REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _________ 
Introduced by HONORABLE RAMON JOLO B. REVILLA III, 
HONORABLE LANI MERCADO-REVILLA, and HONORABLE BRYAN B. REVILLA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This measure seeks to expand the coverage of Republic Act No. 101512, otherwise known 
as the “Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act of 2011” by including in the list 
of mandatory basic immunization the vaccines for Rotavirus (RV), Japanese Encephalitis (JE), 
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) to ensure the 
complete protection of infants and children from severe and life-threatening diseases. 
According to UNICEF, confidence in vaccines for children has decreased by about 25% in 
the country, thus putting many Filipino children at risk from getting severe diseases.1 The 
Philippines has around one million zero-dose children, or those who have not received any routine 
vaccine. Moreover, the Philippines has the second highest in East Asia and the Pacific region and 
the fifth highest globally.2 While vaccine hesitancy could be attributed to cultural factors and 
concerns on vaccine safety, the financial aspect must not be undermined since vaccines for 
children, when availed in private hospitals, can be costly for many Filipinos as well. 
While Republic Act No. 101512 provides for free inoculation programs against diseases 
such as tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, German measles, 
Hepatitis B and Influenza Type B at any government hospital or health center for infants or 
children up to 5 years of age, it remains a challenge because it lacks to provide an updated list of 
mandatory basic immunization.  
Fittingly, the Philippine Pediatric Society and the Pediatric Disease Society of the 
Philippines, together with the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination releases an annual Childhood 
Immunization Schedule to help determine and update the needed vaccines for children and infant 
against common vaccine-preventable diseases.3  For 2023, as in the preceding years, it has 
1 GMA Network. UNICEF: PH confidence in childhood vaccines declines 25% during pandemic. Information retrieved from 
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/868030/pinoy-confidence-in-childhood-vaccines-declines-25-during-pandemic-
unicef/story/. Dated April 26, 2023 
2 Ibid. 
3 Philippine Pediatric Society. Childhood Immunization Schedule 2023. Information retrieved from https://www.pidsphil.org/home/wp-
content/uploads/2023/03/CHILDHOOD-IMMUNIZATION-SCHEDULE-2023-Edited.pdf 
May 16, 2023
4:18 pm
8153




REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _________ 
Introduced by HONORABLE RAMON JOLO B. REVILLA III, 
HONORABLE LANI MERCADO-REVILLA, and HONORABLE BRYAN B. REVILLA 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A MANDATORY IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM, REPEALING FOR 
THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10152, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"MANDATORY INFANTS AND CHILDREN HEALTH IMMUNIZATION ACT OF 
2011" 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Mandatory Immunization Program 
Act". 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – In accordance with Article II, Section 15 of the 
Constitution, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to take a proactive role in the preventive 
health care of all Filipinos. Towards this end, the State shall adopt a comprehensive, mandatory, 
and sustainable immunization program for vaccine preventable diseases. 
SEC. 3. National Immunization Program. – There is hereby established a National 
Immunization Program under the Department of Health (DOH), which shall ensure that the 
population is equitably protected from vaccine-preventable diseases that can cause disability or 
death through an integrated and comprehensive immunization program for all life stages, in 
accordance with this Act. 
SEC. 4. Coverage. – The mandatory immunization provided under this Act shall cover the 
following vaccine-preventable diseases: 
(a)
Tuberculosis;
(b)
Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis;
(c)
Poliomyelitis;
(d)
Measles;
8153


(e)  
Mumps; 
(f)  
Rubella or German measles;  
(g)  
Hepatitis-B; 
(h)  
H. Influenza type B (HIB); 
(i)  
Rotavirus; 
(j) 
Japanese encephalitis; 
(k)  
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV); 
(l)  
Human papilloma virus (HPV); 
(m)  
Booster for Measles, Rubella, Tetanus, Diphtheria (MRTD); and 
(n)  
Such other types as may be determined by the Secretary of Health upon the 
recommendation of the National Immunization Technical and Advisory Group 
(NITAG) established under Section 6 of this Act and after a separate or joint public 
hearing conducted by the Committee on Health and Demography of the Senate of 
the Philippines and the Committee on Health of the House of Representatives: 
Provided, That when there is a pandemic and when the Congress of the Philippines 
is not in session, the said public hearings need not be conducted. 
 
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) shall include the mandatory 
immunization services specified under this Act in its benefit package However, such other types 
under Section 4 (n) shall undergo evaluation by the Health Technology Assessment Council 
pursuant to R.A 11223, otherwise known as the "Universal Health Care Act, before its inclusion 
in the benefit package. 
 
