Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by HON. EDWARD VERA PEREZ MACEDA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In a report published by the Population Division of the Department of 
Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations, the Philippines currently has a 
population of around 115.5 million with an annual growth rate of 1.47%. In the list 
of the top 15 most populated states in the world, the Philippines ranked as the 
country with the highest population density, with 335 individuals occupying a 
square kilometer of territory. Relative to this is the study, found by the National 
Center for Biotechnology Information which shows that population density can be 
a potential indicator of infection spread. Meaning, a denser population may be 
more susceptible to transmission of viral infection because of the sheer number of 
potential hosts. 
While the issue on population cannot be addressed through short-term 
planning, we can instead prioritize having a more resilient and efficient 
bureaucracy that is responsive to the state of public health and emerging viral 
threats.  
The proposed creation of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC) seeks to resolve these bureaucratic gaps by introducing institutional
reforms on our healthcare system while establishing the much-needed health
modernization program. CDC will serve as the country’s technical agency tasked
to manage and protect the public from communicable and infectious diseases that
may emerge both here and abroad. As a result, the CDC will then absorb the
following offices of the DOH: Epidemiology Bureau; Research and Institute for
Tropical Medicine; Sexually Transmitted Disease-Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome (STD-AIDS) Cooperative Central Laboratory; Select functions of the
International Health  Surveillance Division of the Bureau of Quarantine such as
passive international health surveillance and development of communication
methods for wider and more effective delivery of critical public health information
with international importance; and technical and standard setting functions and
Control Bureau including the Mental Health Division, Cancer Division and Oral
Health Division.
Regional Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (RCDCs) in all 
regions of the country will also be established to provide our local governments 
with technical and logistical support. 
August 10, 2022
6:26 pm
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1 
This measure, along with the Virology Institute of the Philippines (VIP) Bill 
and Medical Reserve Corp (MRC) Bill, have already been approved on third and 
final reading during the 18th Congress and were submitted to the Senate for 
appropriate action. 
In the view of the foregoing, the swift approval of this measure is earnestly 
sought. 
EDWARD VERA PEREZ MACEDA 
Representative, 4th District of Manila 


2 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by HON. EDWARD VERA PEREZ MACEDA 
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 
1 
Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) Act." 
2 
3 
4 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to protect and 
5 
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among 
6 
them. The State also mandates the adoption of an integrated and comprehensive 
7 
approach to health development 
8 
9 
Towards this end, the State shall give high priority to the allocation of material and 
10 
institutional resources to protect public health by ensuring that the Philippine health 
11 
system is well-prepared to forecast, prevent, monitor, and control diseases, 
12 
injuries, and disabilities both of national and international concern. 
13 
14 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms — As used in this Act 
15 
16 
(a) Communicable disease, also known as contagious disease, refers
17 
to an illness resulting from an infection, or a disease, which can be
18 
transmitted from an infected host individual or group to a particular
19 
individual or group. It spreads through direct, bodily contact with an
20 
infected person, their discharges, or an object or surface they have
21 
contaminated;
22 
(b) Disease refers to an illness due to a specific toxic substance,
23 
occupational exposure or infectious agent, which affects a
24 
susceptible individual, either directly or indirectly, from an infected
25 
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3 
animal or person, or indirectly through an intermediate host, vector, 
1 
or the environment; 
2 
(c) Disease surveillance refers to a systematic collection, analysis, 
3 
interpretation, and dissemination of outcome and specific data for 
4 
use in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health 
5 
practice. A disease surveillance system includes the functional 
6 
capacity for data analysis as well as the timely dissemination of 
7 
these data to persons who can undertake effective disease 
8 
prevention and control activities; 
9 
(d) Epidemic or outbreak refers to an occurrence of more cases of 
10 
disease than normally expected within a specific place or group of 
11 
people over a given period of time; 
12 
(e) Infectious disease refers to a clinically manifested disease of 
13 
humans or animals resulting from an infection which can be 
14 
communicable or non-communicable; 
15 
(f) Public health emergency refers to an occurrence or imminent 
16 
threat of an illness or health 
condition that: 
17 
 
