DOH urges Marcos to certify urgent CDC bill

DOH has urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to certify as urgent the bill establishing the Philippine Center for Disease Control (CDC) in light of his hesitation to extend the state of calamity due to COVID-19.

The DOH is collaborating with the Presidential Legislative and Liaison Office to expedite the passage of the CDC bill, which will serve as a legal basis for continued implementation of the government's vaccination program and response to future public health emergencies without declaring a state of calamity.

House Bill No. 6552 has already been passed by the House of Representatives, creating the country’s version of the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.