Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE KRISTINE SINGSON-MEEHAN 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY 
PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE CAPABILITIES, ESTABLISHING FOR THIS 
PURPOSE THE CENTER FOR DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This measure supports the House leadership in its efforts at aligning with the administration’s 
objective of protecting and promoting the primordial right of the Filipino People to health and 
instilling in them health consciousness by adopting an integrated and comprehensive approach to 
health development and giving priority to the allocation of material and institutional resources. We 
must ensure that our health system is well-prepared to forecast, prevent, monitor, and control 
diseases, injuries, and disabilities both of national and international concern 
As the Philippines is a top tourist destination, the arrival of travelers and vacationers from all 
over the world makes us especially prone to the risk of communicable diseases. At present, however, 
we lack the institutional capacity to implement laws and regulations on border controls, preventing 
us from effectively managing and regulating influx of possible health threats. Our country must be 
better prepared than we are right now for health emergencies. 
Among others, this bill seeks the creation of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 
the Disease Emergency Management Bureau (DEMB), and the Health Emergency Coordination 
Council. The bill also provides pertinent authorities with broader quarantine powers and grants 
authority to Local Government Units to use their calamity funds during state of health emergency.  
Lastly, as we’ve learned from the Covid 19 pandemic, it is imperative for our country to have 
a health emergency management framework which includes provision for vaccination, treatment, 
quarantine, and disease surveillance. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
August 15, 2022
3:52 pm
3609


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE KRISTINE SINGSON-MEEHAN 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY 
PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE CAPABILITIES, ESTABLISHING FOR THIS 
PURPOSE THE CENTER FOR DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Center for Disease Prevention 
and Control (CDC) Act." 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the right to health 
of the people and instill health consciousness among them. The State also mandates the adoption of 
an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development. 
Towards this end, the State shall give high priority to the allocation of material and 
institutional resources to protect public health by ensuring that the Philippine health system is well-
prepared to forecast, prevent, monitor, and control diseases, injuries, and disabilities both of national 
and international concern. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
(a)
Communicable disease, also known as contagious disease, refers to an
illness resulting from an infection, or a disease, which can be transmitted
from an infected host individual or group to a particular individual or group.
It spreads through direct, bodily contact with an infected person, their
discharges, or an object or surface they have contaminated;
(b)
Disease refers to an illness due to a specific toxic substance, occupational
exposure or infectious agent, which affects a susceptible individual, either
directly or indirectly, from an infected animal or person, or indirectly
through an intermediate host, vector, or the environment;
(c)
Disease surveillance refers to a systematic collection, analysis,
interpretation, and dissemination of outcome and specific data for use in the
3609


 
planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice. 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 disease prevention and control activities; 
 
(d) 
Epidemic or outbreak refers to an occurrence of more cases of disease than 
normally expected within a specific place or group of people over a given 
period of time; 
 
(e) 
Infectious disease refers to a clinically manifested disease of humans or 
animals resulting from an infection which can be communicable or non-
communicable; 
 
(f) 
Public health emergency refers to an occurrence or imminent threat of an 
illness or health condition that: 
 
(1) 
Is caused by any of the following: 
(i) 
Bio terrorism; 
(ii) 
Appearance of a novel or previously controlled or 
eradicated infectious agent or biological toxin; 
(iii) 
A natural disaster; 
(iv) 
A chemical attack or accidental release; 
(v) 
A nuclear attack or accident; or 
(vi) 
An attack or accidental release of radioactive 
materials; and, 
 
(2) 
Poses a high probability of any of the following: 
(i) 
A large number of deaths in the affected population; 
(ii) 
A 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; 
(g) 
Quarantine refers to physical separation and 
confinement of an individual or groups of 
individuals, who are or may have been exposed to a 
contagious or possibly contagious disease and who 
do not show signs or symptoms of a contagious 
disease, from non-quarantined individuals, to prevent 
or limit the transmission of the disease. 
 
SEC. 4. Creation of the Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control. – The Philippine 
Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) is hereby created as an attached agency to the 
Department of Health (DOH) for policy and program coordination. 
 
