NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1163
^ciiaie
•22 AUG 15 P5 ‘01
RECEIVED BV
Introduced by Senator Joseph Victor G. Ejercito
AN ACT
CREATING THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, 
PROVIDING MECHANISMS FOR EPIDEMIC CONTROL, APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR, ANDFOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed the way governments respond 
to a health crisis. Everyone was caught offguard. Not even the wealthiest of countries 
were able to immediately contain the spread of the virus. Every country tried their 
best to contain and prevent the transmission of the disease. However, not every 
country has timely and successfully contained the virus.
Most countries which decently curbed the transmission of the virus and 
minimize its health and devastating economic effects has a strong foundation of 
institution dedicated in handling infectious diseases. Japan has National Institute of 
Infectious Diseases, the United States of America has Center for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), China and the European Union also has Its own CDC, on the other 
hand, our country has no such agency.
Armed by the experiences we shared together with other countries and our 
own personal knowledge of fighting COVID-19, the proposed bill seeks to establish 
the Philippines' Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The establishment of our 
own CDC shall prepare our country for whatever communicable or infectious disease


that might come our way In the future. We will have an agency equipped with the 
information and guidance we need to fight and live through another pandemic.
Under the proposed measure, the CDC shall be under the control and 
supervision of the Department of Health. It shall be the lead government agency 
tasked to deal with identifying and containing the spread of communicable diseases. 
It shall also function to formulate regulations and submit recommendations to the 
Secretary of Health on concerns related to quarantine protocols and procedures. The 
Center shall communicate and cooperate with its counterparts or other health agencies 
of other nations to formulate a scientific and effective approach in resolving the spread 
of communicable or Infectious diseases through control and prevention.
We need to increase the capacity of our health system to be resilient and the 
establishment of our own CDC is one step towards resiliency.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No.
i-m I3rnritf
o( 111? ft.Ti'p
72 AUG 15 P4 57
RECEI\
■ LJ
Introduced by Senator Joseph Victor G. Ejercito
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, 
PROVIDING MECHANISMS FOR EPIDEMIC CONTROL, APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Tide. - This Act shall be known as the "Center for Disease Control
2 
and Prevention Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - it is hereby declared the policy of the State to
4 
ensure the health and well-being of Filipinos and protect them from infectious
5 
diseases, chronic diseases and other public health threats.
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Towards this end, the State shall Introduce and establish measures and
7 
mechanisms that shall focus on research. Identification and containment of
8 
communicable diseases.
9 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used In this Act, the following terms and
10 
phrases are defined as follows:
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(a) Communicable disease, also known as infectious disease refers to an illness
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resulting from an Infection, or a disease which can be transmitted from an
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infected host individual or group to a particular Individual or group, regardless
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of whether the other individual was previously infected;
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(b) Contagious disease refers to an infectious disease that can be transmitted from
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person to person;
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(c) Disease refers to an illness due to a specific toxic substance, occupational
1


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exposure or infectious agent, which affects a susceptibie individual, either
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directly or indirectly, as from an infected animal or person, or Indirectly through
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an intermediate host, vector, or the environment;
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(d) Disease control refers to the reduction of disease incidence, prevalence,
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morbidity or mortality to a locally acceptable level as a result of deliberate
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efforts and continued intervention measures to maintain the reduction;
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(e) Disease surveillance refers to the ongoing systematic collection, analysis,
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interpretation, and dissemination of outcome-specific data for use in the
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planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice. A disease
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surveillance system Includes the functional capacity for data analysis as well as
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the timely dissemination of these data to persons who can undertake effective
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prevention and control activities;
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(f) Emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases refer to diseases that: (1) have
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not occurred in humans before; (2) have occurred previously but affected only
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small numbers of people in isolated areas; (3) have occurred throughout
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human history but have only recently been recognized as a distant disease due
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to an infectious agent; (4) are caused by previously undetected or unknown
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infectious agents; (5) are due to mutant or resistant strains of a causative
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organism; and (6) once were major health problems in the country, and then
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declined dramatically, but are again becoming health problems for a significant
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proportion of the population;
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(g) Epidemic or outbreak -refers to an occurrence of more cases of disease than
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normally expected within a specific place or group of people over a given period
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of time;
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(h) Health care facility refers to any institution, building, or agency or portion
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thereof, whether public or private that is used, operated, or designed to
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provide health services, medical treatment, or nursing, rehabilitative, or
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preventive care to any person or persons. This Includes, but is not limited to:
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ambulatory surgical facilities, home health agencies, hospices, hospitals,
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Infirmaries, intermediate care facilities, kidney treatment centers, long term
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care facilities, medical assistance facilities, mental health centers, outpatient
32 
facilities, public health centers, rehabilitation facilities, residential treatments


