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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

+ 1Jug

HOUSE BILL NO. 8719

Introduced by Hon. Anthony Peter “Onyx” D. Crisologo

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A PANDEMIC, EPIDEMIC, OUTBREAKS AND
OTHER NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES COUNCIL

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The occurrence of Corona Virus Disease 2019 has challenged the
capacity of the Philippines to combat Public Health Emergencies. It has
shown the gaps that need to remedied to allow for a more effective crisis
management strategy, and has demonstrated the importance of early
preparation, exhaustive data gathering, and sustained thorough assessment of,
the situation.

The welfare of the people during a national crisis is heavily dependent
on the preparedness of the government. It is imperative to ensure that the
policies in place are responsive to their needs, and that the existing strategic
plans are constantly and efficiently developed, monitored, and evaluated.

This bill seeks to create a government body that will focus on the
preparation of the country to face public health emergencies, and provide
mandate to immediately mobilize all agencies concerned to control and
manage the effects of health crises to the country.

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

Representative
First District, Quezon City


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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNOo. 8719
Introduced by Hon. Anthony Peter “Onyx” D. Crisologo

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A PANDEMIC, EPIDEMIC, OUTBREAKS AND
OTHER NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES COUNCIL

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress Assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title- This Act shall be known as “National
Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Act of 2020.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy- It is hereby declared a policy of
the state to guarantee the welfare of the people by ensuring its capacity to
combat health issues that threaten the safety of its people. Therefore, the
state shall devise a comprehensive national contingency plan that will
strengthen its response to public health emergencies.

SECTION 3. Creation of Public Health Emergency Council- A
Public Health Emergency Council is hereby created to spearhead the
strategic planning of the country to address public health emergencies such
as pandemics, epidemics, outbreaks, etc. The council shall be composed of
the following:

a. Secretary of the Department of Health as the Chairman
of the Council;

b. All Philippine Department Secretaries as members;

c. Chairman of the National Disaster Risk Reduction &
Management Council (NDRRMC) as member;

d. Three representatives from the business sector; and

. Other government agencies that the President and the
Chairman of the Council may deem necessary.

SECTION 4. Roles and Responsibilities of the Council - The roles
and responsibilities of the Council shall include the following:

a. Monitor emerging national and international public
health concerns;


b. Prepare the necessary measures when a national health
emergency occurs, and develop three response timeframes:
Immediate, Intermediate, and Extended:!

1. Immediate - Initial assessment of the situation,
identification of significant health response objectives,
communication with all relevant medical and health
agencies, ensuring the availability of facilities and
stockpile of essential medical supplies that might be
needed?, and research and documentation of all necessary
information,?

2. Intermediate - Review of the significance of
the health response objectives in relation to the actual
needs of the country after the initial assessment of all the
information gathered during the Immediate Response;
Development of response activitiestoaddress the
concerns of the citizens; Provision of assistance and
information to the people; Assessment of the existing
monitoring systems of the country to establish an
enhanced process of data collection and analysis;*

3. Extended - Continuation of the assessment of
the situation and the effectivity of the response activities
to fix the gaps in previous operations; Consultation and
sharing of information and technology with other
countries to learn from each other’s experiences and
initiatives in developing solutions to the Public Health
Emergency.

c. Establish an elaborate Information Dissemination
Plan to ensure that the public is informed;

d. Create mechanisms to ensure the adequate number of
human resources in the country to combat the Public Health

Emergency;

1 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Emergency Response Guide.
2nd ed., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011, p.11.

2 Magnusson, Roger. Advancing the Right to Health: The Vital Role of Law. University of
Sydney, 2017,
p. 166.

3U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Emergency Response Guide. 2nd
ed., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011, pp. 12-21

4.USS. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Emergency Response Guide.
2nd ed., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011, pp. 23-30

3


e. Develop a strong and clear system of coordination and
collaboration among agencies responding to the Public Health
Emergency;

f Submit a weekly report on the status of the Public
Health Emergency to the Office of the President and Congress.

g. Prepare a Post-Public Health Emergency Plan to
address economic setbacks and other longterm effects brought
by the crisis.

SECTION 5. Appropriations - The amount necessary for the
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause - If any of the sections or
provisions of this Act is held invalid, all other provisions not affected shall
remain valid.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause- All laws, decrees, executive orders,
rules and regulations or other issuances or parts thereof contrary to
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Effectivity- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved