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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS:
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3597

Introduced by REP. NATHANIEL “Atty, Nat” M. ODUCADO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to create the Philippine Centers for Disease Prevention and Control,
define their powers and functions and appropriate funds therefor.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities in the Philippine health
system, particularly in disease surveillance, public health emergency preparedness, data-driven
response, and overall governance. As the country grappled with the devastating effects of an
unprecedented global health crisis, it became painfully clear that the existing institutional
arrangements were insufficient to respond swiftly and effectively to public health threats. The
pandemic also compounded the already alarming burden of non-communicable diseases, which
have long been the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the Philippines.

Because of the surge in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the Philippines, the
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization
(WHO) supported the Philippine government and stakeholders in their urgent efforts to reverse
the surge in HIV.' Both UNAIDS and WHO support the Department of Health’s (DOH) request
for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to sign an Executive Order to officially declare HIV a
high-priority public health concern, requiring urgent action from all levels of government and
society.? On August 8, 2025, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Quezon
City converted their hospital gymnasium into a makeshift ward to tend to leptospirosis
patients.? NKTI has reported an increase in leptospirosis-related admissions following weeks
of heavy rains and flooding across Metro Manila.’ HIV and leptospirosis will not be the last
diseases of concern to affect the country.

The proposed measure secks to establish the Philippine Centers for Disease Prevention
and Control (CDC) as a high-level, specialized agency under the Department of Health (DOH)
tasked with strengthening the country’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to all diseases
of public health importance and to lead the national response to public health emergencies. The
CDC shall serve as the technical authority on forecasting, data analytics, strategy, and standards

' World Health Organization, “UNAIDS, WHO support DOH’s call for urgent action as the Philippines faces the fastest-
‘growing HIV surge in the Asia-Pacific region” available at hiyps:'ssw..sho Jt philippines news detail 11-06

«last

ssho-suppor-do sion-as-the-philippines-Faces-fastest-grow ing-hiv-surge-in
‘accessed on August 11, 2025}.
tid

> Bosano, R., ABS-CBN, “NKTI tums gym into “leptospirosis ward’ as cases rise” available at hitps://swwabs-
‘ghn com newS/202.689 mkti-turs-g9 ospitos sise-1024 [last accessed on August 11, 2025].
“hd.



development for the prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases.
It shall also serve as the national focal point for the implementation of the International Health
Regulations (IHR).

The bill provides for the creation of four core centers that will operationalize the CDC’s
major functions: the Center for Health Statistics (CHS), Center for Epidemiology and
Surveillance (CES), Center for Health Evidence (CHE), and Center for Health Laboratories
(CHL), each headed by a Deputy Director General. These shall be supported by three offices
directly under the Director General, namely, the Office for Health Economics, Office for Policy
and Planning, and Office for Administration, Finance, and Legal Affairs. Regional CDCs shall
likewise be established, consisting of counterparts of these centers, to localize and implement
strategies and standards.

The measure also mandates the restructuring and absorption of existing DOH units,
including the Epidemiology Bureau, relevant functions of the Research Institute for Tropical
Medicine (RITM), the Health Laboratory Division, and regional surveillance units, to
streamline operations and avoid functional overlaps. The CDC Director General, who shall
have the rank of Undersecretary and be appointed by the President upon recommendation of
the Secretary of Health, shall be empowered to certify public health emergencies, coordinate
the national response, implement surveillance and containment strategies, and recommend
special regulatory and procurement measures during public health crises.

To ensure rapid response during emergencies, the bill authorizes special regulatory
approvals for health products, flexible procurement modalities including advance payments,
and the mobilization of private sector facilities and resources. The CDC is likewise authorized
to receive grants, donations, and other forms of assistance from domestic and international
sources, which shall be exempt from taxes and may be retained and used in accordance with
its mandate and accounting regulations.