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facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and adult day-care centers. This also
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Includes, but is not limited to, the following related property when used for or
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In connection with the foregoing: laboratories; research facilities; pharmacies;
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laundry facilities; health personnel training and lodging facilities; patient,
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guest, and health personnel food service facilities; and offices and office
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buildings for persons engaged in health care professions or services;
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(i) Health event of public health concern refers to either a public health emergency
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or a public health threat due to biological, chemical, radio-nuclear and
9 
environmental agents;
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(j) Infectious disease refers to a disease caused by a living organism or other
11 
pathogen, including a fungus, bacillus, parasite, protozoan, or virus. An
12 
infectious disease may, or may not, be transmissible from person to person,
13 
animal to person, or insect to person.
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(k) Infectious waste refers to any of the following: (i) "biological waste," which
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includes blood and blood products, excretions, exudates, secretions, suctioning
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and other body fluids, and waste materials saturated with blood or body fluids;
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(il) "cultures and stocks," which includes etiologic agents and associated
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biologicals, including specimen cultures and dishes and devices used to
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transfer, inoculate, and mix cultures, wastes from production of biologicals and
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serums, and discarded live and attenuated vaccines; (iil) "pathological waste,"
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which Includes biopsy materials and all human tissues, anatomical parts that
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emanate from surgery, obstetrical procedures, necropsy or autopsy and
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laboratory procedures, and animal carcasses exposed to pathogens in research
24 
and the bedding and other waste from such animals, but does not Include teeth
25 
or formaldehyde or other preservative agents; and (iv) "sharps," which Includes
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needles, I. V. tubing with needles attached, scalpel blades, lancets, breakable
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glass tubes, and syringes that have been removed from their original sterile
28 
containers;
29 
(1) Notifiable disease refers to a disease that, by legal requirements, must be
30 
reported to the public health authorities in accordance with Republic Act No.
31 
11332 otherwise known as the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and
32 
Events of Public Health Concern Act;


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(m) Pre-communicable stage refers to the stage beginning upon an individual's
2 
earliest opportunity for exposure to an infectious agent and ending upon the
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individual entering or reentering the communicable stage of the disease or, if
4 
the individual does not enter the communicable stage, the latest date at which
5 
the individual could reasonably be expected to have the potential to enter or
6 
reenter the communicable stage;
7 
(n) Quarantine refers to the physical separation and confinement of an individual
8 
or groups of individuals, who are or may have been exposed to a contagious
9 
or possibly contagious disease and who do not show signs or symptoms of a
10 
contagious disease, from non- quarantined individuals, to prevent or limit the
11 
transmission of the disease to non- quarantined individuals.
12 
(o) Sudden onset health outbreak or sudden onset health events refers to diseases
13 
whose risks to public health and safety exponentially increase over time absent
14 
intervention;
15 
Sec. 4. Establishment of Center for Disease Control and Prevention. - There shall
16 
be created a Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hereinafter referred to
17 
as "Center," a government agency attached to the Department of Health (DOH), which
18 
shall exercise administrative supervision over the Center.
19 
The Center shall serve as the principal agency that will conduct research and
20 
development involving the control and prevention of communicable diseases. It shall
21 
lead the government in identifying the communicable or infectious diseases that could
22 
possibly enter the country and contain its spread In the event that they have already
23 
spread. The Center shall communicate and cooperate with its counterparts or other
24 
health agencies of other nations to formulate a scientific and effective approach in
25 
resolving the spread of communicable or infectious diseases through control and
26 
prevention. It shall be responsible in making quarantine recommendations to be
27 
Imposed in the event of an outbreak or spread of communicable diseases.
28 
Sec. 5. Reorganization of existing units. - Under this Center, the following bureaus
29 
of the DOH are hereby subsumed Into the Center:
30 
(a) The Disease Prevention and Control Bureau
31 
(b)The Epidemiology Bureau
32 
(c) The Disease Emergency Management Bureau


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Sec. 6. Functions of the Center. - The Center shall perform the following 
functions:
(a) Maintain active surveillance of diseases through epidemiological and 
laboratory investigations, data collection, analysis, and distribution;
(b) Act as lead agency in developing and implementing operational programs 
relating to communicable diseases;
(c) Act as the lead disease surveillance agency of the country;
(d) Conduct operational research aimed at developing and testing effective 
communicable disease prevention, control, and health promotion 
programs;
(e) Administers national programs to develop recommended health standards 
to ensure readiness for the emergence of new communicable diseases;
(f) Administer national programs for improving the performance of clinical 
laboratories in identifying and classifying communicable diseases;
(g) Recommend the exercise of certain powers by the President in the case 
of an epidemic;
(h) Set the parameters for the declaration of the existence of an epidemic;
(i) 
Recommend such measures and policies as may be necessary to prevent 
the transmission of communicable diseases;
(j) 
Assess and support the capabilities of local government units (LGUs) in 
preventing the emergence and transmission of communicable diseases;
(k) Enhance and strengthen the administrative and technical capacity of the 
Disease Prevention and Control Bureau and Epidemiology Bureau to 
ensure the agencies' monitoring coverage over establishments and 
products under their jurisdiction;
(l) 
Promote public health decisions guided by strategic information for best 
possible health outcomes.
(m) Provide coherence in the health monitoring to ensure equitable, 
accessible, efficient and quality health services to communities, through 
dynamic partnership and shared advocacy, responsibility and 
accountability.
(n) Set the standards and the process for the establishment of Epidemiology


