EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
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S IE N A T E
S.%.No. 1408
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20 MARIO P3 34
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Introduced by Senator Francis "Tol" N. Tolentino
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN THE 
DETECTION AND CONTAINMENT OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES, INCLUDING 
THE QUARANTINE OF INFECTED PERSONS AND LOCKDOWN OF INFECTED 
AREAS, AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9271, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The State has the duty and the obligation to protect and promote the right to 
health of the people.
As of March 9, 2020, there are 110,098 reported COVID-19 coronavirus cases 
in 51 countries worldwide, resulting to the death of 3,831 people.
The Philippines has not been spared from this infectious disease, having a 
total of 35 confirmed COVID-19 coronavirus cases, as of March 10, 2020, including 1 
which resulted to death. There currently around 700 patients under observation, of 
which 48 are admitted and 149 are home quarantined.
On March 7, 2020, the Department of Health confirmed the first case of local 
transmission in the country. In response and in anticipation of probable sustained 
community transmission, DOH has raised the COVID-19 Alert System to Code Red 
sublevel 1, which means that 100% of hospital personnel shall report for duty in the 
facility to render medical and other services. Furthermore, the DOH has 
recommended to the Office of the President the declaration of Public Health 
Emergency which will facilitate mobilization of resources and ease processes, 
including procurement of critical logistics and supplies and intensifying reporting and 
quarantine measures.


On March 8, 2020, the President signed Proclamation No. 922 which declared 
the Philippines under the State of Public Health Emergency which ordered ail 
government agencies and LCDs were enjoined to render full assistance and 
cooperation and mobilize the necessary resources to undertake critical, urgent, and 
appropriate response and measures in a timely manner to curtail and eliminate the 
COVID-19 threat.
Just as how viruses are incessantly changing due to genetic mutation, we, as 
a nation, must also adapt and change our DNA on how we combat infectious 
diseases.
Section 6, Article III of the 1987 Constitution provides that the right to travel 
may be impaired in the interest of national security, public safety, or public health, 
as may be provided by law.
At present, the Department of Health, through the Bureau of Quarantine, has 
the regulatory capacity over incoming and outgoing vessels and aircraft, cargoes, 
passengers, crews, and all personal effects to prevent the introduction, transmission 
or spread of public health emergencies of international concern.
This measure seeks to expand the power of the Department of Health to 
include the authority, in times of public health emergencies, to lockdown infected 
areas, to suspend classes, to designate hospitals as a facility for referral of persons 
under investigation, so as to contain infectious diseases wherever its incidence may 
have occurred, and not just limited to those that travelled through vessels and 
aircraft.
For the protection and promotion of the right to health of the Filipino people, 
the passage of the bill is earnestly sought.
"TOL" N. TOLENTINO
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
S E N AT 
S. B. No. 1408
Senate
♦flue o{ flu iw tee tar?
20 MARIO P3 34
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Introduced by Senator Francis "Tol" N. Tolentino
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AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN THE 
DETECTION AND CONTAINMENT OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES, INCLUDING 
THE QUARANTINE OF INFECTED PERSONS AND LOCKDOWN OF INFECTED 
AREAS, AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9271, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Health Emergency Lockdown Act."
Sec. 2. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 9271 is hereby amended as follows;
"SEC. 3. Jurisdiction and Functions of the Bureau. - The examination at ports 
of entry and exit in the Philippines of incoming and outgoing vessels and 
aircraft, the necessary surveillance over their sanitary conditions, as well as 
over their cargoes, passengers, crews, and all personal effects, [and thej 
issuance of quarantine certificates, bills of health, or other equivalent 
documents, LOCKDOWN OF CERTAIN AREAS, AND SUSPENSION OF 
CLASSES DURING HEALTH EMERGENCIES shall be vested in and be 
conducted by the Bureau. This Bureau shall have authority over incoming and 
outgoing vessels both domestic and foreign, including those of the army and 
navy, their wharfage and anchorage, and over aircraft and airports, AS WELL 
AS OVER LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS


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insofar as it is necessary for the proper enforcement of the provisions of this 
Act."
3 Sec. 3. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9271 is hereby amended as follows:
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"SEC. 4. Authority to Promulgate and Enforce Rules and Regulations and 
Provide Penalties for Their Violations. - (a) The Director of the Bureau with 
the approval of the Secretary of Health, AND IN COORDINATION WITH 
THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, is 
authorized to promulgate and enforce rules and regulations as in his 
judgment are necessary to prevent the introduction, transmission or spread of 
"public health emergencies of international concern" from foreign countries 
into the Philippines or [from one (1) domestic seaport/oirport to another^ 
FROM ONE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT TO ANOTHER. For purposes of 
implementing these regulations, the Director of the Bureau may provide 
intervention strategies such as health education and advisories, inspections, 
fumigation, disinfection, pest extermination, vaccination for international 
travel, medical examination of aliens/foreigners for immigration purposes 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 such as veterinary quarantine, plant quarantine, etc., 
QUARANTINE/LOCKDOWN OF CERTAIN AREAS/LGUs, SUSPENSION 
OF CLASSES, DESIGNATION OF DEDICATED HOSPITALS, 
ENCOURAGE TELECOMMUTING PROGRAMS and other measures as in 
his judgment may be necessary.
"(b) Regulations prescribed under this section shall provide for the 
apprehension, detention or surveillance for the purpose of preventing the 
introduction, transmission or spread of such public health emergencies of 
international concern as may be specified from time to time in Department 
Orders by the Secretary of Health upon the recommendation of the 
international health surveillance, IN ACCORD WITH THE


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INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGULATIONS OF THE WORLD HEALTH 
ORGANIZATION.
"(c) Whenever it is deemed necessary for the protection of the public health 
of the nation from public health emergencies of international concern, 
immunization and other preventable measures against these diseases shall be 
mandatory on all persons arriving at any seaport/airport of entry in the 
Philippines, AND ON ALL PERSONS IN INFECTED AREAS.
"(d) The Secretary of Health upon the recommendation of the Director of the 
Bureau may prescribe examination of any individual believed to be infected 
with a disease of international concern on board vessels and aircraft entering 
any seaport or airport in the Philippines, AND IN INFECTED AREAS. Such 
rules and regulations may provide that if upon examination, any such 
individual is found to be infected or has been exposed to infection considered 
as dangerous contact, he may be isolated aboard a vessel, in a DEDICATED 
hospital with facilities for infectious diseases, at a quarantine station, A 
QUARANTINE CENTER ESTABLISHED BY THE DOH or at any isolation 
facility, and in such a manner as may be proscribed by the said regulations."
18 Sec. 4. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 9271 is hereby amended as follows:
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"SEC. 6. Quarantine CENTERS AND Stations. - The Director of the Bureau 
shall control, direct and manage all quarantine CENTERS, stations, grounds 
and anchorages, and designate their boundaries. With the approval of 
Secretary of Health, he shall establish such additional quarantine CENTERS, 
station, grounds and anchorages if, in his judgment, these are necessary to 
prevent the introduction of diseases of international concern into the country. 
The Director, in the same manner may also order the closure of non­
functional quarantine stations, grounds and anchorages."
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Sec. 5. Detection of Infectious Diseases. - The Research Institute for Tropical
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Medicine (RITM) shall develop and build the capacity of the nation to detect and


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identify emerging infectious diseases, as well as the capacity to confirm infection of
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suspected persons.
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Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOH and the DILG shall
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promulgate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act within sixty (60) days
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after the enactment of this Act.
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Sec. 7. Separability Clause. - In the event any provision of this Act or the application
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of such provision to any person or circumstances is declared invalid, the remainder
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of this Act or the application of said provisions to other persons or circumstances
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shall not be affected by such declaration.
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Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. - All acts and regulations not consistent with this Act are
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hereby amended or repealed.
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Sec. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
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at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,