18 
(1) Is caused by any of the following: 
19 
(i) Bio terrorism; 
20 
(ii) Appearance of a novel or previously controlled or   
21 
eradicated infectious agent or biological toxin; 
22 
(iii) A natural disaster; 
23 
(iv) A chemical attack or accidental release; 
24 
(v) A nuclear attack or accident; or 
25 
(vi) An attack or accidental release of radioactive 
26 
materials; and, 
27 
(2) Poses a high probability of any of the following: 
28 
 
29 
(i) 
A large number of deaths in the affected 
30 
population; 
31 
(ii) 
A large number of serious injuries or long-term 
32 
disabilities in the affected population; 
33 
(iii) 
Widespread exposure to an Infectious or toxic 
34 
agent that poses a significant risk of substantial harm 
35 
to a large number of people in the affected population; 
36 
(iv) 
International exposure to an Infectious or toxic 
37 
agent that poses a significant risk to the health of 
38 
citizens of other countries; or 
39 
(v) 
Trade and travel restrictions; 
40 
 
41 
(g) Quarantine refers to the physical separation and confinement of an 
42 
individual or groups of individuals, who are or may have been exposed 
43 
to a contagious or possibly contagious disease and who do not show 
44 
signs or symptoms of a contagious disease, from non-quarantined 
45 
individuals, to prevent or limit the transmission of the disease. 
46 
 
47 
 
48 
 
49 


 
4 
SECTION 4. Creation of the Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and 
1 
Control. — The Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) is 
2 
hereby created as an attached agency to the Department of Health (DOH) for 
3 
policy and program coordination. 
4 
 
5 
SEC. 5. Powers, Functions, and Duties. — The CDC shall be the technical 
6 
authority on all matters regarding disease prevention and control. To carry out the 
7 
provisions of this Act, the CDC shall have the following powers, functions, and 
8 
duties: 
9 
(a) Policy and Standards Development: 
10 
 
11 
(1) Provide technical guidance to the development of policies, 
12 
programs, standards, guidelines, and monitoring and evaluation 
13 
systems on the forecasting, prevention, monitoring, and control of 
14 
diseases, injuries, and disabilities both of national and international 
15 
concern; 
16 
 
17 
(2) Set the standards and the process for the establishment of 
18 
Epidemiology and Surveillance Units or its corresponding 
19 
surveillance reporting units, pursuant to law; 
20 
 
21 
(3) Provide quality assurance programs to ensure the quality of 
22 
testing for laboratories;  
23 
 
24 
(4) Conduct researches for development in support of the CDC 
25 
mandate to forecast, prevent, monitor, and control diseases, injuries, 
26 
and disabilities both of national and international concern;  
27 
 
28 
(5) Recommend to the President, through the DOH Secretary, the 
29 
declaration of a state of public health emergency, in case of an 
30 
epidemic of national or international concern; and, 
31 
 
32 
(6) Set the parameters for the declaration of the existence as well as 
33 
the end of an epidemic. 
34 
 
35 
(b) Capacity Building and Technical Assistance: 
36 
 
37 
(1) Develop, implement, and maintain training programs on 
38 
specialized fields such as field epidemiology, health emergency of 
39 
biological concern, laboratory services, infectious and tropical 
40 
diseases, and non-communicable diseases; 
41 
 
42 
(2) Assess and support the capabilities of health facilities and local 
43 
government units (LGUs) on forecasting, preventing, monitoring, and 
44 
controlling diseases, injuries, and disabilities both of national and 
45 
international concern; and, 
46 
 
47 
(3) Provide technical assistance and expert services to DOH offices, 
48 
and collaborating and implementing agencies or offices on matters 
49 
pertaining to forecasting, preventing, monitoring, and controlling 
50 