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and Surveillance Units (ESUs) as required by Section 8 of Republic Act.
2 
No. 11332, assist DOH-retained hospitals, local health facilities especially
3 
district hospitals and private hospitals and laboratories in establishing
4 
ESUs and assess their performance and accredit them based on standards
5 
set by the CDC;
6 
(o) Maintain a Registry of Notifiable Diseases and Biosecurity Hazards, which
7 
shall be published and updated online.
8 
(p) Recommend to the Council inclusions and deletions from the registry;
9 
(q) Perform such other functions as may be mandated by law, or as may be
10 
duly delegated by relevant authorities.
11 
Sec. 7. Executive Director, - The Center shall be headed by an Executive
12 
Director who shall be appointed by the President with the rank of Undersecretary, and
13 
who shall perform the following functions and powers:
14 
(a) Manage and direct the activities of the Centers for Disease Control and
15 
Prevention (CDC),
16 
(b) Provide leadership for the implementation of CDCs responsibilities related
17 
to disease prevention and control;
18 
(c) Advise the Secretary of Health on policy matters concerning CDC
19 
activities;
20 
(d) Recommend to the President and the Secretary of Health the exercise of
21 
special powers In the case of an epidemic;
22 
(e) Certify to the existence of an epidemic, which shall be treated as a public
23 
health emergency;
24 
(f) 
Participate in the development of CDC goals and objectives;
25 
(g) Provide overall direction and coordination to the epidemiological activities
26 
of CDC;
27 
(h) Coordinate CDC response to health emergencies;
28 
(I) 
Provide liaison with other governmental agencies, international
29 
organizations including 
the World Health Organization, learning
30 
Institutions, and other outside groups;
31 
0) 
Coordinate international health activities relating to disease prevention
32 
and control;


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(k) In cooperation with DOH Regional Offices, provide or obtain technical
2 
assistance for regional and local health departments and private and
3 
official agencies as needed;
4 
(I) Provide overall direction to, and coordination of, the scientific/medical
5 
programs of CDC;
6 
(m) Oversee and provide leadership for laboratory science, safety, and quality
7 
management;
8 
(n) Plan, promote, and coordinate an ongoing program to assure equal
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employment opportunities in CDC;
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(o) Provide leadership, coordination, and assessment of administrative
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management activities;
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(p)Coordinate with appropriate DOH staff offices on administrative and program
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matters;
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(q)Coordinate the consumer affairs activities for CDC; and
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(r)Provide leadership, policy guidance, coordination, technical expertise, and
16 
services to promote the development and implementation of the agency's
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national programs.
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Sec. 8. Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Bureau. - There shall be
19 
created the Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Bureau under the CDC with
20 
the following functions:
21 
(a) Develop plans, policies, programs, projects and strategies for disease
22 
prevention and control and health protection; and
23 
(b) Provide coordination, technical assistance, capability building, consultancy
24 
and advisory services related to disease prevention and control and health
25 
protection.
26 
Sec. 9. Divisions of the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau. - There shall be
27 
created the following divisions under Disease Prevention and Control Bureau under
28 
the CDC with the following functions:
29 
(a) The Infectious Diseases for Elimination Division (IDED) shall have the following
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functions:
31 
(1) Develop policies, standards and guidelines for the elimination of
32 
infectious diseases;


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(b)The
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(6)
strategies against elimination of infectious diseases;
Assist and strengthen capacity to measure and analyze the burden of 
elimination of infectious diseases;
Provide monitoring and evaluation schemes to measure of Interventions 
in the prevention and control of elimination diseases;
Provide technical assistance and expert services to collaborating and 
implementing agencies on matters pertaining to the prevention and 
control of infectious diseases for elimination;
Develop capability of health sector agencies and organizations in the 
implementation of programs and projects related to the prevention and 
control of infectious diseases for elimination;
Promote coordination and collaboration with partner agencies and 
organizations on matters pertaining to elimination of Infectious diseases; 
and
Mobilize resources to assist collaborating and implementing agencies and 
organizations.
of infectious diseases;
Develop plans, programs and projects to carry out preventive and control 
strategies against infectious diseases;
Assist and strengthen capacity to measure and analyze the burden of 
Infectious diseases;
Provide technical assistance and expert services to collaborating and 
implementing agencies on matters pertaining to the prevention and 
control of infectious diseases;
Develop capability of health sector agencies and organizations in the 
implementation of programs and projects related to the prevention and 
control of infectious diseases;


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organizations on matters pertaining to infectious diseases; and
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(7) Mobilize resources to assist collaborating and implementing agencies and
3 
organizations.
4 
All other divisions currently under the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau
5 
of the Department of Health shall remain within the bureau, which shall hereafter be
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renamed the Non-Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Bureau.
7 
Sec. 10. Epidemiology Bureau. - There shall be an Epidemiology Bureau under the
8 
Center with the following functions:
9 
(a) Develop and evaluate surveillance systems and other health information
10 
systems;
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(b) Collect, analyze and disseminate reliable and timely information on the
12 
health status;
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(c) Investigate disease outbreaks and other threats to public health; and
14 
(d) Network public health laboratories in support of epidemiological and
15 
surveillance activities.
16 
There shall create the divisions under the Epidemiology Bureau with the following
17 
functions:
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(1) Applied Epidemiology Health Management Division
19 
I. Investigate and respond to epidemics and other urgent public health
20 
threats as the need arises;
21 
ii. Develop and maintain field epidemiology training programs for public
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health workers;
23 
Hi. Develop, capture, filter, verify, assess, respond, disseminate and
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evaluate event- based surveillance systems; and
25 
iv. Collect and maintain resource materials on epidemiology,
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surveillance, management and monitoring and evaluation in public
27 
health.
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(2) Public Health Surveillance Division - Undertake notifiable disease
29 
surveillance through Philippine Integrated Disease Surveillance and
30 
Response.
31 
(3) Survey, Monitoring & Evaluation Division
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i. Provide statistical services to priority health programs of the DOH;


