IATF-EID Resolution No. 097, s. 2021

January 28, 2021

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 097, S. 2021

WHEREAS, Section 15, Article II of the 1987 Constitution states that the State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them;

WHEREAS, Section 2 (b) of Executive Order No. 168 mandates the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to prevent and/or minimize the entry of suspected or confirmed patients with emerging infectious diseases into the country;

WHEREAS, on September 16, 2020, the President issued Proclamation No. 1021 (s. 2020) extending the period of the State of Calamity throughout the Philippines until September 21, 2021;

WHEREAS, the Department of Health received reports regarding a new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 (B.1.1.7 or VUI 2020/12/01) spreading in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (United Kingdom) and another variant identified in South Africa (501.V2);

WHEREAS, Memorandums of the Executive Secretary provided for additional measures to be observed relative to the SARS-CoV-2 Variant detected in the United Kingdom including the imposition of travel restrictions on countries/jurisdictions where the new COVID-19 variants were officially reported, and subjected Filipino citizens coming from the same countries/jurisdictions to an absolute 14-day quarantine period notwithstanding a negative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test result;

WHEREAS, the continued implementation of proactive measures is necessary to ensure the utmost protection of the health of the Filipino people;

WHEREAS, as of January 27, 2021, there are a total of Thirty-Two Thousand Three Hundred Eighty-Four (32,384) active COVID-19 cases in the Philippines;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved, that the IATF approves the following:

A. Effective February 1, 2021, foreign nationals allowed to enter under relevant IATF resolutions shall be subject to the following conditions:

1) With valid and existing visa at the time of entry, except for those qualified under the Balikbayan program under Republic Act No. 6768 or the Act Instituting the Balikbayan Program;

2) With pre-booked accommodation for at least seven (7) nights in an accredited quarantine hotel/facility;

3) Subject to COVID-19 testing at the quarantine hotel/facility on the sixth (6th) day from date of arrival;

4) Subject to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date of entry.

The foregoing is without prejudice to immigration laws, rules and regulations such that the Commissioner of Immigration shall have the exclusive prerogative to decide on waiver or recall of exclusion orders for foreign nationals, including other foreign nationals who have entered the Philippines by virtue of Inter-Agency Task Force resolutions, subject to regular reporting to the IATF Secretariat at the end of each calendar month.

The Bureau of Immigration is directed to formulate the necessary guidelines to ensure smooth implementation of the foregoing.

B. The recommendation of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 Task Group on Food Security in ensuring the unhampered passage of hog shipment from Visayas and Mindanao, while preventing the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) and observing all science-based precautionary and quarantine measures, is approved. The IATF hereby strongly supports the proposal of the Department of Agriculture to designate the nautical highway from Luzon and Mindanao, and the Maharlika Highway in Luzon as Special Hog Lanes.

Further, the Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Department of Trade and Industry are directed to jointly implement the foregoing.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Chairperson and the Co-Chairperson shall be duly authorized to sign this Resolution for and on behalf of the Inter-Agency Task Force.

APPROVED this 28th of January 2021 via videoconference.

(SGD.) FRANCISCO T. DUQUE IIISecretary, Department of HealthIATF Chairperson

(SGD.) KARLO ALEXEI B. NOGRALESCabinet Secretary, Office of the Cabinet SecretaryIATF Co-Chairperson

ATTACHMENT

Certification

This is to certify that:

1. I am presently an Assistant Secretary of the Department of Health;

2. I am the interim OIC-Head of the Secretariat of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases created under Executive Order No. 168, series of 2014 and chaired by the Department of Health (DOH);

3. The IATF Secretariat holds office in the DOH Main Office, San Lazaro Compound, Tayuman, Sta. Cruz, Manila;

4. I am the custodian of the records of the IATF, including the Minutes of Meetings and Resolutions;

5. In a regular meeting of the IATF, the IATF Resolution No. 97 was unanimously approved and adopted;

6. The foregoing resolution has been signed by Secretary Francisco T. Duque III and/or Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles upon the authority of the IATF Members;

7. The aforesaid resolution has not been altered, modified nor revoked and the same is now in full force and effect;

8. I am executing this Certification for whatever legitimate purpose this may serve.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my signature this 28th day of January 2021, Manila.

(SGD.) ATTY. CHARADE B. MERCADO-GRANDEOIC-Head of the Secretariat, IATFAssistant Secretary of Health