/healthsystems/topics/health-law/chapter10.pdf


In line with our mandate to the IHR 2005, and with a daily high detection rate
of persons positive with COVID-19 in the Philippines, it is important for our
government to establish adequate quarantine facilities throughout the country in
order to halt and further contain localized transmission of the disease.

This proposed measure seeks to establish multi-purpose quarantine facilities in
every province. These quarantine facilities are to augment the government and private
hospitals which cannot accommodate mild and asymptomatic cases due to full
occupancy rate of severe cases of COVID-19. Also, these facilities shall accommodate
persons who are exposed to COVID-19 positive persons while being monitored for
possible symptoms or infection.

Since this proposed measure is to establish multi-purpose quarantine facilities,
in the event of successfully eradicating the COVID-19, these facilities may be
alternatively used as evacuation center or multi-purpose halls, or for any other public
use.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

REP. JOS! 3ONG” J. TEVES, JR.
IGP Partylist


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, _7311

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JOSE “BONG” J. TEVES, JR.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING MULTI-PURPOSE QUARANTINE FACILITIES IN EVERY
MUNICIPALITIES IN THE COUNTRY, PRIORITIZING THE CONSTRUCTION
THEREOF IN THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH, AND SIXTH CLASS
MUNICIPALITIES, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Multi-Purpose

Quarantine Facilities Act of 2020”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The Constitution requires that the State
shall protect and promote the right to health of the people from infectious diseases
through the delivery of adequate and efficient health care system and equip the

government with health necessities for its elimination and eradication.


SECTION 3. Establishment of Quarantine Facilities. - Quarantine facilities
shall be established in every municipality in the country. The design and structure of
these facilities shall meet the minimum standards set by the Department of Health for
a quarantine facility such as adequate spacing for patients, area for medical
equipment, storage facility for medicine and basic necessities such as food and water.

‘The construction of quarantine facilities in municipalities, especially those in
the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth class, and are COVID-19 hotspots as identified by the
Department of Health, shall be prioritized by the Department of Public Works and

Highways.

SECTION 4. Role of the Department of Health. - The Department of Health in
coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways and the provincial
government shall identify the area where quarantine facilities shall be established;
Provided, that the quarantine facilities shall be accessible to a government hospital
and shall be strategically located to ensure the safety of the nearby community.

‘The Department of Health and the local health department shall likewise

provide for the health care of patients admitted in the quarantine facilities.

SECTION 5. Role of the Department of Public Works and Highways. - The
Department of Public Works and Highways shall be in-charge of the construction and
establishment of the quarantine facilities. The construction and design shalll be in line
with the minimum standards as required by the Department of Health for a

quarantine facility.


Since these quarantine facilities may be alternatively used as evacuation areas
or multi-purpose halls after the pandemic or any other public health emergency, the
structural integrity of these facilities shall likewise be able to withstand any calamity

such as flood, typhoon, and earthquake.

SECTION 6. Operations and Management of the Quarantine Facilities. - The
Department of Health in coordination of the local government unit, shall operate,
supervise, and maintain the quarantine facilities during any public health
emergencies. The Department of Health shall issue guidelines for the proper use of

the quarantine facilities within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 7. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to establish, operate, and
maintain the quarantine facilities shall be sourced from the current budget of the
Department of Public Works and Highways and shall be supplemented by the

succeeding budget appropriations of the same department.

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of
Health, and the Department of Public Works and Highways, in consultation with the
stakeholders, shall issue the necessary Implementing Rules and Regulations within

sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive
orders, presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof contrary to

or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, superseded or modified accordingly.


SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - Any portion of this Act that may be
declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying other
portions or provisions hereof, as long as such remaining provisions can still subsist

and be given effect in their entirety.

SECTION 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of

general circulation

Approved,