SEC. 5. Powers, Functions, and Duties. – The CDC shall be the technical authority on all matters 
regarding disease prevention and control. To carry out the provisions of this Act, the CDC shall have 


 
the following powers, functions, and duties: 
 
(a) 
Policy and Standards Development: 
 
(1) 
Provide technical guidance to the development of policies, programs, 
standards, guidelines, and monitoring and evaluation systems on the 
forecasting, prevention, monitoring, and control of diseases, injuries, 
and disabilities both of national and international concern; 
(2) 
Set the standards and the process for the establishment of 
Epidemiology and Surveillance Units or its corresponding 
surveillance reporting units, pursuant to law; 
(3) 
Provide quality assurance programs to ensure the quality of testing for 
laboratories; 
(4) 
Conduct researches for development in support of the CDC mandate 
to forecast, prevent, monitor, and control diseases, injuries, and 
disabilities both of national and international concern; 
(5) 
Recommend to the President, through the DOH Secretary, the 
declaration of a state of public health emergency, in case of an 
epidemic of national or international concern; and, international 
concern, and; 
(6) 
Set the parameters for the declaration of the existence as well as the 
end of an epidemic. 
 
 
(b) 
Capacity Building and Technical Assistance: 
 
(1) 
Develop, implement, and maintain training programs on specialized 
fields such as field epidemiology, health emergency of biological 
concern, laboratory services, infectious and tropical diseases, and non-
communicable diseases; 
(2) 
Assess and support the capabilities of health facilities and local 
government units (LGUs) on forecasting, preventing, monitoring, and 
controlling diseases, injuries, and disabilities both of national and 
international concern; and, 
(3) 
Provide technical assistance and expert services to DOH offices, and 
collaborating and implementing agencies or offices on matters 
pertaining to forecasting, preventing, monitoring, and controlling 
diseases, injuries, and disabilities both of national and  
 
(c) 
Sectoral and Local Engagements: 
 
(1) 
Promote coordination and collaboration with partner agencies and 
organizations on matters pertaining to CDC mandate; 
(2) 
Coordinate, collaborate, and disseminate relevant scientific and 
technical information in a timely manner with partner agencies and 
international and local organizations on matters pertaining to CDC 
mandate; and, 
(3) 
Disseminate relevant scientific and technical information in a timely 
manner with partner agencies, and international and local 
organizations on matters pertaining to CDC mandate. 
 
(d) 
Surveillance: 


 
 
(1) 
Develop, implement, and maintain an integrated surveillance system 
of diseases, injuries, and disabilities; 
(2) 
Provide technical guidance on the development, implementation and 
maintenance, and monitoring of health system capacity such as 
operational capacities of health facilities, and performance 
management of the response systems, in terms of contact tracing, 
quarantine, isolation, and other significant population-based health 
services; 
(3) 
Investigate and respond through surveillance and disease notification, 
investigation, and conduct of field studies and research to outbreaks, 
epidemics, and other public health threats as the need arises; 
(4) 
Develop and maintain a network of public health laboratories in 
support of epidemiology and surveillance activities; 
(5) 
Facilitate the issuance of appropriate warnings to the regional CDC 
and health facilities in anticipation of impending public health threats 
and infectious disease outbreak; 
(6) 
Utilize various information and communication technologies (ICT) in 
management of data and dissemination of early warning and other 
appropriate information to stakeholders and the public; and, 
(7) 
Develop communication methods for wider and more effective and 
unified delivery of critical public health information with national or 
international importance. 
 
(e) 
Provide technical guidance on the procurement of vaccines, drugs, and 
diagnostics; 
 
(f) 
Provide technical guidance on the monitoring and evaluation framework for 
disease prevention and control; 
 
(g) 
Certify to the existence of an epidemic which shall be treated as a public health 
emergency; and, 
 
(h) 
Perform such other functions as may be mandated by law, or as may be duly 
delegated by relevant authorities. 
 
SEC. 6. Director General. – The CDC shall be headed by a Director General with a rank of 
Undersecretary, who shall be assisted by two (2) Deputy Directors General with a rank of Assistant 
Secretary. The Director General and the Deputy Directors General shall be appointed by the 
President from a list of at least three (3) nominees for each position to be submitted by the DOH 
Secretary. The Director General and Deputy Directors General shall have at least ten (10) years of 
relevant experience and proven expertise in the fields of public health and epidemiology. 
 
The Director General shall have the following powers and functions: 
(a) 
Manage and direct the activities and functions of the CDC; 
(b) 
Advise the DOH Secretary on policy matters concerning the Center’s activities; 
(c) 
Recommend to the President, through the DOH Secretary, the exercise of special 
powers in case of an epidemic, including the declaration of a public health 
emergency; 
(d) 
Act as the national International Health Regulations Focal Point, subject to 
consultation with DOH; and, 


 
(e) 
Perform other functions and powers that may be assigned by the DOH 
Secretary. 
 
SEC. 7. Transfer of DOH Units and Functions. – The following DOH units and their concerned 
divisions and functions are hereby transferred to the CDC: 
 
(a) 
Epidemiology Bureau; 
 
(b) 
Research Institute for Tropical Medicine; 
 
(c) 
Sexually Transmitted Disease – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome 
Cooperative Central Laboratory; 
 
(d) 
Select functions of the International Health Surveillance Division of the 
Bureau of Quarantine as follows: 
 
(1) 
Passive international health surveillance; and, 
(2) 
Development of communication methods for wider and more effective 
delivery of critical public health information with international importance; 
and, 
(e) 
Technical and standard setting functions of the Disease Prevention and 
Control 
 
Bureau including that of the Mental Health Division, Cancer Division and Oral Health Division. 
All powers, functions, assets, capital, records, funds, receivables, equipment and facilities of the 
transferred DOH units or its division or function enumerated herein shall be transferred to the CDC. 
The Department of Health shall conduct an audit and inventory of assets, liabilities and human 
resources of the transferred agencies to CDC without need of conveyance or transfer of assignments. 
 
SEC. 8. Regional Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. – There shall be established 
Regional Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (RCDCs) in all regions of the country. Each 
Regional CDC shall be headed by a Regional Director, who shall be under the supervision of the 
CDC Director General. 
 
The functions of RCDCs include: 
(a) 
Prevention, control, and surveillance of diseases; 
(b) 
Provision of laboratory services for detection and identification of infectious disease 
agents from human, environmental samples, and food; 
(c) 
Maintenance of an integrated data management system; 
(d) 
Implementation of quality assurance programs for clinical and environmental 
laboratories through training, consultation, certification and proficiency testing; 
(e) 
Policy development; 
(f) 
Emergency response; 
(g) 
Public health-related research; 
(h) 
Training and education; 
(i) 
Maintenance of infectious disease hospitals for referral and management of cases; 
(j) 
Establishment of strong communication networks; and, 
(k) 
Other functions that may be assigned by the Director General. 
 
The RCDCs shall be composed of specialists in the fields of infectious diseases, public health, 
epidemiology and similar fields. 


 
 
SEC. 9. Structure and Staffing Pattern. – 
 
(a) 
The CDC shall initially have the following offices, each to be headed by an 
officer with the salary and rank of Director IV: 
 
(1) 
Center for Epidemic Intelligence and Disease Surveillance; 
(2) 
Center for Research, Training, and Reference Laboratory; 
(3) 
Center for Infectious Disease Emergency Preparedness and  
 
 
Response; 
(4) 
Center for Policy and Program Development; 
(5) 
Communications Office; and 
(6) 
Administrative and Finance Office. 
 
(b) 
The CDC Director General, subject to the issuance of an executive order by 
the President and approval of the Department of Budget and Management 
(DBM), may create or abolish units, offices, or centers as needed to carry 
out all provisions of this Act. 
 
(c) 
The CDC Director General, in consultation with the DOH and the DBM, 
shall: 
 
(1) 
Develop the organizational structure of the CDC at the national, 
regional, and local levels; 
(2) 
Determine the divisions and specific functions of each unit, center, 
or office of the CDC; and 
(3) 
Determine 
the 
staffing 
pattern, 
qualification 
standards, 
compensation, and position classification plan for the CDC subject 
to the approval of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the 
DBM. 
 
SEC. 10. Qualifications Standards for Appointment and Promotion. – The DOH shall, in 
consultation with the CSC, and pertinent agencies as may be necessary, develop the qualification 
standards in terms of education, training and experience for all technical and non-technical positions 
in the CDC, and the system for promotion and succession plan in the CDC. 
 
