Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control (Cdc) Act

Senaie Bitup of the secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session ) 25 AUG 27 A9:25 SENATE RECEIVED BY: 1264 S. No._ Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 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 EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 15, Article II of the 1987 Constitution declares, "The State shall protect

and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them." Also, Section 11, Article XIII of the same declares that it is the responsibility 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 the people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers." The outbreak of the disease caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019- nCoV), now officially called by the World Health Organization the Coronavirus Disease 2019 or "COVID-19," has caused over 7,099,375 reported deaths worldwide as of 27 July 2025.1 In the Philippines, 66,900 people have died from COVID-19 as of the latest WHO report.? 1 World Health Organization. (2025). WHO COVID-19 dashboard: Reported deaths. Retrieved from https://data.who.int/dashboards/covid19/deaths on August 14, 2025. 2 Same as Note No. 1.

The pandemic revealed deep vulnerabilities in the Philippine health care system-limited access to services, inadequate facilities, persistent disparities, and insufficient capacity to respond in fragile settings. It underscored the urgent need for an independent and competent National Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to strengthen preparedness, surveillance, and coordinated action in times of public health emergencies. Even after the COVID-19, the Department of Health (DOH) continues to face other outbreaks such as dengue, influenza-like illnesses, and typhoid fever, as well as other novel diseases — all contributing to high and concerning morbidity and mortality rates. On May 31, 2025, the DOH reported that, since 2024, the total monkeypox (mpox) cases have reached 911. This highlights the ongoing threat of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, even as COVID-19 remains a public health priority. 3 Under this measure, the functions of the DOH's Disease Prevention and Control Bureau, Epidemiology Bureau, and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) will be consolidated into the CDC. This reform responds to the urgent need to strengthen the government's capacity to manage disease threats and control infectious diseases through a centralized, specialized, and fully empowered public health institution. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought. LOREN LEGARDA 3 GMA Integrated News. (2025, May 31). DOH: Mpox cases actually dipped in May 2025; total cases Online. Retrieved 2025, https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/947931/doh-more-mpox-cases-in-april-2025- than-in-may-total-cases-911-since-2024/story/

Splate otice of the Endary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 25 AUG 27 A9:25 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1264 Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 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 the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Center for

Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) Act."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy - It is the policy of the State to protect and

4 promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. The State also mandates the adoption of an integrated and comprehensive approach 6 to health development. Towards this end, the State shall give high priority to the allocation of material and institutional resources to protect public health, ensuring that the Philippine health 9 system is well-prepared to forecast, prevent, monitor, and control communicable diseases of both national and international concern, and to respond to other public health threats, as defined in Section 4(g) of this Act, arising from hazardous chemicals, radiological and nuclear events, and other non-infectious hazards, as well as related injuries and disabilities.

Sec. 3. Scope and Coverage - This Act shall apply to all public health

emergencies, whether arising from infectious diseases, hazardous chemical incidents,

radiological and nuclear events, or other emergencies that pose a significant threat to public health.

Sec. 4. Definition of Terms - As used in this Act:

(a) Communicable disease, also known as a contagious disease, refers to an illness resulting from an infection, or a disease, which can be transmitted from an infected host individual or group to a particular individual or group. It spreads through direct bodily contact with an infected person, their discharges, or an object or surface they have contaminated; (b) Disease refers to an illness caused by a specific infectious agent affecting a susceptible individual, either directly or indirectly from an infected animal or person, or indirectly through an intermediate host, vector, or the environment, and includes conditions arising from hazardous chemical, radiological, or nuclear incidents that pose a significant threat to public health; (c) Disease surveillance refers to a systematic collection analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of outcomes and specific data for use in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice. A disease surveillance system includes the functional capacity for data analysis as well as the timely dissemination of these data to persons who can undertake effective disease prevention and control activities; (d) Epidemic or outbreak refers to an occurrence of more cases of disease than normally expected within a specific place or group of people over a given period of time; (e) Infectious disease refers to a clinically manifested disease of humans or animals resulting from an infection which can be communicable. (f) Public health emergency refers to an occurrence or imminent threat of an illness or health condition that: (1) Is caused by any of the following: 0) Bioterrorism;

(ii) Appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicated infectious agent or biological toxin; (iii) A natural disaster (iv) A chemical attack or accidental release; (v) A nuclear attack or accident; or (vi) An attack or accidental release of radioactive materials; and, (2) Poses a high probability of any of the following: (i) A large number of deaths in the affected population; (ii) A large number of serious injuries or long-term disabilities in the affected population; (iii) Widespread exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a significant risk of substantial harm to a large number of people in the affected population; (iv) International exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a significant risk to the health of citizens of other countries; or (v) Trade and travel restrictions; (g) Public Health Threat refers to any condition, event, or situation that poses, or is likely to pose, a significant risk to the health of the population, including but not limited to infectious diseases of national or international concern, hazardous chemical incidents, radiological or nuclear events, environmental or climatic factors, and other biological, physical, or technological hazards that may compromise health security. (h) Quarantine refers to the physical separation and confinement of an individual or groups of individuals, who are or may have been exposed to a contagious or possibly contagious disease and who do not show signs or symptoms of a contagious disease, from non- quarantined individuals, to prevent or limit the transmission of the disease.

Sec. 5. Creation of the Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control -

2 The Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) is hereby created as 3 an attached agency to the Department of Health (DOH) for policy and program 4 coordination.

Sec. 6. Powers, Functions, and Duties. - The CDC shall be the technical

6 authority on all matters regarding disease prevention and control. It shall exercise its 7 mandate for the prevention, surveillance, preparedness, and response to all public health emergencies, whether arising from communicable diseases, hazardous 9 chemicals, radiological and nuclear incidents, or other events posing significant risk to 10 health security. To carry out the provisions of this Act, the CDC shall have the following powers, functions, and duties: (a) Policy and Standards Development: (1) Provide technical guidance to the development of policies, programs, standards, guidelines, and monitoring and evaluation systems on the forecasting, prevention, monitoring, and control of communicable diseases and related public health threats of both national and international concern, as defined under Section 4(g) of this Act; (2) Set the standards and the process for the establishment of Epidemiology and Surveillance Units or its corresponding surveillance reporting units, pursuant to law; (3) Provide quality assurance programs to ensure the quality of testing for laboratories; (4) Conduct researches for development in support of the CDC mandate to forecast, prevent, monitor, and control communicable diseases and related public health threats of both national and international concern; (5) Recommend to the President through the DOH Secretary, the declaration of a state of a public health emergency, in case of an epidemic of national or international concern; and, (6) Set the parameters for the declaration of the existence as well as the end of an epidemic.

(7) Formulate and implement strategies for the prevention, risk reduction, and mitigation of public health threats arising from infectious, chemical, radiological, or other hazardous events, in coordination with relevant government agencies and local government units. (b) Capacity Building and Technical Assistance: (1) Develop, implement, and maintain training in specialized fields such as field epidemiology, health emergencies of biological concern, laboratory services, and infectious and tropical diseases; (2) Assess and support the capabilities of health facilities and local government units (LGUs) on forecasting, preventing, monitoring, and controlling communicable diseases and related public health threats of both national and international concern; and, (3) Provide technical assistance and expert services to DOH offices and collaborating and implementing agencies or offices on matters pertaining to forecasting, preventing, monitoring, and controlling communicable diseases and related public health threats of both national and international concern; (c) Sectoral and Local Coordination: (1) Promote coordination and collaboration with partner agencies and international and local organizations on matters pertaining to the CDC mandate, and ensure the timely dissemination of relevant scientific and technical information. (2) Coordinate with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for hazardous chemical events, the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) for radiological and nuclear incidents, and other competent agencies to ensure integrated health emergency management. (d) Surveillance: (1) Develop implement and maintain an integrated surveillance system of communicable diseases, related public health threats, and other hazards covered under this Act;

(2) Provide technical guidance on the development, implementation and maintenance, and monitoring of health system capacity such as operational capacities of health facilities, and performance management of the response systems, in terms of contact tracing, quarantine isolation, and other significant population-based health services; (3) Investigate respond through surveillance and disease notification, investigation and conduct of field studies and research to outbreaks, epidemics, and other public health threats as the need arises; (4) Develop and maintain a network of public health laboratories in support of epidemiology and surveillance activities; (5) Facilitate the issuance of appropriate warnings to the regional CDC and health facilities in anticipation of impending public health threats and infectious disease outbreak; (6) Utilize various information and communication technologies (ICT) in the management of data and dissemination of early warning and other appropriate information to stakeholders and the public; and, (7) Develop communication methods for wider and more effective and unified delivery of critical public health information with national or international importance. (e) Provide technical guidance on the procurement of vaccines, drugs, and diagnostics; (f) Provide technical guidance on the monitoring and evaluation framework for disease prevention and control; (g) Certify to the existence of an epidemic which shall be treated as a public health emergency; and (h) Develop and disseminate timely, accurate, and accessible information to the public on all types of public health threats, ensuring proactive community engagement in preparedness and response.

(i) Perform such other functions as may be mandated by law, or as may be duly delegated by relevant authorities.

