Directing the Conduct of a National Follow Up Measles Campaign on February 2004 and Designating the Department of Health as the Lead Agency for the Purpose

September 19, 2003

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 237

DIRECTING THE CONDUCT OF A NATIONAL FOLLOW UP MEASLES CAMPAIGN ON FEBRUARY 2004 AND DESIGNATING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AS THE LEAD AGENCY FOR THE PURPOSE

WHEREAS, sustaining high measles immunization coverage has been proven effective in combating the measles infection and deaths and interruption of measles transmission;

WHEREAS, in 1998 the Philippines adopted a ten-year plan, otherwise known as the Philippines Measles Elimination Campaign (PMEC) through Presidential Proclamation No. 4, which aims to interrupt the circulation of measles virus in all communities by 2008;

WHEREAS, the 1st phase of the Philippine Measles Elimination Campaign (PMEC) was successfully implemented in 1998 through the collaborative efforts of national and local governments, communities, religious, and business sectors and international agencies;

WHEREAS, the government has declared a policy to promote the rights of children to survival, development, special protection and participation with full recognition of the nature of childhood and its special needs;

WHEREAS, in support of this policy, Congress passed the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Act (Republic Act No. 8980) which commit the institutionalization of a national system for ECCD that is comprehensive, integrative and sustainable, that involves multi-sectoral and interagency collaboration at all levels;

WHEREAS, the Local Government Code states that the local government shall be responsible for the delivery of basic health services and the Department of Health (DOH) shall assist these local government units;

WHEREAS, addressing this concern shall be efficiently undertaken through the joint effort of the national and local government and other key stakeholders, the community and the parents;

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 order the conduct of a nationwide follow-up measles campaign to be called the "Ligtas Tigdas" Campaign on February 2004. Free measles vaccines shall be given to all children currently residing in the Philippines between ages 9 months to less than 8 years of age.

SECTION 1. Lead Agency. — The Department of Health, through the Secretary of Health, shall lead in the implementation of the "Ligtas Tigdas" campaign on February 2004. As such, he shall be empowered to call upon all agencies of the Government for assistance in the implementation of this Executive Order, including, but not limited to the following:

a) Department of Interior and Local Government

b) Department of Education

c) Department of Social Welfare and Development

d) All Local Government Units (LGUs)

As the lead agency, the Department of Health shall formulate and disseminate guidelines and procedures on the implementation of the campaign; provide technical assistance to LGUs; conduct national/regional advocacy and social mobilization activities; provide all the necessary vaccines and other logistics, allocate and distribute in a timely manner, all measles vaccines, syringes and needles, safety boxes to all catchment areas, and monitor all LGU activities in all phases of the campaign.

SECTION 2. Responsibilities of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). — The DILG, through the Secretary of Interior and Local Government, shall issue and disseminate appropriate memorandum circulars to all local chief executives, mobilize field offices, and directly oversee activities, supervise, monitor and evaluate immunization activities in order to ensure high performance immunization coverage in all communities.

SECTION 3. Responsibilities of the Department of Education (DepEd). — The DepEd, through the Secretary of Education, shall ensure high immunization coverage in all public and private schools by exerting all efforts to inform parents and guardians of target schoolchildren about the campaign and mobilizing all medical teams to conduct vaccination in schools in coordination with LGUs. The DepEd shall issue and disseminate appropriate circulars for the purpose.

SECTION 4. Responsibilities of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). — The DSWD, through the Secretary of Social Welfare and Development, shall ensure that all target children enrolled in Day Care Centers and other welfare institutions under their supervision are vaccinated against measles, issue and or disseminate appropriate circulars, and assist in the advocacy and social mobilization for the purpose of this campaign, in coordination with the LGUs.

SECTION 5. Responsibilities of Local Government Units. — The LGUs shall lead the local implementation of the campaign, exerting special effort to encourage every family to have their children immunized so that 100% of the target children are vaccinated. As such, they shall extend appropriate resources to ensure the success of the campaign including the conduct of vigorous social mobilization activities; issuance of appropriate ordinances, resolutions, memorandum circulars, and other relevant orders. They are likewise ordered to submit accomplishment reports of the immunization activities two (2) weeks after the completion of the immunization period;

SECTION 6. Participation of the Civil Society. — All non-government organizations, members of civil society and other concern groups are encouraged to contribute to the success of the campaign through information dissemination, social mobilization, recruitment of volunteers, providing donations, and other appropriate means.

SECTION 7. Effectivity. — This Executive Order shall take effect immediately upon approval.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 19th day of September, in the year of the Lord, Two Thousand and Three.