Gordon files bill seeking to create Philippines’ own Center for Disease Control and Prevention

A bill seeking to create a Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the Philippines has been filed by Senator Richard Gordon amid the country's fight against coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).

In a statement released on Wednesday, Gordon pushed for the passage of Senate Bill No. 1440 or the proposed Philippine CDC Act as he pointed out that the current health crisis showed how vulnerable the country is to disease outbreaks.

"With almost 8,000 confirmed cases and a death toll of more than 500, in our country alone, this ongoing pandemic is a dire reminder that communicable and infectious diseases and public health threats respect no borders," he said.

"It is timely and in the nation’s interest for the Philippines to join the global fight in combating infectious diseases and other potential health threats by creating an independent and competent national Center for Disease Control and Prevention," he added.

Under the proposed measure, the CDC will be an attached agency of the Department of Health.

It will be mandated to prevent and manage the spread of infectious diseases in the country by strengthening the surveillance and diagnostic capacities of a network of laboratories across the country.

Senator Grace Poe is also lobbying for the establishment of the same agency.

"Pag may bagong ganito (outbreak) importante 'yung patuloy na pagsasaliksik at hindi ka pwedeng umasa sa iisang ahensya lamang sa ibang bansa. Kailangang mayroon kang mahabang pag-aaral at kasanayan dito," she said. — Dona Magsino/RSJ, GMA News