 
5 
diseases, injuries, and disabilities both of national and international 
1 
concern. 
2 
 
3 
(c) Sectoral and Local Engagements: 
4 
 
5 
(1) 
Promote coordination and collaboration with partner agencies 
6 
and organizations on matters pertaining to CDC mandate; 
7 
 
8 
(2) Coordinate, collaborate, and disseminate relevant scientific and 
9 
technical information in a timely manner with partner agencies 
10 
and international and local organizations on matters pertaining to 
11 
CDC mandate; and, 
12 
 
13 
(3) Disseminate relevant scientific and technical information in a 
14 
timely manner with partner agencies, and international and local 
15 
organizations on matters pertaining to CDC mandate. 
16 
 
17 
(d) Surveillance: 
18 
 
19 
(1) Develop, implement, and maintain an integrated surveillance 
20 
system of diseases, injuries, and disabilities; 
21 
 
22 
(2) Provide technical guidance on the development, implementation 
23 
and maintenance, and monitoring of health system capacity such 
24 
as operational capacities of health facilities, and performance 
25 
management of the response systems, in terms of contact 
26 
tracing, quarantine, isolation, and other significant population-
27 
based health services; 
28 
 
29 
(3)  Investigate and respond through surveillance and disease 
30 
notification, investigation, and conduct of field studies and 
31 
research to outbreaks, epidemics, and other public health threats 
32 
as the need arises; 
33 
 
34 
(4) Develop and maintain a network of public health laboratories in 
35 
support of epidemiology and surveillance activities; 
36 
 
37 
(5) Facilitate the issuance of appropriate warnings to the regional 
38 
CDC and health facilities in anticipation of impending public 
39 
health threats and infectious disease outbreak; 
40 
 
41 
(6) Utilize various information and communication technologies 
42 
(ICT) in management of data and dissemination of early warning 
43 
and other appropriate information to stakeholders and the public; 
44 
and, 
45 
 
46 
(7) Develop communication methods for wider and more effective 
47 
and unified delivery of critical public health information with 
48 
national or international importance. 
49 
 
50 
(e) Provide technical guidance on the procurement of vaccines, drugs, and 
51 
diagnostics; 
52 
 
53 


 
6 
(f) Provide technical guidance on the monitoring and evaluation 
1 
framework for disease prevention and control; 
2 
 
3 
(g) Certify to the existence of an epidemic which shall be treated as a 
4 
public health emergency’ and, 
5 
 
6 
(h) Perform such other functions as may be mandated by law, or as may 
7 
be duly delegated by relevant. 
8 
 
9 
 
10 
SECTION 6. Director General. – The CDC shall be headed by a Director General 
11 
with a rank of Undersecretary, who shall be assisted by two (2) Deputy Directors 
12 
General with rank of Assistant Secretary. The Director General and the Deputy 
13 
Directors General shall be appointed by the President from a list of at least three 
14 
(3) nominees for each position to be submitted by the DOH Secretary. The Director 
15 
General and Deputy Directors General shall have at least ten (10) years of relevant 
16 
experience and proven expertise in the fields of public health and epidemiology. 
17 
 
18 
The Director General shall have the following powers and functions; 
19 
 
20 
(a) Manage and direct the activities and functions of the CDC; 
21 
 
22 
(b) Advise the DOH Secretary on policy matters concerning the Center’s 
23 
activities; 
24 
 
25 
(c) Recommend to the President, through the DOH Secretary, the exercise of 
26 
special powers in case of an epidemic, including the declaration of a public 
27 
health emergency; 
28 
 
29 
(d) Act as the national International Health Regulations Focal Point, subject to 
30 
consultation with DOH; and, 
31 
 
32 
(e) Perform other functions and powers that may be assigned by the DOH 
33 
Secretary. 
34 
 
