EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Third Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 2381
SI LUG
Introduced by SENATORS PIA S. CAYETANO, FRANKLIN M. DRILON,
and SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
CREATING A VACCINE PASSPORT PROGRAM, AMENDING FOR THIS 
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11525, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE COVID- 
19 VACCINATION PROGRAM ACT OF 2021, AND PROVIDING FUNDS 
THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Recognizing COVID-19's highly contagious nature and deadly consequences, 
governments around the world were forced to limit the movement of millions of 
people, restricting travel, closing shops, restaurants, and other businesses, and 
banning large gatherings, among others. The development of many COVID-19 
vaccines in the last quarter of 2020 and the vaccine rollout in 2021 provided hope that 
such limitations will soon be eased. The COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force on 
Emerging Infectious Diseases - National Task Force (lATF-EID) stated in the 2nd 
Philippine COVID-19 Vaccination Program Implementation Report that the 
government is "anticipating the arrival of around 173.9 million doses of COVID-19 
vaccines, in aggregate, before the end of the year." As of 31 August 2021, the 
Philippines has administered a total of 33,099,392 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to 
Filipinos, 19,314,711 of whom have received their first dose while 13,784,681 have 
received their second dose.1
1 Department of Health (Philippines). (2021, Aug 31). Vaccine Rollout Update: 31 August 2021. [Facebook 
update]. https://web.facebook.eom/OfficialDOHgov/photos/pb.156566631021264.-
2207520000../4671809372830278/?type=3&eid=ARDhXcvmvZT7c4B90nUIEwhtgEZtPXw02MEAqJ1mrjEVmS5
784brqTxPMlvzh1yIkeqOR98wcU2wDK32&_rdc=1&_rdr


Worldwide, several countries, such as Brunei, Canada, China, countries in the 
European Union (EU), the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom, have 
implemented their vaccine passport/card/certificate programs to facilitate safer 
transborder travels given that international and, in some instances, local travel remain 
highly restrictive. Inbound quarantine regulations, which provide different rules for 
individuals depending on their vaccination status, have been put into effect by several 
countries as well. Because of this, there are reports that a global system for the 
international recognition and validation of vaccine passports is under development.
A vaccine passport also helps to open businesses and establishments, restarting 
economic and cultural activity. Countries like South Korea,2 Israel, France,3 Greece, 
Spain, Belgium,4 Italy,5 Denmark6 and other EU countries,7 as well as Switzerland8 
have implemented a similar vaccine pass or other proof of vaccination that will allow 
access to cultural sites, gyms, theaters, museums, restaurants, bars, and cafes.
Expanding on the COVID-19 vaccine cards provided in Section 12 of Republic 
Act No. 11525 or the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021, a Vaccine Passport 
Program can help facilitate the country's vaccination efforts. This bill seeks to create 
and implement a Vaccine Passport Program which shall provide an individual's record 
of COVID-19 vaccinations, RT-PCR testing, any benefits or exemptions, and other 
information determined to be necessary. It will address issues on identifying who has
2 Lee, J. (2021, June 21). Digital vaccine passports aim to help South Koreans get back on the road. 
The Telegraph, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/digital-vaccine- 
passports-aim-help-south-koreans-get-back-road/
3 Covid passports: How do they work around the world? (2021, July 26). BBC News. 
https://www.google.eom/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56522408.amp
4 Kelleher, S. (2021, July 27). Europe sees vaccine passport explosion for hotels, restaurants, 
museums, and more. Forbes.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankeIleher/2021/07/27/europe-
vaccine-passports-hotels-restaurants-museums/amp/
5 Santalucia, P. (2021, Aug 10). Italy now requires a “vaccine passport" for museums and indoor 
dining. AFAR, https://www.afar.com/magazine/italy-requires-a-green-pass-to-visit-museums-dine- 
indoors
6 Mageit, S. (2021, April 14). Denmark launches COVID-19 passport 'Coronapas’. Healthcare IT 
News, https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/emea/denmark-launches-covid-19-passport- 
coronapas
7 O'Leary, N. (2021, June 29). Indoor hospitality around the EU: Vaccine certs, ventilation and early 
last calls. The Irish Times. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/food-and- 
drink/indoor-hospitality-around-the-eu-vaccine-certs-ventilation-and-early-last-calls-
1.4606765%3fmode=amp
8 Federal Office of Public Health of the Swiss, (n.d.). Coronavirus: COVID certificate. 
https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle- 
ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/covid-zertifikat.html#1080338677