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ii. Monitoring non-behavioral risk factors priority non-communicable
2 
diseases through globally standardized survey;
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iii. Monitor HIV and AIDS Registry and Integrated HIV Behavioral and
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Serologic Surveillance, size estimates and Most At-Risk Population;
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and
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iv. Provide program health indicators information
7 
Sec. 11. Disease Emergency Management Bureau. - There shall be created the
8 
Disease Emergency Management Bureau under the Center with the following
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functions:
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(a) Act as the DOH Coordinating Unit and Operation Center for all health
11 
emergencies and disasters, as well as Incidents with the potential of becoming
12 
an emergency, and coordinate the mobilization and sharing of resources.
13 
(b) Provide the communication linkage among DOH Central Office and other
14 
concerned agencies, including the hospitals and the regions, during
15 
emergencies and disasters.
16 
(c) Maintain updated information of ail health emergencies and disasters (except
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epidemiological investigation reports) and provide such information to other
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offices and agencies in accordance with existing protocols.
19 
(d) Maintain a database of ail health emergency personnel, technical experts, and
20 
resource speakers. Together with the National Center for Health Facilities
21 
Development (NCHFD), the DEMB shall maintain a database of capabilities of
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health facilities.
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(e) Lead in the development of Disaster Risk Reduction & Management in Health
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(DRRMH) Plan and the development of protocols, guidelines and standards for
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health emergency management.
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(f) 0 Provide technical assistance in the development of programs and planning
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activities for HEM for other government and non-government organizations.
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(g) Lead advocacy activities, including simulation exercises.
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(h) Develop and implements an Integrated Human Resource Training Agenda for
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the Health Sector for emergencies and disasters.
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(I) Lead in the networking of hospitals and health sector organizations responding
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to emergencies and disasters.
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(j) Monitor and evaluate the enforcement of compliance to policies and 
recommend the formulation or amendment of policies related to health 
emergency management.
There shall be create the divisions under the Disease Emergency Management 
Bureau with the following functions:
(1) Prevention, Mitigation & Preparedness Division
i. Develop, disseminates, and monitors the Implementation of policies for 
health emergency preparedness.
Develop standardized training modules for various stakeholders on health 
emergency
Develop, disseminate and update emergency preparedness programs 
Iv. Develop policy-related and operational researches and documentation 
relevant to health emergency preparedness that will serve as inputs for 
policy development and program/systems improvement.
V. Develop well-performing managerial human resources for health 
emergency management
vi. Provide technical assistance to ensure the availability of functional health 
emergency preparedness systems (including policies, planning and 
capability building activities) at ail levels of the health sector.
vii. Provide technical assistance to ensure delivery of appropriate services in 
time of emergencies.
vlil. Develop and implement an overall Monitoring and Evaluation System and 
Plan for health emergency management 
ix. Lead in public information and awareness-raising activities 
(1) Response, Recovery & Rehabilitation Division
i. 
Mobilize resource of technical experts, health response teams and tangible 
logistics needed locally and internationally.
ii. Manage Information through rapid health assessment, damage assessment 
and needs analysis in response, recovery and rehabilitation phases.
iii. Plan and develop policies and guidelines essential in the Implementation 
and management of projects, programs and activities relevant to 
emergency and response, recovery and rehabilitation.
11


