LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND

IMPLICATIONS ON BASIC COLD CHAIN

AND LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT
Atty. Francis C. Brion
Attorney V
 Two Administrative Issuances concerning Cold
Chain Management

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Department Order No. 286-C s. 2002 Administrative Order No. 39 S. 2003

Subject: CREATION OF THE SUB-

COMMITTEES FOR
STRENGHTHENING THE NATIONAL
IMMUNIZATION COMMITTEE (NIF)
AND DEFINING ROLES OF KEY EPI
STAFF
SUBJECT: Policies on the Nationwide
Implementation of the Expanded
Program on Immunization
Legal Responsibilities,
Functions and Roles
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Department Order No. 286-C s. 2002

Functions of EPI Coordinators

(Regional/Provincial/City)

1.Determines the EPI logistics requirement

2.Collate and submits accomplishment
3.Provides allocation list of vaccines to the Cold
Chain Officer
4. Analyzes vaccine/logistics inventory request and
utilization against program standards
 Functions of Regional Cold Chain Manager

1. Picks-up, stores and distributes vaccines

2. Monitors and records the temperature of cold chain equipment
3. Checks and fills-up the cold chain monitors
4. Updates the vaccine control card
5. Maintains cold chain equipment
6. Prepares a monthly inventory of cold chain supplies and equipment
and submits an inventory report to the EPI Regional Coordinator
7. Reports immediately to a trained technician any breakdown in cold
chain facilities
8. Implements emergency plan in case of breakdown or brown-out
9. Monitors vaccine supplies and vaccine status from the
regional/provincial/city down to the municipal level
10.Plans and budgets for the cold chain maintenance and repair
11.Acknowledges receipt of vaccines and inform EPI Coordinator for
Qualifications for Regional
Cold Chain Manager

1.Completed at least 2 years college

education
2.Designated by the Regional Health
Director
3.Trained on cold chain management
 Functions of Provincial/City Cold Chain Officer

1.Picks-up, stores and distributes vaccines

2.Monitors and records the temperature of cold chain equipment
3.Checks and fills-up the cold chain monitors
4.Updates the vaccine control card
5.Maintains cold chain equipment
6.Prepares a monthly inventory of cold chain supplies and equipment and
submits an inventory report to the EPI Coordinator
7.Reports immediately to a trained technician any breakdown in cold chain
facilities
8.Implements emergency plan in case of breakdown or brown-out
9.Monitors vaccine supplies and vaccine status from the provincial/city down
to the municipal level
10.Plans and budgets for the cold chain maintenance and repair
11.Acknowledges receipt of vaccines and inform EPI Coordinator for its arrival
Qualifications for Regional
Cold Chain Manager

1.Completed at least 2 years college

education
2.Designated by the Governor/City
Mayor
3.Trained on cold chain management
Functions of Regional Cold Chain Technician
1.Conducts repair and maintenance of the cold chain
equipment at the regional level
2.Provides assistance as enumerated above for the
provincial, city and municipal level

Qualification for Regional Cold Chain Technician

3.With certificate on refrigeration and air conditioning
4.Trained on Cold Chain Management
5.Designated by the Regional Health Director
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER
NO. 39 S. 2003

COLD CHAIN MANAGEMENT

1. All vaccine refrigerators or freezers shall be used exclusively for EPI

vaccines. No food or drinks shall be stored in these to ensure the
optimal temperature for vaccines.
2. Vaccines are stored according to the temperature requirement of each
antigen. Maintain the correct temperature in the refrigerators,
freezers, vaccine carriers, cold boxes and transport boxes at all times.
3. Regular temperature monitoring shall be done, charted, and posted on
the door of the refrigerator or freezer.
4. A contingency plan for emergency measures should be available and
known by all the staff of the facility.
Legal Implications for
Infractions and Infringement
 Special Requisites of a Valid Administrative
Regulation with a PENAL sanction

The law itself must make violation of the administrative regulation

punishable.
The law itself must impose and specify the penalty for the violation of the
regulation.
The regulation must be published.
Department order No. 286-C s.2002
and
Administrative Order No. 39 S. 2003
have no
Penal Provisions
 NEW CIVIL CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES

Art. 20. Every person who, contrary to law,

willfully or negligently causes damage to
another, shall indemnify the latter for the same.
 RA 3019 Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act

Sec. 3 (e) causing any undue injury to any party,

including the Government, or giving any private
party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or
preference in the discharge of his official
administrative or judicial functions through
manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross
inexcusable negligence.
RA 6713 Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards
for Public Officials and Employees

Soliciting or accepting, directly or indirectly,

any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or
anything of monetary value which in the course
of his official duties or in connection with any
operation being regulated by, or any
transaction which may be affected by the
functions of, his office (Rule X, Sec. 1 e).
 Failure to act promptly on letters and request
within fifteen 15 days from receipt. (Rule X
Section 1 (j))
Failure to attend to anyone who wants to avail
himself of the services of the office, or to act
promptly and expeditiously on public personal
transactions. (Rule X Section 1 (l)
QUASI DELICT OR TORT
Refers to acts or omission causing damage to another, there
being fault or negligence, obligating the party to pay for the
damages done.
ELEMENTS:
1. Damages suffered by the plaintiff
2. Fault or negligence of the defendant
3. Causal connection between the fault or negligence of the
defendants act and the damages incurred by the plaintiff.
4. No pre existing contractual relation between the parties.
THANK YOU!