been vaccinated, what vaccination was given, how many doses have been 
administered, and other related matters. It shall further provide the government with 
a means to monitor distribution of the vaccines, including post-market surveillance. 
Having a Vaccine Passport is proof that an individual has received the vaccines, and 
may allow him/her benefits or exemptions from COVID-19 restrictions as may be 
provided by the lATF-EID.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.,
{t
PI A Si CAYE
KLIN M. DRILON
SONNY ANGARA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Third Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 2381
F LEO
BILUJ
Introduced by SENATORS PIA S. CAYETANO, FRANKLIN M. DRILON,
and SONNY ANGARA
AfN ACT
CREATING A VACCINE PASSPORT PROGRAM, AMENDING FOR THIS 
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11525, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE COVID- 
19 VACCINATION PROGRAM ACT OF 2021, AND PROVIDING FUNDS 
THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in the 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Vaccine Passport
2 
Program Act".
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. -The Constitution mandates that the State shall
4 
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness
5 
among them.
6 
The State recognizes the importance of preventive healthcare and the need to
7 
take proactive measures in the fight against diseases, particularly COVID-19. It
8 
acknowledges that a comprehensive and sustainable immunization program for
9 
vaccine-preventable diseases is indispensable to achieve the objectives of universal
10 
healthcare and the country's commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals
11 
(SDGs), particularly on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being). A Vaccine Passport
12 
Program can help facilitate COVID-19 immunization and future immunization
13 
programs by allowing the State to track who has been vaccinated and where priority
14 
vaccinations should take place. It also serves as a means to monitor the vaccines'
15 
effects and the effectivity of immunization programs. Towards this end, the State shall


1 
adopt and implement a Vaccine Passport Program to facilitate its COVID-19 and future
2 
immunization programs against vaccine-preventable diseases.
3 
Sec. 3. Vaccine Passport Program. -Subject to the provisions of Republic Act
4 
No. 10173 or the "Data Privacy Act of 2012" and to the guidelines to be promulgated
5 
by the Department of Health (DOH), the Local Government Units (LGUs) shall issue a
6 
vaccine passport to all COVID-19 vaccinated individuals. The vaccination records in
7 
the vaccine passports shall be verifiable in a DOH central database.
8 
The vaccine passport shall contain the following information:
9 
a) Basic personal information such as full name, present and/or permanent
10 
address, and birthdate;
11 
b) Manufacturer, brand name, and batch number or other identifier of the
12 
COVID-19 vaccine;
13 
c) Date of vaccination;
14 
d) Name of the hospital, health center, or health facility where the vaccine
15 
was received;
16 
e) Name, signature and license number of the duly licensed physician,
17 
nurse or other authorized health worker administering the vaccine;
18 
f) Date and results of the last RT-PCR testing and the name of the
19 
laboratory that conducted the last RT-PCR testing, if applicable; and
20 
g) Such other information which may be determined as necessary by the
21 
Secretary of Health or the lATF-EID in line with the declared policy of
22 
this Act.
23 
The issuance of a vaccine passport is intended to be digital, but shall remain
24 
accessible through other means such as printed passports. The Department of
25 
Information and Communications Technology, shall develop the digital systems and
26 
applications based on LGU-driven data that will meet the objectives of the COVID-19
27 
Vaccination Program while maintaining quality, safety, ease of use, and accessibility
28 
for all Filipinos: Provided, That the DOH shall maintain a central database of
29 
vaccinations, and mandate a format for the vaccine passport to ensure uniformity and
30 
authenticity, the contents of which shall be updated accordingly to always conform
31 
with globally accepted standards: Provided, further, that vaccine passports already