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iv. Develop and capacitate human resource of regional offices, operation
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centers and local government units in responding to emergencies.
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V. Perform such other functions as may be necessary in performing its
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functions as a health emergency response division.
5 
Sec. 12. Research Institute of Tropica! Medicine. - The Center shall absorb the
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following functions and divisions under the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine
7 
(RTTM):
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(a) Undertake research in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of tropical
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diseases of public health Importance and to produce vaccines for the control of
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vaccine-preventable diseases; and
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(b) Engage and help formulate national health policy and strategy, conduct
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research efforts directed towards the development of new diagnostic
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techniques as well as effective and efficient strategies for the control of
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infectious and/or tropical diseases
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The RTTM shall continue to perform the functions:
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(1) Provide high quality tertiary care to both in-patients and out-patients
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suffering from tropical diseases included within the scope of the Institute's
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research activities.
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(2) Undertake research activities in the diagnosis, control and prevention of
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tropical diseases that are major causes of mortality and morbidity in the
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Philippines.
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(3) Develop cost effective strategies for the control of infectious/tropical
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diseases.
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(4) Conduct clinical trials according to accepted Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
25 
guidelines, aimed at better understanding and control of tropical diseases.
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[5) Conduct regular training courses for medical and paramedical personnel in
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the control of common tropical diseases in the country.
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(6) Participate in the technical cooperation programs with foreign government
29 
in research activities In the diagnosis, control and prevention of tropical
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diseases.
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Sec. 13. Promulgation and enforcement by the Secretary of Health. - The
32 
Secretary of Health, upon the recommendation of the Executive Director, is authorized
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to make and enforce such regulations as in his/her judgment are necessary to prevent
2 
the introduction, transmission, or spread of communicable diseases from foreign
3 
countries into the Philippines or its territory.
4 
For purposes of carrying out and enforcing such regulations, the Secretary of
5 
Health, or the Executive Director upon delegation by the Secretary of Health, may
6 
provide for such Inspection, fumigation, disinfection, sanitation, pest extermination,
7 
destruction of animals or articles found to be so infected or contaminated as to be
8 
sources of dangerous infection to human beings, and other measures, as in his/her
9 
judgment may be necessary.
10 
Sec. 14. Prohibition against uniawfvi apprehension and detention. - No person
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shall be unlawfully apprehended or detained except for the purpose of preventing the
12 
introduction, transmission, or spread of such communicable diseases as may be
13 
specified from time to time in Executive Orders of the President upon the
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recommendation of the Secretary of Health and/or the Executive Director.
15 
Sec. 15. Application of regulations to persons entering from foreign countries.
16 
- Except as specifically provided by law, regulations prescribed under this section,
17 
insofar as they provide for the apprehension, detention, examination, or conditional
18 
release of individuals, shall be applicable only to Individuals coming into Philippine
19 
territory from a foreign country or a possession.
20 
Sec. 16. Suspension of entries and imports from designated places to prevent
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the spread of communicable diseases. - The Secretary of Health, upon the
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recommendation of the Executive Director, in accordance with regulations approved
23 
by the President, shall have the power to prohibit, in whole or in part, the entry of
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persons and property from countries or places where a communicable disease exist to
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prevent its spread for such period of time as he or she may deem necessary for such
26 
purpose.
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Sec. 17. Quarantine regulations governing civil air navigation, civil aircraft and
28 
civil naval vessels. - The Executive Director and the Secretary of Health are jointly
29 
authorized to provide quarantine regulations applying to air navigation, aircraft and
30 
naval vessels, as they may deem necessary for the safeguarding of the public health.
31 
Sec. 18. Penalties. - Any person who violates any regulation prescribed by the
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Secretary of Health or Executive Director; or who enters or departs from the limits of
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any quarantine station, ground, or anchorage in disregard of quarantine rules and
2 
regulations or without permission of the quarantine officer in charge, shall be punished
3 
by a fine of not more than Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php 50,000.00) or by Imprisonment
4 
for not more than two years, or both.
5 
Sec. 19. Health Emergency Coordination Council (HECC). — A Health
6 
Emergency Coordinating Council (HECC), hereinafter referred to as the Council, shall
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be composed of the following:
8 
(a) Secretary of Health as Chairperson;
9 
(b)The Executive Secretary as Co-Chairperson;
10 
(c) The Executive Director of the CDCP as Secretary;
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(d) The Secretary of Foreign Affairs as Member;
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(e)Tbe Secretary of National Defense as NDRRMC Chairman as Member;
13 
(f) The Secretary of Interior and Local Government as Member;
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(g)The Secretary of Justice as Member;
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(h)The Secretary of Budget and Management as Member;
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(r) The Secretary of Trade and Industry as Member;
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(j) The Secretary of Agriculture as Member;
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(k) The Press Secretary as Member,
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(I) The National Security Adviser as Member.
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(m) The Chairman of the Philippine Red Cross as Member;
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(n)The Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Health Research and
22 
Development as Member; and
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(o)Th President of PhilHealth as Member
24 
Other government agencies not under the authority or jurisdiction of the
25 
standing members of the Council may be included should their inclusion be determined
26 
by the Council as necessary.
27 
The Center shall act as the Secretariat of the HECC.
28 
Sec. 20. Emergency Powers during a sudden onset health outbreak. — The
29 
Council may certify the existence of a state of health emergency during a sudden
30 
onset health outbreak. The basis for such a declaration shall be made public by the
31 
Council through the mass and social media. A written report shall be submitted to
32 
both Houses of Congress. The declaration shall take effect for a period of sixty (60)
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days, unless extended or terminated earlier by the President, upon recommendation
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by the Secretary of Health.
3 
Sec. 21. Health Care Facilities and Services During a Sudden Onset Heaith
4 
Outbreak. — During the period of a Sudden Onset Health Outbreak, the Council may,
5 
within reasonable and necessary grounds for emergency response to a public health
6 
emergency, require privately owned health care facilities to provide services or the
7 
use of their facilities.
8 
Sec. 22. Ciosure of Faciiities and Decontamination of Materiais. — During the
9 
State of Health Emergency, the Council may exercise, in coordination with national
10 
government agencies, local governments, shall have the power to close facilities or
11 
decontaminate materials that may be considered dangerous due to contamination or
12 
exposure to chemical, nuclear or biological agents or Infectious disease pathogen. The
13 
Council may direct and compel the evacuation of, or to decontaminate or cause to be
14 
decontaminated, any facility or any material of which there is reasonable cause to
15 
believe that it may endanger the public health.
16 
Sec. 23. Control of Pharmaceutical Agents or Medical Supplies. — After the
17 
declaration of a State of Public Health Emergency, the Council may authorize
18 
concerned agencies to purchase, store or distribute anti-toxins, serums, vaccines,
19 
immunizing agents, antibiotics, and other pharmaceutical agents or medical supplies
20 
that it considers advisable in the interest of preparing for or controlling a public health
21 
emergency, with the right to take immediate possession thereof.
22 
If a State of Public Health Emergency results In a nationwide or regional
23 
shortage The Council, during a State of Public Health Emergency or threatened
24 
shortage of any product covered by the preceding paragraph,may control, restrict,
25 
and regulate by rationing and using quotas, prohibitions on shipments, price fixing,
26 
allocation or other means, the use, sale, trading, distribution, or transportation of the
27 
relevant products necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people
28 
Sec. 24. Sudden Onset Heaith Hazards and Emergencies Management Service.
29 
There shall be created, within the CDC, a Sudden Onset Health Hazards and
30 
Emergencies Management Service (SOHHEMS), under the DEMB, which shall perform
31 
the following functions:
32 
(a) Oversee on-the-ground operations of the CDC In the event of a public health
15


