Delayed CDC bill prompts DOH to ask Marcos for state of calamity extension

Department of Health Officer-In-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire during the press conference on Nov. 4, 2022 at the DOH Central Office. INQUIRER.net file photo / Noy Morcoso

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday said it had submitted a request to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to extend the nationwide state of calamity due to COVID-19 beyond year-end.

Marcos extended the COVID-19 state of calamity until December 31, 2022.

“We already submitted our memo to the president requesting the extension of the state of calamity in consideration of the fact that the CDC bill was not enacted on time,” said Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, referring to the Center for Disease Control.

The CDC bill has been merged with the DOH-backed Public Health Emergency for Emerging and Reemerging Diseases Bill.

This bill would remove the necessity of extending the state of calamity declaration in the country since it would allow the government to take actions generally taken under a state of calamity without the need for an official word, like the purchase of vaccines, and implementation of vaccination operations, among others.

“We are just waiting for the official response of the office of the president in terms of this memo that we have submitted to them,” Vergeire added.

The DOH official said, “we will be losing the different response strategies that we are doing right now” if the President would not extend the state of calamity.

There would be issues in the enforcement of vaccination as well as the validity of the emergency use authorization of COVID-19 drugs and vaccines if the state of calamity would not be extended, among other issues, according to her.

In March 2020, former President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation No. 922, which declared a state of public health emergency in the country due to the new coronavirus outbreak.

According to the proclamation, the state of public health emergency could “remain in force and effect until lifted or withdrawn by the President.”

Duterte had also signed a separate proclamation declaring a state of calamity in the Philippines due to COVID-19.

JPV/abc