Miriam Santiago Filed "Pandemic Preparedness Act" In 2013 Still Pending

“Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act” by late Senator Miriam Santiago is still pending.

MIRIAM SANTIAGO – The filed “Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act” by the late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago could have saved a lot.

Amid the fight of the country versus the deadly and highly contagious disease called Coronavirus Disease 2019, a senate bill passed by the great late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago surfaced. It was filed in 2013 but even up until now is still pending. According to many people, if this have only been approved, could have saved many lives as pandemic came in.

7 years ago, from Santiago is Senate Bill no. 1573 known as the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act where she indicated there this statement: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. This act is aimed to help the country prepare and combat “public health emergencies such as a result of from natural disasters and severe weather, recent outbreaks and pandemics, bioterrorism, mass casualties, chemical emergencies and radiation emergencies.”

In the bill is where it mandated the Department of Health (DOH) to do evaluation, planning, organizing, and training to improve the country capacity when a public health emergency happens. The health secretary will head a creation of a national health strategy.

There will also be a “medical reserve corps” composed of volunteer health professionals (doctors, nurses, nurse assistants, hospital orderlies, among others) who will all be in duty if needed. This concept is similar to a military reserve.

However, according to the Senate’s official website, this bill’s “legislative status” remains “pending in the committee”.

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As we all know, at the age of 71, the female senator died because of lung cancer September 2016. Also in May 2016, prior to her untimely death, she ran for presidency in the national elections but Rodrigo Duterte dominated having the majority of the votes.