1 
emergency;
2 
(b) Assess and improve the readiness of health facilities for a public health
3 
emergency;
4 
(c) Develop a National Epidemic and Rapid Onset Emergency Response plan, and
5 
assist local governments in formulating their local public health emergency
6“ 
response plans;
7 
(d) Capacitate government instrumentalities and private organizations In on-the-
8 
ground response to public health emergencies;
9 
(e) Coordinate the logistical requirements of delivering national government
10 
assistance to local governments in case of a public health emergency;
11 
(f) Operate a national health emergency hotline;
12 
(g) Serve as a central receiving center for relevant information during a health
13 
emergency;
14 
(h) Oversee the National Health Emergency Response Unit (NHERU);
15 
(i) Perform such other functions as may be delegated by the Secretary of Health,
16 
or as may be needed to perform its role as the coordination body for ground
17 
operations during a public health emergency.
18 
Sec. 25. National Health Emergency Response Unit - There shall be created a
19 
National Health Emergency Response Unit to perform the following functions:
20 
(a) Execute, in coordination with relevant law enforcement authorities, orders for
21 
seizure, surveillance, search, and 
disposal issued by the President, the
22 
Secretary of Health, the CDC, or the HECC.
23 
(b)Act as the first-response unit of the SOHHEMS during a public health
24 
emergency;
25 
(c) Conduct Investigative and intelligence gathering activities as ordered by the
26 
CDC or by the Secretary of Health;
27 
(d) Verify reports of cases of serious infectious diseases, the presence of serious
28 
amounts of biohazards; and such other reports whose verification is in the
29 
Interest of protecting public health;
30 
(e) Perform such other functions as may be inherent In its role as the first-response
31 
unit of the PHEMS, or as may be assigned by the Secretary of Health and/or
32 
the CDC Executive Director.
16


1 
The frontline personnel of the NHERU shall be entitled to hazard pay. The
2 
Department of Budget and Management shall formulate and promulgate the rules and
3 
regulations necessary for the implementation of this paragraph.
4 
Sec. 26. Right to information during a sudden onset health outbreak. - The
5 
Secretary of Health shall make publicly available information which he/she deems
6 
essential to preserving the health and safety of the public. During a sudden onset
7 
health outbreak, the right to vital information shall take precedence over the right to
8 
privacy.
9 
Sec. 27. Special supervision over the Bureau of Quarantine. - During a sudden
10 
onset health outbreak, or as may be mandated by the Secretary of Health in the
11 
interest of preventing an outbreak, the Bureau of Quarantine shall report directly to
12 
the Executive Director of the CDC. The Bureau of Quarantine shall at all times practice
13 
full transparency with the Executive Director of the CDC. The CDC shall have full
14 
access to information in the possession of the Bureau of Quarantine.
15 
Sec. 28. Safe disposal of infectious waste. - The CDC may exercise, for such period
16 
as the state of public health emergency exists, the following powers regarding the
17 
safe disposal of infectious waste:
18 
(a) Adopt measures. To adopt and enforce measures to provide for the safe
19 
disposal of infectious waste as may be reasonable and necessary to respond to
20 
the public health emergency. Such measures may include, but are not limited
21 
to, the collection, storage, handling, destruction, treatment, transportation, and
22 
disposal of infectious waste.
23 
(b) Control of facilities. To require any business or facility authorized to collect,
24 
store, handle, destroy, treat, transport, and dispose of infectious waste under
25 
the law, and any landfill business or other such property, to accept infectious
26 
waste, or provide services or the use of the business, facility, or property if
27 
such action is reasonable and necessary to respond to the public health
28 
emergency as a condition of licensure, authorization, or the ability to continue
29 
doing business in the country as such a business or facility. The use of the
30 
business, facility, or property may include transferring the management and
31 
supervision of such business, facility, or property to the CDC for a limited or
32 
unlimited period of time, but shall not exceed the termination of the declaration
17


1 
of a state of public health emergency.
2 
(c) Use of facilities. To procure, by condemnation or otherwise, any business or
3 
facility authorized to collect, store, handle, destroy, treat, transport, and
4 
dispose of infectious waste under the laws of the country and any landfill
5 
business or other such property as may be reasonable and necessary to
6 
respond to the public health emergency, with the right to take immediate
7 
possession thereof.
8 
(d) Identification. All bags, boxes, or other containers for infectious waste shall be
9 
clearly identified as containing infectious waste, and if known, the type of
10 
infectious waste.
11 
Sec. 29. Safe disposal of human remains. - The CDC may exercise, for such period
12 
as the state of public health emergency exists, the following powers regarding the
13 
safe disposal of human remains:
14 
(a) Adopt measures. To adopt and enforce measures to provide for the safe
15 
disposal of human remains as may be reasonable and necessary to respond to
16 
the public health emergency. Such measures may rnctude, but are not limited
17 
to, the embalming, burial, cremation, interment, disinterment, transportation,
18 
and disposal of human remains.
19 
(b) Possession. To take possession or control of any human remains.
20 
(c) Disposal. To order the disposal of any human remains of a person who has died
21 
of a contagious disease through burial or cremation within twenty-four (24)
22 
hours after death. To the extent possible, religious, cultural, family, and
23 
individual beliefs of the deceased person or his or her family shall be considered
24 
when disposing of any human remains.
25 
(d) Control of facilities. To require any business or facility authorized to embalm,
26 
bury, cremate, inter, disinter, transport, and dispose of human remains under
27 
the laws of the country to accept any human remains or provide the use of its
28 
business or facility if such actions are reasonable and necessary to respond to
29 
the public health emergency as a condition of licensure, authorization, or the
30 
ability to continue doing business in the country as such a business or facility.
31 
The use of the business or facility may include transferring the management
32 
and supervision of such business or facility to the CDC for a limited or unlimited
18


1 
period of time, but shall not exceed the termination of the declaration of a state
2 
of public health emergency.
3 
(e) Use of facilities. To procure, by condemnation or otherwise, any business or
4 
facility authorized to embalm, bury, cremate, inter, disinter, transport, and
5 
dispose of human remains under the laws of the Philippines as may be
6 
reasonable and necessary to respond to the public health emergency, with the
7 
right to take immediate possession thereof.
8 
(f) Labeling. Every human remains prior to disposal shall be clearly labeled with
9 
ail available information to identify the decedent and the circumstances of
10 
death. Any human remains of a deceased person with a contagious disease
11 
shall have an external, clearly visible tag indicating that the human remains Is
12 
infected and, if known, the contagious disease.
13 
(g) Identification. Every person In charge of disposing of any human remains shall
14 
maintain a written or electronic record of each human remains and all available
15 
information to identify the decedent and the circumstances of death and
16 
disposal. If human remains cannot be Identified prior to disposal, a qualified
17 
person shall, to the extent possible, take fingerprints and photographs of the
18 
human remains, obtain Identifying dental information, and collect a DNA
19 
specimen. All information gathered under this paragraph shall be promptly
20 
forwarded to the CDC.
21 
Sec. 30. Control of health care supplies. -
22 
(a) Procurement. The CDC may purchase and distribute antitoxins, serums,
23 
vaccines, immunizing agents, antibiotics, and other pharmaceutical agents or
24 
medical supplies that it deems advisable in the interest of preparing for or
25 
controlling a public health emergency, without any additional legislative
26 
authorization.
27 
(b) Rationing. If a state of public health emergency results in a national or regional
28 
shortage or threatened shortage of any product under (a), whether or not such
29 
product has been purchased by the public health authority, the CDC may
30 
control, restrict, and regulate by rationing and using quotas, prohibitions on
31 
shipments, allocation, or other means, the use, sale, dispensing, distribution,
32 
or transportation of the relevant product necessary to protect the public health.
19


1 
safety, and welfare of the people.
2 
(c) Priority. In making rationing or other supply and distribution decisions, the CDC
3 
may give preference to health care providers, disaster response personnel, and
4 
mortuary staff.
5 
(d) Distribution. During a state of public health emergency, the CDC may procure,
6 
store, or distribute any anti-toxins, serums, vaccines, immunizing agents,
7 
antibiotics, and other pharmaceutical agents or medical supplies located within
8 
the country as may be reasonable and necessary to respond to the public health
9 
emergency, with the right to take immediate possession thereof. If a public
10 
health emergency simultaneously affects more than one state, nothing in this
11 
Section shall be construed to allow the public health authority to obtain anti-
12 
toxins, serums, vaccines. Immunizing agents, antibiotics, and other
13 
pharmaceutical agents or medical supplies for the primary purpose of hoarding
14 
such items or preventing their fair and equitable distribution among affected
15 
countries.
16 
Sec. 31. Vaccination and treatment - During a state of public health emergency,
17 
or a state of sudden onset health outbreak, the CDC may exercise the following
18 
emergency powers over persons as necessary to address the public health emergency:
19 
(a) Vaccination. To vaccinate persons as protection against infectious disease and
20 
to prevent the spread of contagious or possibly contagious disease. (1)
21 
Vaccination may be performed by any qualified person authorized to do so by
22 
the CDC. (2) A vaccine to be administered must not be such as Is reasonably
23 
likely to lead to serious harm to the affected individual. (3) To prevent the
24 
spread of contagious or possibly contagious disease the CDC may Isolate or
25 
quarantine, pursuant to the provisions of this Act, persons who are unable or
26 
unwilling for reasons of health, religion, or conscience to undergo vaccination
27 
pursuant to this Section.
28 
(b) Treatment. To treat persons exposed to or infected with disease. (1) Treatment
29 
may be administered by any qualified person authorized to do so by the CDC
30 
or DOH. (2) Treatment must not be such as is reasonably likely to lead to
31 
serious harm to the affected individual. (3) To prevent the spread of contagious
32 
or possibly contagious disease the public health authority may isolate or
20


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3
4
5
6
7
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9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
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18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
quarantine, persons who are unable or unwilling for reasons of health, religion, 
or conscience to undergo treatment pursuant to this Section.
Sec. 32. Reporting. -
(a) Illness or health condition. A health care provider, medico-legal, or medical 
examiner shall report all cases of persons who harbor any illness or health 
condition that may be potential causes of a public health emergency. 
Including emerging and re-emerging infections.
(b) Pharmacists. In addition to the foregoing requirements for health care 
providers, a pharmacist shall report any unusual or increased prescription 
rates, unusual types of prescriptions, or unusual trends In pharmacy visits 
that may be potential causes of a public health emergency. Prescription- 
related events that require a report include, but are not limited to— (1) an 
unusual increase in the number of prescriptions or over- the-counter 
pharmaceuticals to treat conditions that the CDC identifies through 
regulations; (2) an unusual Increase in the number of prescriptions for 
antibiotics; and (3) any prescription that treats a disease that is relatively 
uncommon or may be associated with bioterrorism.
(c) Manner of reporting. The report shall be made electronically or in writing 
within twenty-four (24) to the Department of Health or through the CDC. The 
report shall include as much of the following information as is available; the 
specific illness or health condition that Is the subject of the report; the 
patient's name, date of birth, sex, race, occupation, and current home and 
work addresses (including city and province); the name and address of the 
health care provider, coroner, or medical examiner and of the reporting 
Individual, if different; and any other information needed to locate the patient 
for follow-up. For cases related to animal or insect bites, the suspected 
locating information of the biting animal or Insect, and the name and address 
of any known owner, shall be reported.
(d) Animal diseases. Every veterinarian, livestock owner, veterinary diagnostic 
laboratory director, or other person having the care of animals shall report 
animals having or suspected of having any diseases that may be potential 
causes of a public health emergency. The report shall be made electronically
21