Sec 7. Director General. - The CDC shall be headed by a Director General with

4 a rank of Undersecretary who shall be assisted by two (2) Deputy Directors General 5 with a rank of Assistant Secretary. The Director General and the Deputy Directors 6 General shall be appointed by the President from a list of at least three (3) nominees 7 for each position to be submitted by the DOH Secretary. The Director General and 8 Deputy Directors General shall have at least ten (10) years of relevant experience and 9 proven expertise in the fields of public health and epidemiology. The Director General shall have the following powers and functions: (a) Manage and direct the activities and functions of the CDC; (b) Advise the DOH Secretary on policy matters concerning the Center's activities; (c) Recommend to the President, through the DOH Secretary, the exercise of special powers in case of an epidemic, including the declaration of a public health emergency; (d) Act as the national International Health Regulations Focal Point subject to consultation with DOH; and, (e) Perform other functions and powers that may be assigned by the DOH Secretary.

Sec. 8. Transfer DOH Units Functions. - The following DOH units and their

concerned divisions and functions are hereby transferred to the CDC: (a) Epidemiology Bureau; (b) Research Institute for Tropical Medicine; (c) Sexually Transmitted Disease - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Cooperative Central Laboratory; (d) Select functions of the International Health Surveillance Division of the Bureau of Quarantine as follows: (1) Passive international health surveillance; and, (2) Development of communication methods for wider and more effective delivery of critical public health information with international importance; and,

(e) Technical and standard-setting functions of the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau related to communicable and epidemic-prone diseases. All powers, functions, assets, capital, records, funds, receivables, equipment, 5 and 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 and 7 inventory of assets, liabilities, and human resources of the transferred agencies to 8 CDC without the need of conveyance or transfer of assignments.

Sec. 9. Regional Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. - There shall be

established Regional Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (RCDCs) in all regions of the country. Each Regional CDC shall be headed by a Regional Director, who shall be under the supervision of the CDC Director General. The functions of RCDCs include: (a) Prevention, control, and surveillance of diseases; (b) Provision of laboratory services for detection and identification of infectious disease agents from human, environmental samples, and food; (c) Maintenance of an integrated data management system; (d) Implementation of quality assurance programs for clinical and environmental laboratories through training consultation, certification, and proficiency testing; (e) Policy development; (f) Emergency response; (g) Public health-related research; (h) Training and education; (i) Maintenance of infectious disease hospitals for referral and management of cases; (i) Establishment of strong communication networks; and, (k) Other functions that may be assigned by the Director General. The RCDCs shall be composed of specialists in the fields of infectious diseases, public health, epidemiology, and similar fields.

Sec. 10. Structure Staffing Pattern -

(a) The CDC shall initially have the following offices, each to be headed by an officer with the salary and rank of Director IV: (1) Center for Epidemic Intelligence and Disease Surveillance; (2) Center for Research, Training, and Reference Laboratory; (3) Center for Infectious Disease Emergency Preparedness and Response; (4) Center for Policy and Program Development; (5) Communications Office; and (6) Administrative and Finance Office. (b) The CDC Director General, subject to the issuance of an executive order by the President and approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), may create or abolish units, offices, and centers as needed to carry out all provisions of this Act. (c) (c)The CDC Director General, in consultation with the DOH and the DBM, shall: (1) Develop the organizational structure of the CDC at the national, regional, and local levels; (2) Determine the divisions and specific functions of each unit, center, or office of the CDC; and (3) Determine the staffing pattern, qualification standards, compensation, and position classification plan for the CDC subject to the approval of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the DBM.

Sec. 11. Qualifications Standards for Appointment and Promotion. - The DOH

shall, in consultation with the CSC, and pertinent agencies as may be necessary, develop the qualification standards in terms of education, training, and experience for all technical and non-technical positions in the CDC, and the system for promotion and succession plan in the CDC.

Sec. 12. Continuing Competency Development Program. - The CDC shall

through the Director General, devise and implement a continuing competency development program whereby all core personnel shall be required to update and enrich competencies through attendance in programs, studies,

1 research, fellowships, workshops, and seminars, including training opportunities in 2 reputable foreign CDCs. Compliance with the Continuing Competency Development Program shall be the mandatory basis for promotion within the CDC. The CDC shall 4 develop mechanisms to tap funding opportunities to implement its Continuing 5 Competency Development Program.

