WHEREAS, the World Health Organization (WHO) under the revised

International Health Regulations (IHR) of 2005 desires to initiate all member States to
prevent, protect against, control and provide a public health response to the
international spread of disease and other public health threats in ways that are
commensurate with restricted to public health risks, and which avoid unnecessary
interference with international traffic and trade;

WHEREAS, the Department of Health in line with the Health Sector Reforms
prioritizes the strengthening of disease surveillance and response system to achieve the
Millennium Development Goals;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 16 (General Welfare), Section 26 and Section

458 (a)(1) of the Local Government Code of 1991 mandated the Local Government
Units to use its necessary and appropriate powers to promote the general welfare of its
people particularly by promoting their health and safety and enhance their right to a
balance ecology;

WHEREAS, the City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (CESU) gathers and provides
reliable source of health related indicators which is necessary for interpretation and
data analysis that aims to improve health service delivery;

WHEREAS, a functional integrated disease surveillance and response system

would result in a considerable reduction in morbidity, mortality and disability cause by
communicable diseases and other conditions in the locality;

NOW THEREFORE, on motion of City Councilor Rosalita T. Nuñez duly

seconded by City Councilors ____________________________, it be –

RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved, to adopt the following ordinance.

ORDINANCE NO. __________

Series of 2017

AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE CITY EPIDEMIOLOGY SURVEILLANCE

UNIT (CESU) OF GENERAL SANTOS
____________________________________________________________
HON. ROSALITA T. NUÑEZ - Author/Sponsor
HON. JOSE ORLANDO R. ACHARON – Co-Author/Co-Sponsor
____________________________________________________________

Be it enacted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of General Santos that:

Section 1. Short Title. – This ordinance shall be known as “The City

Epidemiology Surveillance Unit of General Santos.”

Section 2. Declaration of Principles and Policies. – Aligned with the

national mandate to promote health and uphold safety, it shall be the policy of the
Local Government Unit of General Santos City to establish a functional and well-
coordinated disease surveillance system through the City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit
that will operate in accordance with the national guidelines for health service delivery
and public health risks.
a) The Philippine Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response
(PIDSR) shall be guided by the following mandates and policies:

ESTABLISHING THE CITY EPIDEMIOLOGY SURVEILLANCE UNIT (CESU) OF GSC Page 1

 1) Republic Act 3573 (Law of Reporting of Communicable Disease)
requiring all individuals and health facilities to report notifiable
disease to local and national health authorities.

2) Administrative Order No. 2007-0036, “Guidelines on the Philippine

Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (PIDSR)
Framework.”

3) International Health Regulations of 2005, Article 5.1, urging

Member States to develop, strengthen and maintain, as soon as
possible bit no later than five years from the entry into force these
Regulations, the capacity to detect, assess, notify and report events
in accordance with these regulations.

4) Resolution WHA48.13 (1995) urging Member States to strengthen

national and local programs of active surveillance for infectious
diseases, ensuing that efforts to be directed towards early
detection of epidemics and prompt identification of new emerging
and re-emerging infectious diseases.

5) Administrative Order No. 2005-0023 (Implementing Guidelines for

Formula One for Health as Framework for Health Reforms), Section
C2.iii, stating that “Disease surveillance shall be intensified to
ensure that the targets for disease elimination, prevention and
control are attained.

b) The Event Based Surveillance and Response (ESR) shall be guided

by the following mandates and policies:

1) Administrative Order No. 007-0002: Designation of the National

Epidemiology Center (NEC) as the National International Health
Regulations Focal Point (Annex A)

2) Department Personnel Order No. 205-1585 (Creation of a

Management Committee on Prevention and Control of Emerging
and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases or DOHMC-PCREID) creating
the Epidemiology and Surveillance Sub-Committee (ESSC) in which
one of its major functions is to “formulate and recommend policies,
standards, procedures, guidelines and systems on the early
detection, contact tracing, surveillance, investigation and follow-up
of emerging and re-emerging (EREID) suspects and the timely and
accurate recording, reporting and collation of epidemiological data
on EREID.”

c) The Urban Health shall be guided by the following mandates and

policies:

1) Department of Health Administrative Order No. 2011-0008

(Guidelines on Urban Health Systems Development).
2) Department of Health Administrative Order No. 2010-0036 (The
Aquino Health Agenda: Achieving Universal Health Care for all
Filipinos).

ESTABLISHING THE CITY EPIDEMIOLOGY SURVEILLANCE UNIT (CESU) OF GSC Page 2

 3) Department of Health Memorandum No. 2010-0207 (Guidelines on
the use of the Urban Health Equity Assessment and Response Tool
(HEART) in Highly Urbanized Cities.

d) The Field Health Surveillance and Response shall be guided by the

following mandates and policies:

1) Executive Order No. 352 (Designation of Statistical Activities that

Will Generate Critical Data for Decision-Making of the Government
and the Private Sector).

Section 3. Scope and Coverage. – This ordinance shall cover the entire
political jurisdiction of General Santos City.

