Proposed CDC bill not a ‘medical martial law,’ says DOH

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday dispelled concerns about the bill creating the Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), specifically those who say that it will lead to a “medical martial law.”

“The CDC bill is not a medical martial law. The CDC bill has been proposed for us to be prepared for future pandemics or future threats to the public health of a nation,” said DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire in a press forum.

“Kaya po natin sinusuong talaga itong CDC bill dahil nakita po natin during the time of the pandemic, ‘yung weaknesses ng ating health care system, na maaaring makapag-respond in times of crisis for help dito sa ating bansa,” she added.

(That’s why we are pushing this CDC bill because we saw, during the time of the pandemic, the weaknesses of our health care system, which may be able to respond in times of crisis for help here in our country.)

According to Vergeire, the CDC would fill the holes in the country’s public health system by allowing the generation of evidence and science to back drafted policies on health.

The CDC would also allow the country to strengthen its surveillance system and harmonize laboratories, allowing experts and scientists to conduct speedy trials on various technologies — which could be used to address illnesses in the country.

“Marami pa pong benepisyo itong mga CDC bill na ito (there are many more benefits to the CDC bills). Nowhere can you find any CDC draft bill or any provision that will state that we will have a medical martial law; in fact the CDC bill will be an attached agency of the DOH,” said Vergeire.

“Hindi mawawala ang DOH sa picture, it’s still going to work hand in hand with the CDC so that we can adequately protect public health sa ating bansa,” she added.

(The DOH will not disappear from the picture, it will still work hand in hand with the CDC so that we can adequately protect public health in our country.)

It should be noted that the main policy maker during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic was the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) — which was criticized as the Philippines had one of the longest lockdowns in the world.

To recall, the House of Representatives has already passed House Bill No. 6522, which creates the Philippine version of the CDC last December 12, 2022.

It can also be recalled that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases was the main policy maker during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic — which was then criticized after the Philippines had one of the longest lockdowns in the world.

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