35 
SECTION 7. Transfer of DOH Units and Functions. – The following DOH units 
36 
and their concerned divisions and functions are hereby transferred to the CDC: 
37 
 
38 
(a) Epidemiology Bureau; 
39 
 
40 
(b) Research Institute for Tropical Medicine; 
41 
 
42 
(c) Sexually Transmitted Disease – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome 
43 
Cooperative Central Laboratory; 
44 
 
45 
(d) Select functions of the International Health Surveillance Division of the 
46 
Bureau of Quarantine as follows: 
47 
 
48 
(1) Passive international health surveillance; and, 
49 
 
50 
(2) Development of communication methods for wider and more effective 
51 
delivery of critical public health information with international 
52 
importance; and, 
53 
 
54 


 
7 
(e) Technical and standard setting functions of the Disease Prevention and 
1 
Control Bureau including that of the Mental Health Division, Cancer Division 
2 
and Oral Health Division. 
3 
 
4 
All powers, functions, assets, capital, records, funds, receivables, equipment and 
5 
facilities of the transferred DOH units or its division or function enumerated herein 
6 
shall be transferred to the CDC. The Department of Health shall conduct an audit 
7 
and inventory of assets, liabilities and human resources of the transferred agencies 
8 
to CDC without need of conveyance or transfer of assignments. 
9 
 
10 
SECTION 8. Regional Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. – There 
11 
shall be established Regional Centers for Disease Prevention and Control 
12 
(RCDCs) in all regions of the country. Each Regional CDC shall be headed by a 
13 
Regional Director, who shall be under the supervision of the CDC Director General. 
14 
 
15 
The functions of RCDCs include: 
16 
 
17 
(a) Prevention, control, and surveillance of diseases; 
18 
 
19 
(b) Provision of laboratory services for detection and identification of infectious 
20 
disease agents from human, environmental samples, and food; 
21 
 
22 
(c) Maintenance of an integrated data management system; 
23 
 
24 
(d) Implementation 
of 
quality 
assurance 
programs 
for 
clinical 
and 
25 
environmental laboratories through training, consultation, certification and 
26 
proficiency testing; 
27 
 
28 
(e) Policy development; 
29 
 
30 
(f) Emergency response; 
31 
 
32 
(g) Public health-related research; 
33 
 
34 
(h) Training and education; 
35 
 
36 
(i) Maintenance of infectious disease hospitals for referral and management of 
37 
case; 
38 
 
39 
(j) Establishment of strong communication networks; and, 
40 
 
41 
(k) Other functions that may be assigned by the Director General. 
42 
 
43 
The RCDCs shall be composed of specialists in the fields of infectious diseases, 
44 
public health, epidemiology and similar fields. 
45 
 
46 
SECTION 9. Structure and Staffing Pattern. 
47 
 
48 
(a) The CDC shall initially have the following offices, each to be headed by an 
49 
officer with the salary and rank of Director IV: 
50 
 
51 
(1) Center for Epidemic Intelligence and Disease Surveillance; 
52 
 
53 
(2) Center for Research, Training, and Reference Laboratory; 
54 
 
55 
(3) Center for Infectious Disease Emergency Preparedness and Response; 
56 
 
57 


 
8 
(4) Center for Policy and Program Development; 
1 
 
2 
(5) Communications Office; and 
3 
 
4 
(6) Administrative and Finance Office. 
5 
 
6 
(b) The CDC Director General, subject to the issuance of an executive order by 
7 
the President and approval of the Department of budget and Management 
8 
(DBM), may create or abolish units, offices, or centers as needed to carry 
9 
out all provisions of this Act. 
10 
 
11 
(c) The CDC Director General, in consultation with the DOH and the DBM, 
12 
shall: 
13 
 
14 
(1) Develop the organizational structure of the CDC at the national, regional, 
15 
and local levels; 
16 
 
17 
(2) Determine the divisions and specific functions of each unit, center, or 
18 
office of the CDC; and 
19 
 