Section 4. Purpose. – This Ordinance is enacted in response of the need to

create a City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit under the City Health Office that will serve
as a central point for data banking on health service delivery and disease surveillance
system.

Section 5. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this ordinance, the

following terms are defined:

a) CESU – refers to the City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit. It serves as the

central point for data banking of health service delivery and disease
surveillance system.

b) Department of Health – refers to the principal government agency

responsible in the implementation of government policies to ensure public
health care services to all Filipinos.

c) Epidemiology – refers to the study of pattern of health, illness and

associated factors at the population level.

d) ESR – refers to Event-Based Surveillance and Response. It is the

organized and rapid capture of information about events that are potential
risk to public.

e) FHIS – refers to Field Health Information System. A management

information system provided by the Department of Health for national
health statistics.

f) IHR – refers to International Health Regulation. Legally binding

regulations that aim to assist countries to work together to save lives and
livelihoods endangered by the spread of diseases and other health risk to
avoid unnecessary interference with international trade and travel.

g) NEC – refers to National Epidemiology Center. It assists in the

establishment of local Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (ESU) through
provision of technical and logistical assistance.

h) PIDSR – refers to Philippine Integrated Disease Surveillance and

Response. It is an integrated functional disease surveillance system
institutionalized from the national level down to the community level that

ESTABLISHING THE CITY EPIDEMIOLOGY SURVEILLANCE UNIT (CESU) OF GSC Page 3

 would result in considerable reduction in morbidity, disability, and
mortality caused by communicable disease and other conditions.

i) RESU – refers to Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit. It serves as

focal point for coordinating surveillance and response activities at the
regional level.

j) RHU – refers to Rural Health Unit.

k) Surveillance – refers to a type of observational study that involves

continuous monitoring of disease occurrence with in the population.

Section 6. Establishment of the City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit

(CESU). – There shall be established a City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (CESU)
under the City Health Office in General Santos City to serve as the central point for
reliable health service delivery data banking and effective disease surveillance system
that will operate in accordance with the given set of guidelines and policies.

Section 7. Function of the City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (CESU). –

The CESU shall perform the following functions:

a) Organize systemic data collection and gather epidemiological data for

PIDSR, ESR, FHSIS and Urban Health from their allied health facilities
(Rural Health Unit, Sentinel Hospitals, Lying-in Clinics and Private Clinics);

b) Prepare and periodically update data thru graphs, tables and charts to
describe time, places and persons for notifiable/reportable, emerging and
re-emerging diseases and conditions;

c) Interpret and provide analyzed data as feedback to health facilities

(government, private and local leaders);

d) Identify and inform concerned personnel and institutions immediately of

any unusual trends of disease or condition;

e) Carry out outbreak investigation;

f) Implement preliminary control measures immediately if equipped;

g) Forward epidemiological data to the next (Department of Health Regional

Office XII) on a regular basis and in accordance with the national
surveillance protocol;

h) Use epidemiological data to plan and implement non-communicable and

communicable disease control activities at the local level;

i) Provide appropriate forms to concerned institutions and personnel’s as

instructed by PIDSR, ESR, Urban Health and FHSIS manual of operations
and modules.

Section 8. Designation of Disease Surveillance Officer. – To ensure the

efficient and effective implementation of this ordinance, the City Mayor shall issue an
Executive Order designating a Disease Surveillance Officer/City Epidemiology

ESTABLISHING THE CITY EPIDEMIOLOGY SURVEILLANCE UNIT (CESU) OF GSC Page 4

Surveillance Unit Head to be responsible in manning the City Epidemiology Surveillance
Unit.

Section 9. Staffing. – The City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (CESU) shall

be composed of one (1) Surveillance Officer, one (1) Surveillance Nurse, one (1) Urban
Health Nurse, one (1) Field Health Service Information System Coordinator and one (1)
Surveillance Driver.

Section 10. Monitoring. – The City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (CESU)

shall submit a periodic report to the Sangguniang Panlungsod through the Committee
on Health and City Planning and Development Office as to the health status and
development of the aforementioned programs.

Section 11. Appropriation. – The City Government shall allocate funds

necessary to carry out the provisions of this ordinance to be under the City Health
Office so as to meet the standard requirements of the Philippine Integrated Disease
Surveillance and Response (PIDSR), Event-Based Surveillance and Response (ESR),
Urban Health and Field Health Service Information System (FHSIS).

Section 12. Repealing Clause. – All previous ordinances and provisions

inconsistent with this ordinance shall be deemed repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 13. Separability Clause. – If for any reasons any part or provisions
of this ordinance shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions
thereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Section 14. Effectivity. – This ordinance shall take 15 days after its
publication in a newspaper or general circulation in General Santos City.

Prepared by:

ANTONIO A. PADILLA
Local Legislative Staff Assistant III
July 19, 2017

Reviewed by: Approved by:

ROSALINDA L. MONDIDO ROSALITA T. NUÑEZ, MNSA, PhD

Chief-Legislative Services Division City Councilor & Chair, Committee
on Health & Sanitation

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