Sec. 13. Modernization Program. - The Director General shall, in consultation

7 with the DOH and other concerned agencies of government and the private sector, 8 develop a modernization program that will strengthen the human health resource of the CDC which is the key component of the country's disease prevention and control 10 policy. The modernization program shall include the acquisition and upgrading of appropriate technologies, laboratories, facilities, equipment, and other needed resources, and the needed relocation and acquisition of additional land or location that would house the CDC. Within one hundred eighty (180) days after the effectivity of this Act, the Director General shall, upon the recommendation of the DOH and DBM Secretaries, submit the modernization program for the consideration and approval of Congress in a joint resolution of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The modernization program shall be implemented over a period of five (5) years. Appropriations for the modernization program shall be provided in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA). The modernization program shall likewise cover the development of surveillance and control capacity, workforce, and integrated data systems for communicable diseases, hazardous chemical incidents, radiological and nuclear events, and other public health threats covered by this Act. Sec. 14. Strengthened Epidemiology, Public Health Surveillance, and Research Capacities. - To ensure that epidemiology and public health surveillance services are efficient and responsive, and public health surveillance and research capacities are strengthened and updated to international standards, the CDC shall: (a) Prioritize investments in upgrading of ICT and adequate and capacitated human resources for epidemiology, public health surveillance, and public health and clinical research;

(b) Have a premier facility for clinical laboratory, epidemiologic and implementation research and training on infectious and tropical diseases and other health threats covered by this Act; (c) Develop performance-based incentives to private health facilities with established epidemiology and surveillance functions; (d) Re-nationalize local epidemiology and surveillance units (LESUs) that will solely provide epidemiology and disease surveillance services and provide assistance to the LGUs in the establishment and maintenance of surveillance systems, data management, and generation of strategic epidemiologic information, Provided, That the DOH, CDC, and DBM, shall develop the staffing pattern and qualification standards: Provided, further, That LESUs shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Regional CDCs; (e) Retain and provide incentives to technical experts, practitioners, and scientists, whereby the scientific career system is adopted, allowing them to continue their respective clinical and professional practice to pursue research studies and receive grants and honoraria, in consultation with the CSC. Qualified employees of the CDC and its attached units shall be covered by Republic Act No. 8439, otherwise known as Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers, and Other Science and Technology Personnel in Government; (f) Develop and implement training and research programs to develop more experts and practitioners in the field of epidemiology, and disease prevention and control; and, (g) Develop a mechanism to ensure interoperability and accessibility of surveillance systems.

Sec. 15. Strengthened Disease Surveillance and Response. - The CDC shall

disease surveillance and response systems utilizing establish integrated whenever necessary all technological means available while ensuring that data privacy and patient confidentiality are maintained. The CDC and authorized public authorities shall have complete access and right to collect personal information and other data, 32 as may be deemed necessary in the fulfillment of their mandate. All data or information

1 and samples collected pursuant thereto shall be used for public health concern 2 purposes only and shall be exempted from the provisions of R.A. No. 10173, otherwise 3 known as the Data Privacy Act of 2012 on the accessibility of data.

Sec. 16. National Reference Laboratories - The CDC shall establish a new,

5 state-of-the-art facility that will serve as the National Reference Laboratory (NRL), 6 unifying all NRLs for biological, chemical, nuclear, and radiologic emergencies under 7 one roof within five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act. Provided, That the existing 8 NRLs in the East Avenue Medical Center, Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the 9 Philippines, National Kidney Transplant Institute and San Lazaro Hospital shall 10 continue to be under the respective hospitals. Provided further, That these existing NRLs shall serve as referral laboratories of the CDC and be included in the Modernization Program of the CDC. The NRL shall provide technical recommendations, laboratory confirmatory services, training, and external quality assurance, and perform surveillance, outbreak response, kit evaluation, and research. It shall oversee the functions and performance of the network of subnational laboratories (SNL). SNLs shall be established in all regions, with the capability of conducting confirmatory testing for routine surveillance samples and performing specialized tests. SNLs, whose functions include testing for routine surveillance and specialized tests, shall be under CDC administratively. Hospitals housing the SNLs shall create a separate unit for their regular hospital laboratory needs. The CDC, through the NRLs and SNLs, shall provide technical guidance and 23 quality assurance programs to biosafety levels 2, 3, and 4 laboratories in the country, which shall be registered with and regulated by the DOH.

Sec. 17. Emergency Stockpiles. - The CDC shall establish, maintain, and

manage national strategic stockpiles of essential public health emergency supplies, including but not limited to personal protective equipment, pharmaceuticals, antidotes for chemical exposures, radiological and nuclear decontamination materials, and other critical response resources. Such stockpiles shall be regularly inventoried, replenished, and prepositioned to ensure timely deployment during emergencies.

