IATF-EID Resolution No. 102, s. 2021

March 11, 2021

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 102, 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, Memoranda 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 March 11, 2021, there are a total of Forty-Seven Thousand Seven Hundred Sixty-Nine Thousand (47,769) active COVID-19 cases in the Philippines.

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

A. The recommendations of the Department of Health to strengthen the enforcement and implementation of the following minimum public health standards are adopted:

1. On the level of individuals:

a. Wearing of face masks and face shields appropriately;

b. Increasing the frequency in hand-washing for at at least twenty (20) seconds each time;

c. Ensuring the observance of social distancing and proper ventilation, and reducing time of interaction, if any; and

d. Reinforcing correct information on COVID-19.

2. On the level of establishments:

a. Implementing the following risk mitigation strategies:

i. Engineering controls;

ii. Ventilation; and

iii. Contact tracing.

b. Measuring compliance and establishing baselines.

3. On the level of local government units (LGUs), implementation of COVID-19 Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) through the strengthened mobilization of Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams:

a. Actively looking for and ensuring that all suspect cases shall be tested with Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and isolated within twenty-four (24) hours of detection;

b. Tracing and quarantining of all close contacts within the next 24 hours:

i. 100% of cases with symptoms are isolated in a facility within 24 hours;

ii. 100% of those requiring isolation/quarantine who opt for home isolation/quarantine are in households that are eligible for home isolation/quarantine.

c. Testing of close contacts who become symptomatic using RT-PCR test;

d. Begin the contact tracing even among suspect cases;

e. Monitoring of workplaces and other closed settings as to their case data and compliance to minimum public health standards and safety protocols; and

f. Ensuring proper handover to the LGUs of Returning Overseas Filipinos and other incoming international travelers to ensure compliance to and completion of quarantine or isolation.

B. The recommendation of the IATF Technical Working Group to allow Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority to resume receiving all types of vessels for "hot/warm" layup purposes as an adjunct to its functions as a crew-change hub following the approved health and safety protocols is ratified.

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 during the 102nd Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting, as reflected in the minutes of the meeting, held this 11th of March 2021 via video conference.

(SGD.) KARLO ALEXEI B. NOGRALESSecretary, Office of the Cabinet SecretariatIATF 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. 102 was unanimously approved and adopted;

6. The foregoing resolution has been signed by Secretary Francisco T. Duque III and 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 11th day of March 2021, Manila.

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