IATF-EID Resolution No. 1, s. 2022

September 5, 2022

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 1, S. 2022

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 (c) of Executive Order (EO) No. 168 (s. 2014) mandates the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to prevent and/or minimize the local spread of emerging infectious diseases (EID) in the country through the establishment or reinforcement of a system in screening possible patients infected with EID, contact tracing, identification of the mode of exposure to the virus, and implementation of effective quarantine and proper isolation procedures;

WHEREAS, on September 10, 2021, the President issued Proclamation No. 1218 (s. 2021) further extending the period of the State of Calamity throughout the Philippines until September 12, 2022, unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant;

WHEREAS, eighty-eight (88) of the country's one hundred twenty-one (121) provinces, highly-urbanized cities, and independent cities, while six hundred ninety-six (696) of the country's component cities and municipalities are under Alert Level 1;

WHEREAS, neighboring ASEAN countries have begun liberalizing mask mandates without significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved, that the IATF hereby recommends to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines, to issue an Executive Order to liberalize mask mandate to make mask-wearing outdoors voluntary across the whole country through the amendment of the Guidelines in the Implementation of the Alert Level System for COVID-19 Response (Sec. [6] 1.B.3), as follows:

"3. Wearing of Face Masks

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B. Optional in open spaces, or non-crowded outdoor areas with good ventilation, provided that senior citizens and those immunocompromised individuals are highly encouraged to wear their masks.

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RESOLVED FURTHER, that, in the alternative, the IATF recommends to the President that an Executive Order be issued lifting the mandatory mask mandate and allowing the optional wearing of face masks in open spaces, outdoor areas, and non-crowded spaces with good ventilation.

The IATF recommends to the President that lifting of indoor mask mandates will be pilot-tested by the last quarter of 2022, provided that there is improvement in the COVID-19 booster vaccination coverage.

RESOLVED FINALLY, in line with the whole-of-government approach in strengthening the efforts of the government vaccination and booster all agencies of the government shall support the National Booster Week (September 26-29, 2022) through the implementation of sector-specific policies and incentives aimed at encouraging the people to receive booster shots.

APPROVED during the 1st Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting, as reflected in the minutes of the meeting, held this September 5, 2022, at Department of Health, Manila, Philippines. ETHIDa

Note: I sign w/ my duty as Chair, but DOH maintains its position.(SGD.) MARIA ROSARIO S. VERGEIRE, MD, MPH, CESO IIOfficer-in-Charge, Department of Health

(SGD.) JESUS CRISPIN C. REMULLASecretary

(SGD.) BENJAMIN C. ABALOS, JR.Secretary

(SGD.) MA. ESPERANZA CHRISTINA GARCIA FRASCOSecretary

(SGD.) JAIME J. BAUTISTASecretary

(SGD.) BENJO SANTOS M. BENAVIDEZUndersecretary

(SGD.) PAUL JOSEPH V. MERCADOUndersecretary

(SGD.) ALAN DENIEGADeputy Undersecretary

ATTACHMENT

Certification

This is to certify that:

1. I am presently an OIC-Undersecretary of the Department of Health;

2. I am the Head of the Secretariat of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases created under Executive Order No. 168 (s. 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. IATF Resolution No.1 was approved and adopted;

6. The foregoing resolution has been signed by the members of the IATF;

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 5th day of September, 2022, Manila.

(SGD.) ATTY. CHARADE B. MERCADO-GRANDEOIC-Undersecretary of Health