Defining the Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of Government Agencies in Response to Ebola Reston Virus Infection

August 14, 2009

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 826

DEFINING THE POWERS, FUNCTIONS, AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN RESPONSE TO EBOLA RESTON VIRUS INFECTION AND MATTERS RELATED THERETO

WHEREAS, infection caused by Ebola Reston virus, a non-pathogenic strain of the deadlier strain of Ebola found in Africa, has occurred for the first time in the world in pigs situated in the provinces of Bulacan and Pangasinan requiring the Government to take bold, preemptive, active and immediate measures in order to avert or minimize its potential grave effects;

WHEREAS, in the event that the infection spreads or develops into a more dangerous hazard to the livestock industry and public health safety, there is a need for the Government to institute measures to prevent, confine, minimize, restrict, or control the further spread of the contagion;

WHEREAS, Article II, Section 15 of the Constitution provides that the State shall protect and promote the health of the people and instill health consciousness among them; THaDEA

WHEREAS, from past experiences with the SARS virus and Avian Influenza or Bird Flu virus, effective prevention and containment procedures, guidelines, and strict implementation contributed to the success of the Philippines in minimizing the effects of said viruses;

WHEREAS, due to the continuing threat of Ebola Reston epidemic, there is the cogent requirement for pre-disaster planning, community disaster preparedness and positive, precise disaster control action for rescue evacuation, relief and rehabilitation to insure the survival of every Filipino;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby direct and order that:

SECTION 1. Crisis Managers. — The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health are hereby designated Overall Crisis Managers for the Ebola Reston virus infection in animals and humans, respectively. IDAESH

The Department of Agriculture, through its Secretary, is hereby directed to act on matters pertaining to or primarily affecting livestock and poultry, including their products and by-products, as well as other types of animals.

SECTION 2. Delineation of Powers and Authority. — The Secretary of Health is hereby granted and bestowed such powers and authority as would be necessary in order to prevent, restrict, or otherwise regulate the entry, movement, or surveillance of people coming from infected areas or in any place where the infection has been suspected or detected.

The Secretary of Agriculture is hereby granted and bestowed such powers and functions as would be necessary in order to contain, control, prevent, regulate and otherwise restrict the entry, movement, keeping, handling, or raising of livestock and poultry including their by-products and other types of animals, which are infected, or suspected to be, infected or potential carrier of the Ebola Reston virus.

SECTION 3. Specific Areas of Concern and Responsibility. —

A. The Secretary of Health shall exercise such powers and prerogatives, incidental or otherwise, as would: THDIaC

(a) Prevent, minimize, regulate, or otherwise restrict the entry or exit of the Ebola Reston virus, through the Bureau of Quarantine, by adopting, restricting, or regulating the movement and entry of people coming from infected localities that are suspected to be carriers, or potential carriers of the virus, through a system of surveillance methods utilizing rigid screening and identification procedures in all ports of entry, and adopting isolation and quarantine measures whenever deemed necessary;

(b) Prevent, minimize and regulate the spread and local transmission of the virus through enforcement of triage, contact tracing, surveillance, quarantine and isolation procedures of people, as may be appropriate; and

(c) Care, render assistance, cure, or minimize sickness or possible death through effective clinical management of people, resources, hospitals, and other facilities, whether public or private.

The Secretary of Health shall also exercise such other functions and powers as may be incidental, related or otherwise connected with the above mentioned authority.

B. The Secretary of Agriculture shall take such measures and actions as would:

a. Prevent, restrict, minimize or otherwise regulate the entry, movement, keeping, handling or raising of livestock and poultry, including their products and by-products, and or other animals coming from infected farms or localities or from any other place which are potential or suspected to be, afflicted or carriers of the Ebola Reston virus, including the imposition of total or partial bans on local shipment or export of such animals;

b. May Condemn and slaughter pigs and other animals found to be infected with Ebola Reston Virus;

c. Conduct surveillance, mapping, identification, isolation, quarantine, or eradication of pigs, their products and by-products, and other animals infected or suspected to be infected by the Ebola Reston Virus within the country, or any part thereof, including the culling or stamping out of infected pigs coming from backyard and commercial farms and other affected areas, as may be determined by the Secretary; and

d. Monitor, trace, plot, or otherwise observe, in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the sanctuaries of possible reservoirs and their movement taking into consideration the safety and well being of the people and giving due regard to nature. aDHCAE

The Secretary of Agriculture shall also exercise such other functions and powers as may be incidental, related or otherwise connected with the above mentioned authority.

SECTION 4. Information Dissemination and Coordination. — As Crisis Managers, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health shall have the following responsibilities:

a. To continuously educate and disseminate information, as appropriate, in order to prepare and educate the media and the general public with a better understanding of the Ebola Reston virus, promote positive health values and behavior, and prevent disinformation, confusion, or panic;

b. To coordinate responses together with other government agencies and the private sector through meetings, conferences and the like; or otherwise constructively engage the public and affected sectors in general;

c. To issue the necessary bulletins, advisories and health warnings on matters concerning the foregoing.

SECTION 5. Assistance and Support; Close Coordination with the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC). — The Overall Crisis Managers are hereby empowered to call upon all agencies of Government for support and assistance in the enforcement of this Order, including but not necessarily limited to the: CHATcE

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG);

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA);

Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC);

Department of Finance (DoF);

Department of Education (DepEd);

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);

Department of National Defense (DND);

National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC);

Office of the Press Secretary (OPS);

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP);

Philippine National Police (PNP);

All Local Government Units (LGUs); acHCSD

The Crisis Managers, in close coordination with the NDCC, shall be empowered to coordinate with or seek the assistance and support of the above mentioned agencies, including their respective attached offices and the various LGUs in order to effectively implement the provisions of this Order.

All agencies, offices, managers, and personnel are hereby directed to cooperate and provide such assistance and support as may be requested or needed by the Crisis Manager in the containment of the Ebola Reston contagion.

Defense and law enforcement agencies, particularly the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shall give priority to the directives or orders issued and promulgated by the Crisis Manager affecting their specific areas of concern.

SECTION 6. Rules and Regulations. — The Secretary of Health, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary, related, incidental or consistent with the purpose, intent, and objective of this Order. ACcDEa

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. — Should any of the provisions contained herein be declared illegal or unconstitutional, the rest or other such provisions not so declared shall remain valid and effective.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. — This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 14th day of August, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Nine.