20 
(3) Determine the staffing pattern, qualification standards, compensation, 
21 
and position classification plan for the CDC subject to the approval of 
22 
the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the DBM. 
23 
 
24 
SECTION 10. Qualifications Standards for Appointment and Promotion. – 
25 
There DOH shall, in consultation with CSC, and pertinent agencies as may be 
26 
necessary, develop the qualification standards in terms of education, training and 
27 
experience for all technical and non-technical positions in the CDC, and the system 
28 
for promotion and succession plan in the CDC. 
29 
 
30 
SECTION 11. Continuing Competency Development Program. – The CDC 
31 
shall, through the Director General, devise and implement a continuing 
32 
competency development program whereby all core personnel shall be required 
33 
to update and enrich competencies through attendance in programs, studies, 
34 
researches, fellowships, workshops, seminars, including training opportunities in 
35 
reputable foreign CDCs. Compliance with the Continuing Competency 
36 
Development Program shall be the mandatory basis for promotion within the CDC. 
37 
The CDC shall develop mechanisms to tap funding opportunities to implement its 
38 
Continuing Competency Development Program. 
39 
 
40 
SECTION 12. Modernization Program. – The Director General shall, in 
41 
consultation with the DOH and other concerned agencies of government and the 
42 
private sector, develop a modernization program that will strengthen the human 
43 
health resource of the CDC, which is the key component of the country’s disease 
44 
prevention and control policy. The modernization program shall include the 
45 
acquisition and upgrading of appropriate technologies, laboratories, facilities, 
46 
equipment, other needed resources, and the needed relocation and acquisition of 
47 
additional land or location that would house the CDC. 
48 
 
49 
Within one hundred eighty (180) days after the effectivity of this Act, the Director 
50 
General shall, upon the recommendation of the DOH and DBM Secretaries, submit 
51 
the modernization program for consideration and approval of Congress. 
52 
 
53 
The modernization program shall be implemented over a period of five (5) years. 
54 
 
55 
Appropriations for the modernization program shall be provided in the annual 
56 
General Appropriations Act (GAA). 
57 


 
9 
 
1 
SECTION 13. Strengthened Epidemiology, Public Health Surveillance, and 
2 
Research Capacities. – To ensure that epidemiology and public health 
3 
surveillance services are efficient and responsive, and public health surveillance 
4 
and research capacities are strengthened and updated to international standards, 
5 
the CDC shall: 
6 
 
7 
(a) Prioritize investments in upgrading of ICT and adequate and capacitated 
8 
human resources for epidemiology, public health surveillance, and public 
9 
health and clinical research; 
10 
 
11 
(b) Have a premier facility for clinical laboratory, epidemiologic and 
12 
implementation research, and training on infectious and tropical diseases; 
13 
 
14 
(c) Develop performance-based incentives to private health facilities with 
15 
established epidemiology and surveillance functions; 
16 
 
17 
(d) Re-nationalize local epidemiology and surveillance units (LESUs) that will 
18 
solely provide epidemiology and disease surveillance services and provide 
19 
assistance to the LGUs in the establishment and maintenance of 
20 
surveillance systems, data management, and generation of strategic 
21 
epidemiologic information: Provided, That the DOH, CDC, and DBM, shall 
22 
develop the staffing pattern and qualification standards: Provided, further, 
23 
That LESUs shall be under the direct supervision and control of the 
24 
Regional CDCs; 
25 
 
26 
(e) Retain and provide incentives to technical experts, practitioners and 
27 
scientists, whereby the scientific career system is adopted, allowing them 
28 
to continue their respective clinical and professional practice to pursue 
29 
research studies and receive grants and honoraria, in consultation with the 
30 
CSC. Qualified employees of the CDC and its attached units shall be 
31 
covered by Republic Act No. 8439, otherwise known as “Magna Carta for 
32 
Scientists. Engineers, Researchers and Other Science and Technology 
33 
Personnel in Government;” 
34 
 