1 
or in writing within twenty- four (24) hours to the DOH or the CDC and shall
2 
include as much of the following information as is available: the specific
3 
illness or health condition that is the subject of the report; the suspected
4 
locating information of the animal, the name and address of any known
5 
owner, and the name and address of the reporting individual.
6 
(e) Laboratories. For the purposes of this Section, the definition of "health care
7 
provider" shall Include medical laboratories, provided that such laboratories
8 
have agreed to the reporting requirements of the country. Results must be
9 
reported by the laboratory that performs the test, but a local laboratory that
10 
sends specimens to a laboratory abroad is also responsible for reporting
11 
results.
12 
(f) Enforcement. The CDC may enforce the provisions of this Section In
13 
accordance with existing enforcement rules and regulations.
14 
Sec. 33. Tracking. - The CDC shall ascertain the existence of cases of an illness or
15 
health condition that may be potential causes of a public health emergency;
16 
investigate all such cases for sources of Infection and to ensure that they are subject
17 
to proper control measures; and define the distribution of the illness or health
18 
condition. To fulfill these duties, the CDC shall identify exposed individuals as follows—
19 
(a)Identlfication of individuals. Acting on information developed in accordance
20 
with Section 34 of this Act, or other reliable information, the CDC shall
21 
identify all individuals thought to have been exposed to an illness or health
22 
condition that may be a potential cause of a public health emergency.
23 
(b)Interviewing of individuals. The CDC shall counsel and interview such
24 
Individuals where needed to assist in the positive identification of exposed
25 
individuals and develop information relating to the source and spread of the
26 
illness or health condition. Such information includes the name and address
27 
(Including city and province) of any person from whom the Illness or health
28 
condition may have been contracted and to whom the illness or health
29 
condition may have spread.
30 
(c)Examination of facilities or materials. The CDC shall, for examination
31 
purposes, close, evacuate, or decontaminate any facility or decontaminate or
32 
destroy any material when the authority reasonably suspects that such
22


1 
facility or material may endanger the public health.
2 
(d)Enforcement. The CDC may enforce the provisions of this Section In
3 
accordance with existing enforcement rules and regulations. An order of the
4 
CDC given to effectuate the purposes of this Section shall be enforceable
5 
immediately.
6 
Sec. 34. Information sharing. -
7 
a. Whenever the CDC or other government agency learns of a case of a reportable
8 
illness or health condition, an unusual cluster, or a suspicious event that may
9 
be the cause of a public health emergency, it shall immediately notify the
10 
SOHECC and its members.
11 
b. Whenever the CDC learns of a case of a reportable Illness or health condition,
12 
an unusual cluster, or a suspicious event that it reasonably believes has the
13 
potential to be caused by bioterrorism, it shall immediately notify public safety
14 
authorities.
15 
c. Sharing of information on reportable illnesses, health conditions, unusual
16 
dusters, or suspicious events between public health and safety authorities shall
17 
be restricted to the Information necessary for the treatment, control,
18 
Investigation, and prevention of a public health emergency.
19 
Sec. 35. Intergovernmental information sharing. - The Secretary of Foreign
20 
Affairs and the Secretary of Health are jointly mandated to review and recommend to
21 
the SOHECC multilateral and bilateral agreements which the country may adopt to
22 
strengthen Its Information-sharing mechanisms with other countries.
23 
Sec. 36. Congressional Oversight Committee on Communicable Disease Control
24 
and Prevention - To monitor the implementation of this Act, there shall be a
25 
Congressional Oversight Committee on Communicable Disease Control and
26 
Prevention, composed of the Chair and four other members of the House Committee
27 
on Health, and the Chair and four other members of the Senate Committee on Health
28 
and Demography. No part of this Act shall be construed as to limit the oversight
29 
powers inherently or actually possessed by the same committees.
30 
Sec. 37. Appropriations. - In addition to the appropriations for the units
31 
subsumed in the Center under this Act, there shall be appropriated a sum of Fifty
32 
Million Pesos (Php 50,000.000.00) for the Implementation of this Act, including the
23


1 
operations of the Center. Provided, that such appropriation shall apply only when this
2 
Act is passed before the Center could be given appropriations under the General
3 
Appropriations Act for the nearest upcoming year.
4 
Sec. 38. Staffing. - The Secretary of Health, in consultation with the Department
5 
of Budget and Management (DBM), shall determine the organizational structures
6 
including regional or field offices, qualification standards, staffing pattern and
7 
compensation of the newly created Center in accordance with existing laws, rules and
8 
regulations.
9 
Sec. 39. Implementing Rules and Reguicfxons. - The Secretary of Health shall
10 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations within ninety (90) working days from
11 
the effectivlty of this Act.
12 
Sec. 40. Separability Qause. — If any portion or provision of this Act is
13 
subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are
14 
not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
15 
Sec. 41. Repealing Clause. — All other laws, acts, presidential decrees,
16 
executive orders, presidential proclamations, issuances, rules and regulations, or parts
17 
thereof which are contrary to or inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are
18 
hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
19 
Sec. 42. Effectivlty. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
20 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
24