EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
S. No. 1288
of 11)1' f e r r r  ta i D
20 J^N 22 PI -47
RECt/; OBV.
Introduced by Senator Francis "Tol" N. Tolentino
AN ACT
CREATING THE OFFICE OF THE SURGEON GENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINES, 
PROVIDING ITS FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Public health remains to be one of the most important government investments 
as human capital stands to be the greatest asset and the flesh and blood of the nation. 
In this regard, the protection and promotion of the right to health and health 
consciousness of the Filipino people is enshrined in Article II, Section 15 of the 1987 
Constitution.
In 2019 alone, the Philippines has experienced unprecedented health 
challenges: the dengue outbreak, the measles outbreak and the resurgence of the 
deadly polio virus came amid plummeting immunization rates and insufficient 
healthcare infrastructures. The recent influx of diseases nationally and globally, some 
of which have reached epidemic levels, such as the still unidentified strain of corona 
virus originating from Wuhan China, necessitates the need to strengthen mechanisms 
on the collection and dissemination of information regarding threats to health through 
trusted and official communication channels. Accordingly, a proactive governmental 
body which focuses on a reliable communication system for disease prevention and 
control is indispensable in protecting the interdependence of health vis-a-vis trade and 
the economy.


The World Health Organization has identified health as a national security 
concern, stating that "acute and chronic changes in health status have direct and 
indirect impacts on security, and that epidemics may lead to destabilization, political 
unrest, civil disorder or long-term deterioration of the economic viability of a country 
or region."1 In view thereof, and in pursuit of attaining the United Nations Sustainable 
Development Goal No. 3, which is to "ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for 
all at all ages", the creation of the Office of the Surgeon General of the Philippines, 
which provides a cross-agency focus on health, welfare and safety of the Rlipino 
people is ardently sought.
For purposes of comparison, in the United States, the Office of the Surgeon 
General is housed within the Office of the Secretary of Health, separate from the Army 
Surgeon General, and is the leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the 
Federal Government and provides the best scientific information available of how to 
improve health and reduce risk of illness and injury.2 The Surgeon General also 
oversees the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps-a group of 6,000 
uniformed officers who are public health professionals.3
In the Philippines, the role of the Surgeon General is limited to the affairs of 
the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Surgeon General is the Special Medical 
Adviser of the Secretary of National Defense and of the Chief of Staff on all medical 
and health matters affecting the AFP.4
Ultimately, there is still much to be desired in the field of health communications 
and emergency response in the country. In previous years, the advertising budget of 
the Department of Health was pegged at Php 536 Million in 2019 and Php 335 Million 
in 2018. However, despite hefty funding, aggressive campaigns and information 
dissemination on disease prevention and control are still lacking.
1 "Health and Security in Foreign Policy", World Health Organization, retrieved at 
httDs://www.who.int/bulletin/voiumes/85/3/06-036889/en/
2 "About the Office o f the Surgeon General", U.S. Department o f Health &  Human Services, retrieved at 
httDs://www.hhs.qov/surqeonqeneral/about/index.html
3 Id
4 "Almanac: Republic o f the Philippines", Worldwide Military Medicine, retrieved at httD ://www.miiitarv- 
medicine.com/aimanac/lOl-DhiliDDines-the-reDublic-of.html


Now therefore, to give effect to the Constitutional mandate and to strengthen 
health communication systems and the enforcement of health regulations, this bill 
aims to provide the following:
a) The creation of the Office of the Surgeon General of the Philippines, which 
serves as the States' chief advocate and strategist for public health 
information and regulations dissemination, under the supervision of the 
Department of Health; and
b) The establishment of a Public Health Network composed of the Bureau of 
Quarantine, the Epidemiology Bureau, the Disease Prevention and Control 
Bureau, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and other pertinent offices, 
under the Office of the Surgeon General of the Philippines;
It is not only the government's foremost duty to create policy frameworks to 
safeguard its citizens from disease but also to provide vital and timely information 
necessary for health awareness. Considering the foregoing, the immediate enactment 
of this bill is respectfully requested.
' C 7
TOL" N. TOLENTINO


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
S. No. 1288
^ 
IT
20 
m  22 p 1 :47
RECi. ' O B'_____
Introduced by Senator Francis "Tol" N. Tolentino
AN ACT
CREATING THE OFFICE OF THE SURGEON GENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINES, 
PROVIDING ITS FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "Office of the Surgeon
2 
General of the Philippines Act of 2020."
3 
Sec. 2. State Policy. The State recognizes the vulnerability of the country,
4 
especially the marginalized sectors of the society, to communicable and non-
5 
communicable, and the importance of the protection and promotion of the right to
6 
health and health consciousness of the Filipino people, as enshrined in Article II,
7 
Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution.
8 
As such, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to develop, promote, and
9 
implement a comprehensive framework for the prevention and containment of
10 
diseases through the creation of a governing body tasked to oversee vital health
11 
communications.
12 
Sec. 3. Definition o f Terms. For purposes of the Act, the following terms shall
13 
mean:
14 
a) Epidemic - refers to a disease which spreads rapidly to many people,
15 
which may be fatal or non-fatal.


