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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

18TH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 1184

Introduced by Representatives Michael L. Romero and
Enrico A. Pineda

EXPLANATORY NOTE

An emerging infectious disease (EID) is an infectious disease whose incidence
has increased in the past 20 years and could increase in the near future.
Emerging infections account for at least 12% of all human pathogens. EIDs are
caused by newly identified species or strains (e.g. Severe acute respiratory
syndrome, HIV/AIDS) that may have evolved from a known __ infection
(e.g. influenza) or spread to a new population (e.g. West Nile fever) or to an area
undergoing ecologic transformation (e.g. Lyme disease),

or
be reemerging infections, like drug resistant tuberculosis.

Nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections, such as Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus are emerging in hospitals, and extremely problematic in
that they are resistant to many antibiotics. Of growing concern are adverse
synergistic interactions between emerging diseases and other infectious
and non-infectious conditions leading to the development of novel syndemics
Many emerging diseases are zoonotic - an animal reservoir incubates the
organism, with only occasional transmission into human populations.

This House Bill seeks to promote the creation of an inter-agency that will
specifically deal with the threats of this emerging diseases, provide awareness

and information disserpifations, develop control mechanisms incase of
outbreaks. cs

Earnest approval of this bill is hereby requested

a 4
MICHAEL L. ROMERO Ph.D. ENRICO A. PINEDA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

18TH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 1i8@

Introduced by Representatives Michael L. Romero and
Enrico A. Pineda

AN ACT
CREATING THE “EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
AUTHORITY” (EIDA), TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE RIGHT
TO HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE AND INSTILL HEALTH
CONSCIOUSNESS AMONG THEM, PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREOF, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy ~ the state is hereby mandated to
foster the promotion, protection, preservation or restoration of the health of the
people through the provision and delivery of health services and through the

regulation and encouragement of providers of health goods and services

The state shall be aware of the emergence of the Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS), Avian Influenza, Ebola, and the Middle East Respiratory
Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infections have been acknowledged by the

global community to cause potential public health emergencies of international
concern;


The state shall be alarmed of the recurrent threats of other diseases, such
as Meningococcemia, Leptospirosis, Antimicrobial Resistance of Tuberculosis,
and other bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases that contribute to the high

incidence of infectious diseases in the country;

The international proliferation of these diseases persist due to increased

globalization and mobility of travelers and products, and thus, threatens the

lives and safety of Filipinos both here and abroad, as well as the Philippine

economy in general; and

The state shall, in the event that any or a combination of these diseas

result in multi-country outbreaks that can lead to epidemics and even a
worldwide pandemic, there is a need for an inter-sectoral collaboration to
establish preparedness and ensure efficient government response to assess,
monitor, contain, control, and prevent the spread of any potential epidemic in
the Philippines. Towards this end,

The State shall hereby provide a separate authorize funding of Five
Hundred million pesos (P500,000,000.00) to evolve and implement a

comprehensive national program to the suppression of these infectious dise:

and other serious threats alike and to maintain the continuity of its mandate.

SECTION 2. Appropriations — The amount of Five Hundred million pesos
(P500,000,000.00) necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act shall be
included in the annual budget of the implementing agency in the General

Appropriations Act (GAA) of the year following its enactment into law and every
year thereafter.

The state shall hereby authorize the Department of Health (DOH) to re-
align its appropriations, in the current year of the date of the effectivity of this

Act to conform with its mandate and requirements.


SECTION 3. Creation and Composition. The Authority on Emerging
Infectious Diseases (EIDA), hereinafter referred to as the “Authority,” is hereby

created, to be composed of representatives from the following:

Department of Health (DOH) as Chairperson
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
Department of Justice (DOJ)

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
Department of Tourism (DOT)
Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC)

The Authority may call upon any department, bureau, office, agency or
instrumentality of the government, including Government-Owned or -Controlled
Corporations (GOCCs), government financial institutions (GFIs), local
government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs) and the private

sector for assistance as the circumstances and exigencies may require.

Further, the DOH Secretary may recommend to the President the
enlistment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to supplement the Philippine
National Police and other law enforcement agencies for the purpose of enforcing
the quarantine of specific areas or facilitating the transport of EID patients, and
for such other purposes for the effective implementation of this Order.

The duly authorized representatives of the member-agencies of the Authority
shall have a rank not lower than Assistant Secretary.

SECTION 4. Powers and Functions. The Task Force shall have the

following powers and functions:

a) Establish a system to identify, screen, and assist Filipinos
suspected or confirmed to be infected with EID;


b) Prevent and/or minimize the entry of suspected or confirmed
patients with EID into the country. This should include rigid
screening and identification of EID suspects, and the
institutionalization of a surveillance, alert, and quarantine s
in all ports of entry;

stem

¢) Prevent and/or minimize the local spread of EID in the country
through the establishment or reinforcement of a system in screening
possible patients infected with EID, contact tracing, identification of
the mode of exposure to the virus, and implementation of effective
quarantine and proper isolation procedures;

d) Prevent and/or minimize mortality through effective clinical
management by capacitating healthcare facilities, government and
private medical practitioners, healthcare workers, and-public safety
enforcers;

e) Educate the public on EID and its prevention, control and
management to promote positive health behaviors, and address

public fear and anxiety through the conduct of a nationwide EID
awareness campaign;

f) Adopt measures to strengthen the Emerging and Re-Emerging
Infectious Diseases Program of the DOH or its equivalent in other
local health units;

8) Notify the WHO of the EID cases in the country and its as:
of the EID situation;

h) Submit to the Office of the President regular status reports in the
monitoring of EID;

i) Formulate, develop, implement, and oversee the EID Preparedness
Manual for the prevention and control of EID; and

i) Perform such other functions and activities as may be necessary

to carry out the provisions of this Order, or as the President may
direct.


SECTION 5. Development and Organization - A comprehensive and
sustainable EID Preparedness Manual shall be formulated and developed in

order to address government response and protocol in managing EID cases. ‘The

manual shall include but not be limited to the following:

a) Quarantine and immediate containment of EID within ports of
entry;

b) Epidemiological investigation and contact tracing:
¢) Treatment of infected cases and containment of affected areas;

4) Formulation of a risk communication plan and EID materials for
the general public; and

e) Respective responsibilities of government
agencies /instrumentalities.

SECTION 6. Periodic Reports - The EIDA shall submit periodic reports

on its findings and make recommendations on actions to be taken by Congress

and Senate and the appropriate department, and in order to carry out the
objectives and mandates of this Act.

SECTION 7. Automatic Review - Every three (3) years after the effectivity
of this Act, an independent review panel composed of experts to be appointed by
the President shall review the policies and programs in the EIDA with
coordination of the Department of Health (DOH) and shall make

recommendations, based on its findings, to the President and to both Houses of

Congress.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, issuances,
rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed
or modified accordingly.


SECTION 9. Separability Clause. If, for any reason or reasons, any
portion or provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the
remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and

effect.

SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,