The bill further provides for a multi-year transition plan and a five-year modernization
program to guide the institutional development and operational expansion of the CDC. These
include the establishment of sub-national and regional laboratories, hiring of technical
personnel, and acquisition of land and infrastructure necessary to fulfill the CDC’s mission.
Provisions on immunity from liability are also included to protect program implementers and
responders acting in good faith in the course of public health emergency operations.

Originally approved on Third Reading by the House of Representatives and transmitted
to the Senate during the Eighteenth Congress, and deliberated further in the Nineteenth
Congress, this measure reflects the collective insight gained from the country’s pandemic
experience and the sustained engagement of public health stakeholders. In anticipation of
emerging and re-emerging health threats, and in pursuit of a more resilient, coordinated, and
science-based health system, the re-filing of this bill in the Twentieth Congress is imperative.

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

“NATHANIEL “ATTY, |. ODUCADO


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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3597

Introduced by REP. NATHANIEL “ATTY. NAT” M. ODUCADO.

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. 11223, 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 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:


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a. Protect the Filipino people from the impact of all diseases of public health
importance;

b. Develop policies, plans, and protocols to improve on all identified areas in the
International Health Regulations (THR) 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;

¢. 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 I

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;


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b. Disease refers to pathologic acute or rapidly developing and chronic or long-
standing conditions that cause harmful deviations from normal 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:

1. have not occurred in humans before;

2. have occurred previously but affected only small numbers of people in
isolated areas;

3. are caused by previously undetected or unknown infectious agents;

4, are due to mutant or resistant strains of a causative organism; or


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5. 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;

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 refers to an occurrence or imminent threat of an illness or

health condition that:
1. Is caused by any of the following:
i. Bioterrorism;
ii, Appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicated
infectious agent or biological toxin:
iii, Natural disaster;

iv. Chemical attack or accidental release;


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v. Nuclear attack or accident; or

vi. Attack that uses or is caused by an accidental release of radioactive

materials; and
2. Poses a high probability of any of the following:
i. Large number of deaths in the affected population;

ii. Large number of serious injuries or long-term disabilities in the
affected population;

iii, 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;

iv. — International exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a
significant risk to the health of citizens of other countries; or

v. 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;

1. 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. 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;


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0.

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 I

CREATION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE PHILIPPINE CENTERS FOR DISEASE

SEC.

PREVENTION AND CONTROL

. 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.

b.

c.

Develop strategies, standards, and policies for disease prevention and control;
Implement disease surveillance and field epidemiology activities;

Perform data collection and analytics;

|. Establish and strengthen public health laboratories;

. Set standards and policies for private laboratories;

Recommend actions for public health threats to appropriate national government
bodies;

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:

1. 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


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portfolio of national health-related surveys to complement the national

health surveys being managed by other national agencies;

. 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 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 THR processes; and to
expand its technical expertise to include other and emerging branches and

types of epidemiology and relevant epidemiologically-related approaches;

}. 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 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,


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National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Science and

Technology (DOST);

. 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.

b. The CDC shall also have three (3) offices directly under the Director General that

shall provide support to all Centers, namely:

1

Office for Health Economics;

2. Office for Policy and Planning;

3. Office for Administration, Finance, and Legal Affairs.

c. Regional CDCs shall be established, consisting of counterparts of CHL, CHS, and

CES.


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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

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

cpe.

. 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.
Relationship between Regional CDCs and DOH Regional Offices. The CDC shall
have regional counterparts of its CHL, CHS, and CES to form the Regional CDCs
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.

|. Relationship between CDC and local government units (LGUs). LGUs shall adopt

and localize standards and guidelines developed by the CDC, as operationalized by

the DOH, in the performance of activities related to disease prevention and control.


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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.

1. The different units of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) shall be
absorbed in the different Centers of the CDC:

i. The RITM’s national reference laboratories shall be absorbed by the CHL;
ii. Its clinical research units, hospital ancillary services, and research laboratory
departments shall be absorbed by the CHE;
iii, 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.

2. 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.

3. 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


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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.

i. 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.

ii. 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.

4, 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.

