SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )

Second Regular Session ) 18 MAY -3. P2534

SENATE
Senate Bill No._1'794 RECe

Introduced by Senator LOREN LEGARDA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Dengvaxia was originally intended to help eradicate, if not reduce, the dengue
incidents in the country. It was unfortunate that it was only after around 800,000
children were already administered with this dengue vaccine that the public was
informed of its accompanying risks, particularly to those who have not yet been
infected with dengue, at the time of the first vaccine. 1 Tragic deaths of children
supposedly linked to Dengvaxia have been reported in the news, which has compelled
the Department of Health to suspend the administration of Dengvaxia. On demand of
the Government, Zuellig Pharma, the local distributor of the Dengvaxia manufacturer
Sanofi Pasteur, refunded the amount of around Php 1.16 Billion covering the unused
vials of Dengvaxia vaccines.

This bill seeks to appropriate the said amount to fund the much-needed support
to the vaccinees by providing them with medical assistance for hospitalization, medical
kits, out-patient care services, including laboratory tests, among others. This medical
assistance program will hopefully prevent further deaths and illnesses of those
administered with the vaccine, regardless of cause.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate enactment of this Supplemental Budget
is earnestly sought

LOR!
Senator

" Dengue vaccine: WHO position paper ~ July 2016, available a hitp./www. who int wer/2016'wer9130 plus (lst accessed on March
21,2018).



ee
|
|

10
1

12

14

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 18 MAY -3 P2:34

Second Regular Session )

SENATE

Senate Bill No. 1794

Introduced by Senator LOREN LEGARDA

AN ACT
APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF ONE BILLION ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE
MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED TEN THOUSAND PESOS (P1,161,710,000) AS
‘SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR FY 2018 AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Appropriations. -The sum of One Billion One Hundred Sixty One
Million Seven Hundred Ten Thousand Pesos (P1,161,710,000) is hereby appropriated
out of any funds in the National Treasury of the Philippines not otherwise appropriated,
as supplemental appropriations for the FY 2018 Budget.

SEC. 2. Assistance to Dengvaxia Vaccines. The amount appropriated herein to
fund the assistance to the Dengvaxia vaccinees, which amount shall be used
exclusively for the following activities and/or projects, namely: (a) Human Resource
for Health (HRH) Deployment; (b) Public Health Management; and (c) Assistance to
Indigent Patients either Confined or Out-Patient in Government Hospitals/ Specialty
Hospitals / LGU Hospitals / Philippine General Hospital / West Visayas State University
Hospital.

‘SEC. 3. Use and Release of Funds. - The amount appropriated shall be released
by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to the Department of Health
(DOH) in accordance with budgeting, accounting and auditing laws, rules and
regulations. The DOH shall issue the guidelines necessary for the proper

(—



Naue

© @

implementation of the foregoing activities and/or projects for the benefit of Dengvaxia
vaccinees.

SEC. 4. Applicability of General and Special Provisions in the FY 2018 General
Appropriations Act. - The amounts herein appropriated shall be used for the purposes
indicated and subject to the relevant special and general provisions under Republic
Act 10964 or the FY 2018 GAA.

SEC. 5. Availability of Appropriations. -The appropriations authorized in this
Act shall be available for release and obligation for the purposes specified for one (1)
year from the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 6. Transparency Provisions. -The DOH shall ensure that the details of
activities and/or projects are included as part of the information posted on their
transparency seals required under Section 99 of the General Provisions under Republic
Act 10964 or the FY 2018 GAA.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. -If, for any reason or reasons, any part or
Provision of this Act shall be declared as unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or
Provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and
effect.

SEC. 8. Effectivity. —This Act shall take effect immediately upon its publication.

Approved,