1 
issued prior to the implementation of this Act shall remain valid and may be replaced
2 
with the new format as mandated by the DOH.
3 
No funds shall be collected for the issuance, amendment, or replacement of a
4 
vaccine passport.
5 
Sec. 4. Benefits of Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine. - Individuals partially or
6 
fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as evidenced in their vaccine passport may be
7 
granted certain benefits or exemptions, subject to guidelines issued by the lATF-EID,
8 
such as but not limited to:
9 
a) Non-essential domestic travel;
10 
b) International travel, as may be allowed in foreign jurisdictions;
11 
c) Local checkpoint and quarantine exemptions or reduced quarantine
12 
time; and
13 
d) Access to business establishments allowed to operate based on lATF-
14 
EID guidelines, such as but not limited to, indoor and outdoor dining,
15 
entertainment venues, cultural centers such as museums and galleries,
16 
and sports venues.
17 
Provided, That individuals who tested positive in the last 14 days for COVID-19
18 
based on the latest RT-PCR test recorded in their vaccine passport shall not be granted
19 
any benefit or exemption as provided in this Act, regardless of their vaccination status:
20 
Provided, further. That any benefits or exemptions shall be reinstated once a negative
21 
RT-PCR test for COVID-19 has been recorded in their vaccine passport.
22 
Individuals partially or fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as indicated in the
23 
Vaccine Passport, shall not be considered immune from COVID-19, unless otherwise
24 
declared by the DOH based on reliable scientific evidence and consensus.
25 
Sec. 5. Non-Discrimination Against Persons Who Cannot Be Vaccinated. -
26 
Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted as to discriminate against:
27 
a) Persons who are unable to get vaccinated due to unavailability of
28 
vaccines;
29 
b) Persons with valid health conditions that prevent them from being
30 
vaccinated; and
31 
c) Persons who belong to an age group that are unable to be vaccinated
32 
and are not included in the COVID-19 vaccination program.


1 
Provided, That the lATF-EID and LCDs shall continue to implement minimum
2 
safety and health protocols to ensure the safety and minimize the risks of the above-
3 
enumerated unvaccinated persons and those living and interacting with them out of
4 
necessity, and may impose the necessary restrictions to prevent the further spread of
5 
COVID-19 and ensure the safety of persons who cannot be vaccinated and those who
6 
may be exposed to them.
7 
Sec. 6. Adoption of the Vaccine Passport Program for Other Immunization
8 
Programs. - The DOH may adopt the Vaccine Passport Program to document other
9 
immunization programs, including but not limited to mandatory basic immunization as
10 
provided by Republic Act No. 10152 or the "Mandatory Infants and Children Health
11 
Immunization Act of 2011", subject to guidelines to be issued by the DOH.
12 
Sec. 7. Recognition of Vaccine Passports/Cards/Certificates Issued to Fiiipinos
13 
Abroad. - The Bureau of Quarantine, in coordination with the Department of Foreign
14 
Affairs, shall issue guidelines on the recognition of vaccine passports/cards/certificates
15 
issued to Filipinos abroad: Provided, That the guidelines shall be updated accordingly
16 
to always conform with globally accepted standards.
17 
Sec. 8. Acts Punishabie. - The falsification of a vaccine passport shall be
18 
punishable under Act No. 3815, otherwise known as "The Revised Penal Code".
19 
Sec. 9. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - Within 15 days from the
20 
effectivity of this Act, the DOH shall promulgate and issue the necessary guidelines
21 
for the effective implementation of this Act. The implementing rules and regulations
22 
issued pursuant to this Section shall take effect upon its publication in the Official
23 
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
24 
Sec. 10. Appropriations. -The amount needed for the initial implementation of
25 
this Act shall be charged against available funds for the purpose. Thereafter, such
26 
sums as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the
27 
annual General Appropriations Act.
28 
Sec. 11. Separabiiity Ciause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
29 
unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall not be
30 
affected thereby.


1 
Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, orders, rules and
2 
regulations, other issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this
3 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
4 
Sec. 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in
5 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,