5. 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:

i. Develop strategic communication plans, including, but not limited to, corporate

risk and crisis communication plans;

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ii. 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;

iii, Manage and activate crisis communication protocol for health risks and
hazards, and institutional reputational risks;

iv. Develop and implement corresponding capacity-building activities in relation
to corporate risk and crisis communications;

v. Perform internal communication functions within the institution;

vi. Develop and facilitate the approval of communication materials and policies as
aligned with the approved communication plans;

vii. Manage different platforms of the institution for release of communication

materials; and

viii. 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.

1. 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

s within the new offices/bureaus created based on the set

conduct matching to po:
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

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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.

2. 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 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.

i, The salary and compensation of all employed staff under managerial, technical,
and administrative positions shall be subject to existing compensation and
position classification system and prevailing qualification standards and
regulations of the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

ii. 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.

iii, All in-house experts shall be allowed to practice their profession and receive
additional compensation from such engagements.

iv. 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.

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3. 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 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:

J. Director for Health Economics Service with the rank of Director IV;

2. Director for Policy and Planning with the rank of Director IV;

3. Director for Administration, Finance, and Legal Affairs with the rank of
Director [V.

d. Qualifications and Eligibilities.

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1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

1. Provide leadership, policy guidance, coordination, technical expertise, and
services to promote the development and implementation of the CDC’s
national programs;

2. Certify to the SOH the presence of a public health emergency;

3. 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;

4. 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:

Develop and implement national policies to prevent and mitigate

further transmission of diseases of public health importance;


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iii.

vi,

Ensure that LGUs follow al 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;

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;

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
pemicious 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;

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


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that are duly certified by the national regulatory authorities (NRA)
or their accredited third party representatives from countries with
established regulations shall be automatically cleared; and

vii. Perform such other functions and activities, as deemed necessary.

5. Institute public health surveillance programs in accordance with RA 11332 and as

such, impose the following:

i.

iii.

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;

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;

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

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 Concem Act.”

6. 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;

7. Request the Philippine National Police or the National Bureau of Investigation to locate

any patients or persons suspected of contracting a communicable disease;

8. Certify the termination of a public health emergency which may serve as basis for the

de-escalation and eventual termination of emergency response activities;

9. 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

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.

10. 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,


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and in designating their boundaries in accordance with Section 6 of RA No. 9271, or the

“Quarantine Act of 2004

11. 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;

12. Develop a shared risk communication plan in coordination with the DOH and the FDA;

13. 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;

14, Coordinate with appropriate DOH Offices regarding administrative and program
matters;

15. Appoint eligible persons in accordance with civil service laws, rules and regulations,
and this Act;

16. Delegate the powers vested under this Act to the Deputy Directors General; and

17. 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

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necessary, the DOH shall tap into the DRRM system to effectively respond to public

health emergencies;

|. 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;

_ 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 guidance to the BOQ for
the institution of disease surveillance at all points of entry and exit;

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;

.. The Secretary of Health may undertake the following functions in case of public health

events:

1. Hiring, transfer, and deployment of health personnel;

2. 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;

3. 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;

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4. Commissioning of research in coordination with DOST;

5. 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 or treatment: Provided, That the guidelines for the
exercise of such power shall be formulated in coordination with the
Department of Justice;

6. 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;

7. Issuance and enforcement of measures for safe handling and disposal of
human and animal remains; and

8. 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.

ARTICLE Vi
SPECIAL POWERS / AUTHORITY TO ENABLE RESPONSE

SEC. 13. Authority for Other Professions to Administer, Dispense, and Provide
Commodities for Public Health Emergencies. — \n 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

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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 concen;

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
emergency 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:

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.

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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;

¢. DOH-approved clinical practice guidelines or interim guidelines; or

. 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

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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.

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.

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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 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. — \n 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

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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;

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;

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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
modemization 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

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personal properties of all kinds for use in its operations such as the upgrading of its facilities,
equipment outlay, human resource 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.

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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.

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 newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

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