SEC. 11. Continuing Competency Development Program. – The CDC shall, through the Director 
General, devise and implement a continuing competency development program whereby all core 
personnel shall be required to update and enrich competencies through attendance in programs, 
studies, researches, fellowships, workshops, seminars, including training opportunities in reputable 
foreign CDCs. Compliance with the Continuing Competency Development Program shall be the 
mandatory basis for promotion within the CDC. The CDC shall develop mechanisms to tap funding 
opportunities to implement its Continuing Competency Development Program. 
 
SEC. 12. 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 after 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 in a joint resolution of the House of 
Representatives and the Senate. 
 
The modernization program shall be implemented over a period of five (5) years. 
 
Appropriations for the modernization program shall be provided in the annual General 
Appropriations Act (GAA). 
 
SEC. 13. Strengthened Epidemiology, Public Health Surveillance, and Research Capacities. - To 
ensure that epidemiology and public health surveillance services are efficient and responsive, and 
public health surveillance and research capacities are strengthened and updated to international 
standards, the CDC shall: 
 
(a) 
Prioritize investments in upgrading of ICT and adequate and capacitated 
human resources for epidemiology, public health surveillance, and public 
health and clinical research; 
(b) 
Have a premier facility for clinical laboratory, epidemiologic and 
implementation research, and training on infectious and tropical diseases; 
(c) 
Develop performance-based incentives to private health facilities with 
established epidemiology and surveillance functions; 
(d) 
Re-nationalize local epidemiology and surveillance units (LESUs) that will 
solely provide epidemiology and disease surveillance services and provide 
assistance to the LGUs in the establishment and maintenance of surveillance 
systems, data management, and generation of strategic epidemiologic 
information: Provided, That the DOH, CDC, and DBM, shall develop the 
staffing pattern and qualification standards: Provided, further, That LESUs 
shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Regional CDCs; 
(e) 
Retain and provide incentives to technical experts, practitioners and 
scientists, whereby the scientific career system is adopted, allowing them to 
continue their respective clinical and professional practice to pursue 
research studies and receive grants and honoraria, in consultation with the 
CSC. Qualified employees of the CDC and its attached units shall be 
covered by Republic Act No. 8439, otherwise known as “Magna Carta for 
Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and Other Science and Technology 
Personnel in Government;” 
(f) 
Develop and implement training and research programs to develop more 
experts and practitioners in the field of epidemiology, and disease 
prevention and control; and, 
(g) 
Develop a mechanism to ensure interoperability and accessibility of 
surveillance systems. 
 
SEC. 14. Strengthened Disease Surveillance and Response. – The CDC shall establish integrated 
disease surveillance and response systems utilizing, whenever necessary, all technological means 
available while ensuring that data privacy and patient confidentiality are maintained. The CDC and 
authorized public health authorities shall have complete access and right to collect personal 
information and other data, as may be deemed necessary in fulfillment of their mandate. All data or 
information and samples collected pursuant thereto shall be used for public health concern purposes 
only and shall be exempted from the provisions of R.A. No. 10173, otherwise known as the “Data 


 
Privacy Act of 2012” on accessibility of data. 
 
SEC. 15. National Reference Laboratories. – The CDC shall establish a new, state of the art facility 
that will serve as the National Reference Laboratory (NRL), unifying all NRLs for biological, 
chemical, nuclear and radiological emergencies under one roof, within 5 years from the effectivity 
of this Act: Provided, That the existing NRLs in the East Avenue Medical Center, Philippine Heart 
Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney Transplant Institute and San Lazaro 
Hospital shall continue to be under the respective hospitals: Provided further, That these existing 
NRLs shall serve as referral laboratories of the CDC and be included in the Modernization Program 
of the CDC. 
The NRL shall provide technical recommendations, laboratory confirmatory services, 
training, and external quality assurance, and perform surveillance, outbreak response, kit evaluation, 
and research. It shall oversee the functions and performance of the network of subnational 
laboratories (SNL). 
SNLs shall be established in all regions, with the capability of conducting confirmatory 
testing for routine surveillance samples and performing specialized tests. SNLs, whose functions 
include testing for routine surveillance and specialized tests, shall be under CDC administratively. 
Hospitals housing the SNLs shall create a separate unit for their regular hospital laboratory needs. 
The CDC, through the NRLs and SNLs, shall provide technical guidance and quality 
assurance programs to biosafety levels 2, 3 and 4 laboratories in the country, which shall be 
registered with, and regulated by the DOH. 
 
