Estrada: Creation of CDC will save lives, avoid inefficiencies
Published Mar 31, 2023 08:14 am
Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada on Friday, March 31 reiterated the need for the creation of the proposed Philippine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Estrada said a coordinated effort among government agencies will help facilitate a proactive response to public health emergencies.
“Ayaw man natin na maranasan uli ang pandemya, hindi natin maikakaila na totoo namang pwedeng maulit ito at sa anumang hagupit ng krisis na dulot ng epidemya o pandemya, ang pagiging handa ang isa sa ating maaasahan na pansangga sa delubyong ito (Even if we don't want to experience the pandemic again, we cannot deny that it is true that it can happen again and in any crisis caused by an epidemic or pandemic, being prepared is one of our reliable defenses against this deluge),” said Estrada, author of Senate Bill (SB) No. 679 or the proposed Philippine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Act.
Although the number of COVID-19 cases have continued to drop, particularly in the National Capital Region (NCR), the lawmaker stressed that communicable and non-communicable diseases are still serious threats to public health.
“The cure for these diseases and the continuous research on how to prevent them have been the priority of the government along with the synchronization and coordination of efforts of various government entities, which have been proven to be equally important in consideration of our experience from the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
He said lessons learned from the country’s experience in the pandemic response and crisis management were all considered in the crafting of the proposed law.
“We intend to establish the Philippine CDC along with the restructuring of certain offices and services to ensure clear delineation of functions and effective coordination with one another to ensure maximum, fast, reliable, and efficient performance, most especially in health crises and emergency response,” the senator said.
Under the bill, several existing offices and units will be restructured, including the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) which will be transferred from the Office of the Secretary of Health to the CDC.
Estrada’s version of the bill also proposes the establishment of four centers – Center for Health Statistics, Center for Surveillance and Epidemiology, Center for Health Evidence, and Center for Reference Laboratories – under the supervision and management of the CDC that will take charge and coordinate all major functions especially during public health emergencies and disasters.
Estrada said a coordinated effort among government agencies will help facilitate a proactive response to public health emergencies.
“Ayaw man natin na maranasan uli ang pandemya, hindi natin maikakaila na totoo namang pwedeng maulit ito at sa anumang hagupit ng krisis na dulot ng epidemya o pandemya, ang pagiging handa ang isa sa ating maaasahan na pansangga sa delubyong ito (Even if we don't want to experience the pandemic again, we cannot deny that it is true that it can happen again and in any crisis caused by an epidemic or pandemic, being prepared is one of our reliable defenses against this deluge),” said Estrada, author of Senate Bill (SB) No. 679 or the proposed Philippine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Act.
Although the number of COVID-19 cases have continued to drop, particularly in the National Capital Region (NCR), the lawmaker stressed that communicable and non-communicable diseases are still serious threats to public health.
“The cure for these diseases and the continuous research on how to prevent them have been the priority of the government along with the synchronization and coordination of efforts of various government entities, which have been proven to be equally important in consideration of our experience from the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
He said lessons learned from the country’s experience in the pandemic response and crisis management were all considered in the crafting of the proposed law.
“We intend to establish the Philippine CDC along with the restructuring of certain offices and services to ensure clear delineation of functions and effective coordination with one another to ensure maximum, fast, reliable, and efficient performance, most especially in health crises and emergency response,” the senator said.
Under the bill, several existing offices and units will be restructured, including the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) which will be transferred from the Office of the Secretary of Health to the CDC.
Estrada’s version of the bill also proposes the establishment of four centers – Center for Health Statistics, Center for Surveillance and Epidemiology, Center for Health Evidence, and Center for Reference Laboratories – under the supervision and management of the CDC that will take charge and coordinate all major functions especially during public health emergencies and disasters.