35 
(f) Develop and implement training and research programs to develop more 
36 
experts and practitioners in the field of epidemiology, and disease 
37 
prevention and control; and, 
38 
 
39 
(g) Develop a mechanism to ensure interoperability and accessibility of 
40 
surveillance systems. 
41 
 
42 
SECTION 14. Strengthened Disease Surveillance and Response. – The CDC 
43 
shall establish integrated disease surveillance and response systems utilizing, 
44 
whenever necessary, all technological means available while ensuring that data 
45 
privacy and patient confidentiality are maintained. The CDC and authorized public 
46 
health authorities shall have complete access and right to collect personal 
47 
information and other data, as may be deemed necessary in fulfillment of their 
48 
mandate. All data or information and samples collected pursuant thereto shall be 
49 
used for public health concern purposes only and shall be exempted from the 
50 
provisions of R.A. No. 10172, otherwise known as the “Data Privacy Act of 2012” 
51 
on accessibility of data. 
52 
 
53 
SECTION 15. National Reference Laboratories. – The CDC shall establish a 
54 
new, state of the art facility that will serve as the National Reference Laboratory 
55 
(NRL), unifying all NRLs for biological, chemical, nuclear and radiologic 
56 
emergencies under one roof, within 5 years from the effectivity of this Act: 
57 


 
10 
Provided, That the existing NRLs in the East Avenue Medical Center, Philippine 
1 
Heart Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney Transplant Institute 
2 
and San Lazaro Hospital shall continue to be under the respective hospitals: 
3 
Provided further, That these existing NRLs shall serve as referral laboratories of 
4 
the CDC and be included in the Modernization Program of the CDC. 
5 
 
6 
The NRL shall provide technical recommendations, laboratory confirmatory 
7 
services, training, and external quality assurance, and perform surveillance, 
8 
outbreak response, kit evaluation, and research. It shall oversee the functions and 
9 
performance of the network of subnational laboratories (SNL). 
10 
 
11 
SNLs shall be established in all regions, with the capability of conducting 
12 
confirmatory testing for routine surveillance samples and performing specialized 
13 
tests. SNLs, whose functions include testing for routine surveillance and 
14 
specialized tests, shall be under CDC administratively. Hospitals housing the SNLs 
15 
shall create a separate unit for their regular hospital laboratory needs. 
16 
 
17 
The CDC, through the NRLs and SNLs, shall provide technical guidance and 
18 
quality assurance programs to biosafety levels 2, 3 and 4 laboratories in the 
19 
country, which shall be registered with, and regulated by the DOH. 
20 
 
21 
SECTION 16. Authority to Solicit, Negotiate, and Receive Donations, Grants, 
22 
Gifts, Legacies, Endowments, and Contributions. – The CDC may solicit, 
23 
negotiate with, and receive from any public or private domestic or foreign sources 
24 
legacies, gifts, donations, grants, endowments, contributions or other transfers of 
25 
ownership and/or possession of real or personal properties of all kinds in favor and 
26 
for the benefit of the CDC, which shall all be part of the special account in the 
27 
general fund managed by the Bureau of Treasury. 
28 
 
29 
The Director General shall prescribe the measures necessary for the proper use, 
30 
maintenance safekeeping, and compliance with the terms and conditions, if any, 
31 
of said donations, grants, endowments, contributions or transfers in accordance 
32 
with pertinent accounting and auditing laws, rules and regulations. 
33 
 
34 
 
35 
SECTION 17. Tax Exemptions. – Donations, grants, gifts, endowments, legacies, 
36 
and contributions used actually, directly and exclusively for the purpose of the CDC 
37 
shall be exempt from donor’s tax and the same shall be considered as allowable 
38 
deduction from gross income for purposes of computing the taxable income of the 
39 
donor, in accordance with Sec. 34 (H)(2)(a) of the National Internal Revenue Code 
40 
of 1997, as amended. Likewise, such other transfers of ownership and/or 
41 
possession of real or personal properties of all kinds shall be exempt from all taxes. 
42 
 
