Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 1548
Introduced by HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. VINCENZO 
RENATO LUIGI R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA, AND 
HON. TERRY L. RIDON 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
 The first coronavirus case in the Philippines was in January 2020 when a tourist from 
Wuhan, China tested positive upon her arrival in the country, however, its local spread really 
commenced by early March 2020. On March 12, 2020, Metro Manila was placed under a 
General Community Quarantine (GCQ), but with the continuous rise of COVID cases, the 
entire country was placed under the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) from March 16, 
2020 to May 15, 2020 before the entire country was reverted to GCQ or Modified GCQ. 
This national health emergency finally urged the government to establish its own 
Philippine Centers for Disease Prevention and Control as one of our future mechanisms in 
addressing possible similar state of affairs. In the Philippines alone, there were an estimate of 
4 million COVID-19 cases in which an estimated 66,000 individuals perished from the disease. 
To further this initiative, the Department of Health, in coordination with the US Centers for 
Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention established an office in the Philippines in 2022 to 
detect, prevent, and control infectious disease outbreaks in the future, as well as strengthen 
the country’s core public health capabilities.  
In this Act, similar mission and vision of the US CDC are reflected in support of 
Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act. The Philippine Centers for 
Disease Prevention and Control, a government agency attached to the Department of Health 
(DOH) shall be the lead agency in forecasting, analysis, strategy, and standards development 
for the prevention and control of all diseases of public health importance and healthy security 
events, whether domestic or international in origin. The COVID-19 pandemic became a 
wakeup call and a poignant reminder for the Philippines to strengthen its efforts towards health 
policies, health capabilities and global health security, and partnership with current and 
ensuing pandemic or epidemic.  
The CDC Philippines’ structure involves the following component centers: Center for 
Health Statistics (CHS), Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance, Center for Health 
Evidence, and Center for Health Laboratories, all for the ultimate objective of preventing future 
pandemics and national health emergencies that may once again abrupt our daily processes 
and monetary flow that will lead to the hindrance of our country’s continuous economic growth. 
July 8, 2025
10:01 am


This is a re-filed bill from the 19th Congress, and was approved on Third and Final 
Reading and was transmitted to the Senate. Thus, in light of the foregoing, the immediate 
passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
HON. VINCENZO RENATO LUIGI R. VILLAFUERTE 
HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
HON. TERRY L. RIDON 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 1548 
Introduced by HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. VINCENZO 
RENATO LUIGI R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA, AND 
HON. TERRY L. RIDON 
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.” 
SECTION 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 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. 
SECTION 3. Objectives. – The objectives of this Act are the following: 
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 (IHR) 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;


 
 
 
e) 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 II 
DEFINITION OF TERMS 
SECTION 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; 
 
b) Disease refers to the 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: 
f)  
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 
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. 
 


 
 
g) 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; 
 
h) 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; 
 
i) 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; 
 
j) Notifiable disease refers to a disease that, by legal requirements, must be reported to 
the public health authorities; 
 
k) Public Health Emergency refers to an occurrence or imminent threat of an illness or 
health condition that: 
l)  
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; 
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. 
 
m) Public Health Event refers to either a public health emergency or a public health threat 
due to biological, chemical radio-nuclear, and environmental agents; 
 
n) Public Health Laboratories refer to facilities responsible for providing timely and reliable 
diagnostic results primarily for the 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; 
 
o) Public Health Threat refers to any situation or factor that may present a danger to the 
health of the people; 
 


 
 
p) 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 manger as to prevent the possible spread of infection or contamination; 
 
q) 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 III 
CREATION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE PHILIPPINE CENTERS FOR DISEASE 
PREVENTION AND CONTROL 
SECTION 5. 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. 
 
SECTION 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 healthy 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) Develop strategies, standards, and policies for disease prevention and control; 
b) Implement disease surveillance and field of epidemiology activities; 
c) Perform data collection and analytics; 
d) Establish and strengthen public health laboratories; 
e) Set standards and policies for private laboratories; 
f) Recommend actions for public health threats to appropriate national government 
bodies; 
g) Lead public health and risk communications; 
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 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. 
 
SECTION 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 portfolio of national health-related 
surveys to complement the national health surveys being managed by other 
national agencies; 
 
2. 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 IHR 
processes; and to expand its technical expertise to include other and emerging 
branches and types of epidemiology and relevant epidemiologically-related 
approaches; 
 
3. 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 
 
4. 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 (PHLs). 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. 
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 approval. 
 
 
ARTICLE IV 
OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE, MANAGEMENT, AND STAFF OF THE CENTER 
 
SECTION 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 CDC. 
b) 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. 
c) 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. 
d) 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. 
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. 
 
SECTION 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 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; 
 
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 conduct matching to positions within the new 
offices/bureaus created based on the set 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 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. 
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. 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
SECTION 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: 
 
1. Director for Health Economics Service with the rank of Director IV; 
2. Director for Policy and Planning with the rank of Director IV; 
3. 3. Director for Administration, Finance, and Legal Affairs with the rank of 
Director IV; 
 
d) Qualifications and Eligibilities. 
 
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, and 
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: 
i. Develop and implement national policies to prevent and mitigate further 
transmission of diseases of public health importance; 
 
ii. Ensure that LGUs follow all 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; 
 
iii. Develop and implement flexibilities in procurement of essential 
commodities and implement programs in response to a public health 
emergency; 
 
iv. 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; 
 
v. 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 
pernicious 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; 
 
vi. 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 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. 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; 
 


 
 
ii. 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; 
 
iii. DSOs, ESUs, CDC laboratories, PHLs, pharmacies and those 
employed by the LG to perform surveillance and response activities 
shall furnish information required the CDC at all times and as soon as 
practicable; and 
 
iv. Failure of said establishments to report to the CDC shall constitute a 
violation Section 9, paragraphs (d) and (e) of Republic Act No. 11332, 
or the "Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events 
of Public Health Concern 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 
ii. 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, 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 
 
SECTION 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 
necessary, the DOH shall tap into the DRRM system to effectively respond to public 
health emergencies; 
(d) 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; 
 
(e) 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; 
 
(f) 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; 
 
(g) 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; 
 
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 
 
SECTION 13. Authority for Other Professions to Administer, Dispense, and Provide 
Commodities for Public Health Emergencies. - In addition to physicians, other health and 
allied medical professionals such as pharmacists and midwives who are duly trained by the 
D~A 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. 
 
SECTION 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 
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 concern; 
(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 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
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. 
 
SECTION 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; 
 
(c) DOH-approved clinical practice guidelines or interim guidelines; or 
 
(d) 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 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. 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
SECTION 20. Authority for Other Professions to Administer, Dispense, and Provide 
Commodities for Public Health Emergencies. - In 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. 
 
SECTION 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 
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 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
SECTION 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 DOs in municipalities when 
necessary; 
(c) Establishing Sub-National Laboratories and Regional Public Health Laboratories; 
(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. 
 
SECTION 24. Modernization Program. - The Director General shall, in consultation with the 
DOH and other concerned agencies of government and the private sector, develop a 
modernization 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). 
 
SECTION 25. Authority to Solicit, Negotiate, and Receive Donations, Grants, Gifts, 
Legacies, Endowments, and Contributions. - The CDC may solicit, negotiate with, and 
receive from a public or private domestic or foreign sources legacies, gifts, donations, grants, 
endowments, contributions or other transfers of ownership and/or possession of real or 
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. 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
SECTION 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. 
 


 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
SECTION 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,