1 
b) Outbreak - refers to an occurrence wherein a disease affects a greater
2 
number than expected of the population in a community or region or
3 
during a season. It may occur in one community or may extend to
4 
different countries. A single case of a contagious disease may be
5 
considered an outbreak if it is unknown or if there is a resurgence after
6 
a long time.
7 
c) Pandemic- refers to a global disease outbreak which includes, but is not
8 
limited to deadly viruses, infectious diseases or easily transmitted
9 
diseases.
10 
d) Public Health Network - refers to a system of information sharing,
11 
monitoring and regulation of public health concerns between and among
12 
relevant government offices and the private sector.
13 
e) Surgeon General - refers to a licensed physician in the Philippines who
14 
shall be a Commissioned Officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
15 
(AFP) and appointed by the President of the Philippines to direct and
16 
manage the Office of the Surgeon General, which powers and functions
17 
are stated herein this Act;
18 
Sec. 4. Creation o f the Office o f the Surgeon General o f the Philippines. - The
19 
Office of the Surgeon General shall be an attached agency under the supervision of
20 
the Department of Flealth (DOFI). The Surgeon General shall be appointed by the
21 
President of the Philippines, and shall serve a term of three (3) years.
22 
The Surgeon General, during the term of office, shall be of the same grade with
23 
the same pay and allowance as the Surgeon General of the AFP.
24 
Sec. 5. Powers and Functions o f the Surgeon General o f the Philippines - The
25 
Surgeon General, in carrying out his mandate as the national spokesperson on all
26 
matters relating to public health in the country, particularly on dangerous diseases,
27 
infections and other hazardous conditions affecting the populace, shall have the
28 
following powers and functions:
29 
A. Communications - The Surgeon General shall be responsible for the
30 
collection and dissemination, through publications, health bulletins and
31 
other appropriate means, of the best available scientific information
32 
pertinent to the health and fitness of the populace and on critical public


1 
health issues, shall issue scientific documents. Provided that, in times of
2 
emergencies, calamities, naturai disasters, disease outbreaks and any other
3 
exigency, information on health hazards shall be coursed through the
4 
Surgeon General.
5 
Furthermore, The Surgeon General shall take all the necessary
6 
measures to disseminate health information to far flung areas, to indigenous
7 
communities and to those marginalized and iack access to regular
8 
publications.
9 
B. Research and Analysis - The Surgeon General shall conduct, encourage,
10 
cooperate with and 
render assistance to other appropriate public
11 
authorities, scientific institutions, and scientists in the conduct of, and
12 
promote the coordination of, research, investigations, experiments,
13 
demonstrations and studies relating to the causes, diagnosis, treatment,
14 
control and prevention of physicai and mental diseases and impairments of
15 
man. In carrying out the foregoing, the Surgeon General is authorized to:
16 
a. Collect and make available information as to, and the practical
17 
application of, such research and other activities;
18 
b. Secure, from time to time and for such periods as he deems
19 
advisable, the assistance and advice of health experts, scholars and
20 
consultants from the Philippines and abroad;
21 
c. Adopt such additional means as he deems necessary or appropriate
22 
to carry out the purpose of this Section.
23 
C. Call upon Reserve Corps and the Medical Service of the AFP - In times of
24 
national disasters, outbreaks, epidemics, pandemics and any other
25 
exigency, the Surgeon General may call upon the reserve officers and/or
26 
the members of the Medical Service of the AFP with the concurrence of the
27 
AFP Chief of Staff to assist the former in the performance of his duties as
28 
provided for in this Act.
29 
Sec. 6. Creation o f a Public Health Network - A public health network, to be
30 
composed by the Bureau of Quarantine, the Epidemiology Bureau, the Disease
31 
Prevention and Control Bureau, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and other
32 
national government agencies, with the participation of health practitioners in the


1 
private sector and the medical academe, shall be established under the Office of the
2 
Surgeon General.
3 
It shall be headed by the Surgeon General and shall serve as a forum to discuss
4 
critical public health issues, share relevant health information and to monitor and
5 
regulate public health concerns with the end in view of ensuring better delivery of
6 
public health-related information to the Filipino people. The abovementioned
7 
stakeholders shall convene at least once a month or as often as necessary.
8 
Sec. 7. Reportorial Requirements. - From time to time, the Surgeon General
9 
shall issue information related to public health, in the form of publications, advisories,
10 
bulletins, for the use of the public. The Surgeon General shall publish weekly reports
11 
on the health condition of the Philippines and other countries and other pertinent
12 
health information. Such weekly reports shall also be submitted to the Secretary of
13 
the Department of Flealth and the President of the Philippines.
14 
Sec. 
8. Appropriations. 
- The amount of one 
hundred fifty million
15 
(Phpl50,000,000) necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, specifically for the
16 
creation of the Committee and the initial implementation of this Act, shall be charged
17 
against the current year's appropriation of the DOH. Thereafter, such amount as may
18 
be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the
19 
Annual General Appropriations Act.
20 
Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations - For the purpose of establishing
21 
the Office of the Surgeon General and achieving the purpose of this Act, the
22 
Department of Health and other concerned government agencies shall formulate and
23 
prescribe, after public hearing and publication as required by law, the Implementing
24 
Rules and Regulations in order to carry out the provisions of this Act within 90 days
25 
from its effectivity.
26 
Sec. 10. Separability Clause. -  If any provision of this Act shall be held
27 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in
28 
full force and effect.
29 
Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations
30 
and other executive issuances which are inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions
31 
of this Act are hereby amended or repealed accordingly.
32


1 
Sec. 12. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following
2 
its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of
3 
general circulation.
4 
Approved,