MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a bill seeking the creation of a comprehensive national action plan to address public health security and emergencies similar to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
In filing Senate Bill No. 1801 or the proposed Philippine Public Health Security and Emergency Act of 2020, Hontiveros also pushed for the establishment of a multi-sectoral body that will better coordinate government response to health crises.
In a statement on Thursday, the senator said the country’s experience in battling the ongoing pandemic has exposed the need for a national policy framework for health emergencies as well as an inter-agency body led by the health sector that will ensure the effective implementation of such a plan.
“The pandemic has taught us painful lessons about the country’s preparedness and readiness in responding to health emergencies. Maraming buhay at kabuhayan ang nawala dahilan sa hindi malinaw na sistema at hindi epektibong polisiya [Many lives and jobs have been lost due to the lack of clear systems and policies],” she said.
“Moving forward, government must have better public health security plans and mechanisms in place that are continuously updated to reflect past lessons and best practices,” she added
According to Hontiveros, her bill will mandate the establishment of the Philippine National Plan for Public Health Security and Emergency (PNAPHSE).
The PNAPHSE, she explained, is a framework that will review the government’s capacity to respond to health emergencies and compliance with international health regulations.
It will also identify risks and create a multi-hazard emergency response plan.
This plan will then guide national and local government units in responding to various health emergencies like outbreaks of infectious diseases, chemical events, or even biological attacks, the senator added.
Under the measure, a Philippine National Public Health Security and Emergency Council (PNHSEC) will also be created to carry out and oversee the implementation of the said plan during a health crisis, according to Hontiveros.
The PNHSEC will have the authority to recommend the declaration of public health security and emergency to the President.
It will also be required to issue daily news updates or health bulletins during a period of a public health emergency.
Under the bill, the PNHSEC will be chaired by the health secretary and will be composed of Cabinet officials and lawmakers as well as representatives from provincial, city, municipality and barangay government units, civil society organizations, medical societies, and the private sector,
“The idea is to adopt a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to public health emergency response so everyone – national officials, local leaders, non-government organizations and other stakeholders – will have a bigger role in crafting and coordinating our response to any health situation,” Hontiveros said.
“We have to learn from our mistakes and move towards necessary reforms so that we can save more lives and prevent social and economic disruption during any health emergency,” she added.