SEC. 5. Administration of Vaccines. – The vaccines shall be administered for free in any 
government hospital or health facility, and in any public school or community under its school-
based or community-based immunization program, and in any private health facility if such is 
included in the PhilHealth benefit package. 
 
The DOH, in collaboration with the Department of Education and the Department of 
Interior and Local Government, shall undertake a school-based and community-based 
immunization program. The DOH shall determine the vaccines suitable for the various age groups 
form the list enumerated in Section 4 under this Act. 
 
Hepatitis-B vaccine shall be administered by any duly licensed physician, nurse or midwife 
to infants born in hospitals, health infirmaries, health centers or lying-in centers with obstetrical 
and pediatric services, whether public or private, within twenty-four (24) hours after birth. 
Provided, however, That in cases of infants born in places other than the above, any duly licensed 
physician, nurse or midwife who delivers or assists in the delivery of the newborn, shall be 
responsible for administering the vaccine to the latter. Provided further, That for deliveries assisted 
by persons other than the health professionals mentioned above, the infant should be brought to 
any available health care facility to be immunized against Hepatitis-B within twenty-four (24) 
hours but not later than seven (7) days after birth: Provided, finally, That subsequent doses of the 


Hepatitis-B vaccine shall be completed according to the recommended schedule of Hepatitis-B 
immunization to be provided in the rules and regulations to be issued by the DOH to implement 
this Act. 
 
SEC. 6. Creation of the National Immunization Technical and Advisory Group. – A 
National Immunization Technical and Advisory Group (NITAG) shall be created to serve as a 
technical and independent multi-disciplinary advisory body to provide evidence-based policy and 
program decisions on immunization and vaccines to the DOH. The NITAG shall be composed of 
experts from the fields of pediatrics, infectious diseases, epidemiology, public health, health 
economy and from affiliate agencies such as the Formulary Executive Council, Food and Drug 
Administration, Philippine Nurses Association, Philippine Pharmacists Association, Inc., and the 
National Institutes of Health.  
 
The NITAG shall have the following functions: 
 
(a) 
To advise the DOH in the formulation of policies, plan and strategies for research 
and development of the existing and new vaccines, and the vaccine delivery 
technology; 
(b) 
To conduct policy analysis, review of the program data and evidence in order to 
provide evidence-based technical advice and recommendations for the 
development of appropriate and sustainable immunization policies, guidelines, 
strategies, and approaches related to Immunization Program and vaccine delivery 
technology; and 
(c) 
To review the position papers, studies, international guidelines, and 
recommendations from internationally acknowledged resources for possible 
adoption in the country policies and plans for NITAG. 
 
SEC. 7. Education and Information Campaign. – All health care practitioners or health 
care workers who are administering prenatal care shall educate all pregnant mothers on the 
importance of immunization through vaccination in safeguarding infant health and well-being as 
well as on the possible effects of immunization. 
 
The DOH, other government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs), 
professional and academic societies, and local government units (LGUs) shall make available 
appropriate information materials and shall institute an efficient public information 
dissemination system to increase awareness on the importance of immunization as a disease 
prevention strategy. 
 
SEC. 8. Obligation to Inform. – Any physician, nurse, midwife, nursing aide or skilled 
birth attendant, who delivers or assists in the delivery of a newborn shall, prior to delivery, inform 
parents or legal guardian of the newborn of the availability, nature, and benefits of immunization 
against Hepatitis-B and other vaccine-preventable diseases at birth. 


 
SEC. 9. Continuing Education and Training of Health Personnel. – The DOH shall, with 
the assistance of the LGUs, academe, professional societies, and NGOs, undertake continuing 
information, education, and training programs for all health personnel on the rationale and benefits 
of, as well as modern procedures for immunization of infants and children against vaccine-
preventable diseases. 
 
SEC. 10. Annual Report. – The DOH shall submit to the Office of the President of the 
Philippines, the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, and the House of Representatives 
Committee on Health on or before the end of December of every year, or upon the request of any 
of the aforesaid committees of Congress, a report giving a detailed account of the status of the 
implementation of this Act. 
 
 SEC. 11. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to carry out the implementation of this 
Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations for expanded program on 
immunization of the DOH. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
SEC. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The DOH shall, in consultation with 
the National Immunization Committee, issue the implementing rules and regulations within ninety 
(90) days after the approval of this Act. 
 
SEC. 13. Separability Clause. – If, for any reason, any part or provision of this Act shall 
be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions hereof which are not affected 
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. – Republic Act No. 10152, otherwise known as the 
"Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act of 2011" is hereby repealed. All other 
laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with 
this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 15. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,