43 
SECTION 18. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. – There shall be a 
44 
Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Disease Prevention and Control, 
45 
jointly chaired by the Chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Health and 
46 
Demography, and the House of Representatives Committee on Health. It shall be 
47 
composed of five (5) members from the Senate and five (5) members from the 
48 
House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Senate President and the 
49 
Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. 
50 
 
51 
 SECTION 19. Appropriations. – The initial amount needed for the 
52 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s 
53 
appropriations of the offices and the RITM herein absorbed by the CDC. 
54 
Thereafter, the funding of which shall be included in the annual GAA. 
55 
 
56 
SECTION 20. Transitory Provisions.  
57 


 
11 
(a) Upon effectivity of this Act, the CDC shall develop a Framework for 
1 
Infectious Diseases and Pandemic Preparedness, and prioritize the 
2 
strengthening of the following functions: 
3 
 
4 
(i) Integrated disease surveillance and response; 
5 
 
6 
(ii) Sentinel surveillance; 
7 
 
8 
(iii) Laboratory-based surveillance 
9 
 
10 
(iv) Periodic population-based surveillance; and, 
11 
 
12 
(v) Preventing transmission of communicable diseases. 
13 
 
14 
(b) The CDC shall initially prioritize disease surveillance and prevention and 
15 
control of infectious diseases. Within five (5) years from its creation, and 
16 
upon positive recommendation by an independent study or body 
17 
commissioned by the DOH, the surveillance, prevention and control of non-
18 
communicable diseases shall be included in its mandate; 
19 
 
20 
(c) For the year during which this Act was approved, the unexpected portion of 
21 
the budget of the offices and units transferred shall be utilized for 
22 
establishing the CDC and initiating its operations, including the formulation 
23 
of the rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this Act; 
24 
 
25 
(d) To the greatest extent possible and in accordance with existing laws, all 
26 
employees of the affected offices, agencies and units shall be absorbed by 
27 
the CDC. Personnel hired on a permanent basis and with appointments 
28 
attested by the CSC who may be affected by the transition of DOH units to 
29 
CDC, or who will not be absorbed in the new positions of the new staffing 
30 
pattern of the different offices in the CDC, shall have the option to: 
31 
 
32 
(1) Be transferred to other units or offices within the DOH without reduction 
33 
in pay; or 
34 
 
35 
(2) Avail of the applicable retirement benefits as provided under R.A. 6656, 
36 
entitled “An Act to Protect the Security of Tenure of Civil Service Officers 
37 
and Employees in the Implementation of Government Reorganization” 
38 
and other relevant laws; 
39 
 
40 
(e) Incumbent DOH officials and employees of affected DOH offices may apply 
41 
for and be transferred to the CDC, subject to the CDC, subject to an 
42 
evaluation of their competency and CSC regulations; 
43 
 
44 
(f) Research grants acquired during the transition of DOH transferred units to 
45 
CDC shall be utilized solely for the grant’s intended purposes for each of 
46 
the affected units or offices, and shall not be made available for budget 
47 
realignments; 
48 
 
49 
(g) Existing contracts and agreements entered into by the affected offices with 
50 
third parties prior to the enactment of this Act shall remain valid. 
51 
 
52 
The DBM, DOH, and CSC shall issue the implementing guideline to ensure fair, 
53 
orderly, and transparent implementation of paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section. 
54 
 
55 


 
12 
SECTION 21. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within one hundred and 
1 
twenty (120) working days from the effectivity of this Act, the DOH Secretary shall 
2 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for its implementation. 
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SECTION 22. Separability Clause. – If any portion or provision of this Act is 
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declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof shall remain in full 
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force and effect. 
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SECTION 23. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and 
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regulations or other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of 
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this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 24. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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