Sec. 18. Simulation Exercises - The CDC, in coordination with relevant national

government agencies, local government units, and licensed healthcare facilities, shall

1 conduct annual all-hazards simulation exercises covering infectious disease outbreaks, 2 chemical incidents, radiological and nuclear events, and other health emergencies. 3 The results of such exercises shall be documented, evaluated, and used to improve 4 national and local preparedness plans. Such simulation exercises shall be integrated into the National Disaster Risk 6 Reduction and Management Plan and its sectoral and thematic programs, as 7 applicable, to ensure alignment with national disaster preparedness and response 8 strategies.

Sec. 19. Community Preparedness Programs. - The CDC, in partnership with

10 local government units, shall develop and implement hazard-specific community education and preparedness programs, tailored to address local vulnerabilities and capacities. Such programs shall include risk communication, basic response skills, and public awareness campaigns to strengthen community resilience against public health threats.

Sec. 20. Authority to Solicit, Negotiate, and Receive Donations, Grants, Gifts,

Legacies, Endowments, and Contributions. - The CDC may solicit, negotiate with, and receive from any public or private domestic or foreign sources legacies, gifts, donations, grants, endowments, contributions, or other transfers of ownership and or possession of or personal properties of all kinds in favor and for the benefit of the CDC, which shall all be part of the special account in the general fund managed by the Bureau of Treasury. The Director General shall prescribe the measures necessary for the proper use, maintenance, safekeeping, and compliance with the terms and conditions if any of said donations, grants, endowments, or contributions transfers in accordance with pertinent accounting and auditing laws, rules and regulations.

Sec. 21. Tax Exemptions. - Donations grants, gifts, endowments, legacies, and

contributions used actually, directly, and exclusively for the purpose of the CDC shall be exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be considered as an allowable deduction from gross income for purposes of computing the taxable income of the donor in accordance with Sec. 34 (H)(2)(a) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 as amended. Likewise, such other transfers of ownership and or possession of real or personal properties of all kinds shall be exempt from all taxes.

Sec. 22. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. - There shall be a Joint

2 Congressional Oversight Committee on Disease Prevention and Control, jointly chaired 3 by the Chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, and the 4 House of Representatives Committee on Health. It shall be composed of five (5) members from the Senate and five (5) members from the House of Representatives, 6 to be appointed by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of 7 Representatives, respectively.

Sec. 23. Appropriations. - The initial amount needed for the implementation of

9 this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the offices and 10 the RITM herein absorbed by the CDC. Thereafter, the funding of which shall be included in the annual GAA. The annual appropriations shall ensure adequate funding for the surveillance and control of communicable diseases and other public health threats covered by this Act, including workforce development and integrated data systems.

Sec. 24. Transitory Provisions. —

(a) Upon effectivity of this Act, the CDC shall develop a Framework for Infectious Diseases and Pandemic Preparedness, and prioritize the strengthening of the following functions: (i) Integrated disease surveillance and response; (ii) Sentinel surveillance; (jii) Laboratory-based surveillance; Periodic population-based surveillance and, (v) Preventing transmission of communicable diseases. (b) For the year during which this Act was approved, the unexpended portion of the budget of the offices and units transferred shall be utilized for establishing the CDC and initiating its operations, including the formulation of the rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this Act; (c) To the greatest extent possible and in accordance with existing laws, all employees of the affected offices, agencies, and units shall be absorbed by the CDC. Personnel hired on a permanent basis and with appointments attested by the CSC who may be affected by the

transition of DOH units to CDC, or who will not be absorbed in the new positions of the new staffing pattern of the different offices in the CDC, shall have the option to: (1) Be transferred to other units or offices within the DOH without reduction in pay; or (2) Avail of the applicable retirement benefits as provided under R.A. 6656, entitled An Act to Protect the Security of Tenure of Civil Service Officers and Employees in the Implementation of Government Reorganization and other relevant laws; (d) Incumbent DOH officials and employees of affected DOH offices may apply for and be transferred to the CDC, subject to an evaluation of their competency and CSC regulations; (e) Research grants acquired during the transition of DOH transferred units to CDC shall be utilized solely for the grants' intended purposes for each of the affected units or offices, and shall not be made available for budget realignments; (f) Existing contracts and agreements entered into by the affected offices with third parties prior to the enactment of this Act shall remain valid. The DBM, DOH, and CSC shall issue the implementing guidelines to ensure fair, orderly, and transparent implementation of paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section.

Sec. 25. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one hundred and

twenty (120) working days from the effectivity of this Act, the DOH Secretary shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for its implementation.

Sec. 26. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared

invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 27. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or

other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 28. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,