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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 8000

Introduced by the Honorable Precious Hipolito Castelo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Our country has been in some form of community quarantine since March 2020. Eight months
later, thousands of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases everyday seemed to have
been the norm already. While this is not the “new normal’ initially sought for, this is the reality
that the society must face.

In the global fight against COVID-19, scientists around the world are racing to create a viable
vaccine for mass distribution. Big pharmaceutical firms have been conducting clinical trials
which are carefully handled and supervised by experts. Every minute detail of the vaccine
being developed is reviewed and tested. The rigorous and thorough process of vaccine
development makes the news of a successful trial sound more pleasing. Every successful
clinical trial springs hope for everyone who has been praying for a COVID-free world. While
we are far from the ideal situation, history shows that vaccines work.

This pandemic has taught us many things, one of which is the importance of preparation.
While this pandemic is something that caught many countries and governments off guard, this,
is not sufficient excuse not to prepare.

In a press briefing of the Department of Health, the Food and Drug Administration noted that
there is a specific temperature that should be maintained in order for a vaccine not to lose its
efficacy.' Countries around the world, such as India, the second most populous nation, have
been preparing to ramp up its cold chain facilities for effective delivery of the vaccines when
they become available.

It is thus the intent of this bill to provide sufficient and appropriate cold storage equipment for
storage and safekeeping of the much-anticipated COVID-19 vaccines prior to their arrival in
the country. Considering that the Philippines is also a relatively populous nation, a safe and
effective mass distribution of the vaccines require ample planning and preparation

Thus, the immediate passage of this bill is most earnestly sought.

1

NDA
PRECI IPOLITO CASTELO

+ Analou De Vera, “DOH preps cold storage facilities for storing COVID vaccines,” Manila Bulletin. October 27, 2020,
hnttps://mb.com.ph/2020/10/27/doh-preps-cold-storage-facilties-for-storing.covid-vaccines/ (Accessed November 9, 2020)
2Shakoor Rather, “Ramping up cold storage facilities critical as India preps for COVID-19 vaccine: experts,” Economic Times
Healthworld.com. October 8, 2020, https://nealth.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/pharma/ramping-up-cold-storage:
{acilites-critical-as-india-preps-for-covid-19-vaccine-experts/78550153 (Accessed November 9, 2020)



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 8900

Introduced by the Honorable Precious Hipolito Castelo

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR COLD STORAGE FACILITIES FOR STORING AND
SAFEKEEPING OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) VACCINES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be referred to as the “Vaccine-Ready
Philippines Act of 2020",

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy.  Itis the policy of the State to adopt an integrated and
comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential
goods, health and other social services available to all people at affordable cost. Towards this
end, the State shall amply prepare cold storage facilities for storing and safekeeping of
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in anticipation of their arrival and mass
distribution to the Filipino people.

SEC. 3. Cold Storage Facilities for COVID-19 Vaccines. — To carry out the above
policy, the Department of Health (DOH) shall determine the specifications of the cold storage
facility necessary for the anticipated COVID-19 vaccines. DOH shall urgently prepare for the
provision of cold storage facilities in accordance with the specifications that are suitable for
safekeeping of the anticipated COVID-19 vaccines.

SEC. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within thirty (30) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the DOH, in coordination with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the
Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), shall promulgate the necessary rules
and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain
valid and subsisting.

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order,
letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with, the
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.

SEC. 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation,

Approved,