SEC. 16. Authority to Solicit, Negotiate, and Receive Donations, Grants, Gifts, Legacies, 
Endowments, and Contributions. – The CDC may solicit, negotiate with, and receive from any 
public or private domestic or foreign sources legacies, gifts, donations, grants, endowments, 
contributions or other transfers of ownership and/or possession of real or personal properties of all 
kinds in favor and for the benefit of the CDC, which shall all be part of the special account in the 
general fund managed by the Bureau of Treasury. 
The Director General shall prescribe the measures necessary for the proper use, maintenance, 
safekeeping, and compliance with the terms and conditions, if any, of said donations, grants, 
endowments, contributions or transfers in accordance with pertinent accounting and auditing laws, 
rules and regulations. 
 
SEC. 17. Tax Exemptions. – Donations, grants, gifts, endowments, legacies, and contributions used 
actually, directly and exclusively for the purpose of the CDC shall be exempt from 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. 34 (H)(2)(a) of the National Internal 
Revenue Code of 1997, as amended. Likewise, such other transfers of ownership and/or possession 
of real or personal properties of all kinds shall be exempt from all taxes. 
 
SEC. 18. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. - There shall be a Joint Congressional 
Oversight Committee on Disease Prevention and Control, jointly chaired by the Chairpersons of the 
Senate Committee on Health and Demography, and the House of Representatives Committee on 
Health. It shall be composed of five (5) members from the Senate and five (5) members from the 
House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, respectively. 
 
SEC. 19. Appropriations. - The initial amount needed for the implementation of this Act shall be 
charged against the current year’s appropriations of the offices and the RITM herein absorbed by the 
CDC. Thereafter, the funding of which shall be included in the annual GAA. 
 


 
SEC. 20. Transitory Provisions. – 
 
(a) 
Upon effectivity of this Act, the CDC shall develop a Framework for Infectious 
Diseases and Pandemic Preparedness, and prioritize the strengthening of the 
following functions: 
 
(i) 
Integrated disease surveillance and response; 
(ii) 
Sentinel surveillance; 
(iii) 
Laboratory-based surveillance; 
(iv) 
Periodic population-based surveillance; and, 
(v) 
Preventing transmission of communicable diseases. 
 
(b) 
The CDC shall initially prioritize disease surveillance and prevention and 
control of infectious diseases. Within five (5) years from its creation, and upon 
positive recommendation by an independent study or body commissioned by 
the DOH, the surveillance, prevention and control of non-communicable 
diseases shall be included in its mandate; 
 
(c) 
For the year during which this Act was approved, the unexpended portion of 
the budget of the offices and units transferred shall be utilized for establishing 
the CDC and initiating its operations, including the formulation of the rules 
and regulations necessary for the implementation of this Act; 
 
(d) 
To the greatest extent possible and in accordance with existing laws, all 
employees of the affected offices, agencies and units shall be absorbed by the 
CDC. Personnel hired on a permanent basis and with appointments attested by 
the CSC who may be affected by the transition of DOH units to CDC, or who 
will not be absorbed in the new positions of the new staffing pattern of the 
different offices in the CDC, shall have the option to: 
 
(1) 
Be transferred to other units or offices within the DOH without 
reduction in pay; or 
(2) 
Avail of the applicable retirement benefits as provided under R.A. 
6656, entitled “An Act to Protect the Security of Tenure of Civil 
Service Officers and Employees in the Implementation of 
Government Reorganization” and other relevant laws; 
 
(e) 
Incumbent DOH officials and employees of affected DOH offices may apply 
for and be transferred to the CDC, subject to an evaluation of their competency 
and CSC Regulations; 
 
(f) 
Research grants acquired during the transition of DOH transferred units to 
CDC shall be utilized solely for the grants’ intended purposes for each of the 
affected units or offices, and shall not be made available for budget 
realignments; 
 
(g) 
Existing contracts and agreements entered into by the affected offices with 
third parties prior to the enactment of this Act shall remain valid. The DBM, 
DOH, and CSC shall issue the implementing guidelines to ensure fair, orderly, 
and transparent implementation of paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section. 
 


 
SEC. 21. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within one hundred and twenty (120) working 
days from the effectivity of this Act, the DOH Secretary shall promulgate the necessary rules and 
regulations for its implementation. 
 
SEC. 22. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 23. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or other issuances or 
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 24. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,