IATF-EID Resolution No. 106, s. 2021

March 27, 2021

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 106, 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 (DOH) 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 and restrictions must be put in place to slow down the surge in COVID-19 cases, stop further spread of variants, buy time for the health system to cope, and to protect more lives;

WHEREAS, as of March 26, 2021, there are a total of One Hundred Nine Thousand Eighteen (109,018) active COVID-19 cases in the Philippines.

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

A. In the provinces, highly urbanized cities, independent component cities, of Region III, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and Batangas and Quezon in CALABARZON are hereby directed to immediately implement enhanced PDITR measures to limit mobility and minimize delays in case detection, contact tracing, and isolation/quarantine. The following measures may be implemented after due assessment of the LGU and with concurrence of their respective Regional IATF:

a. Scope of lockdown may be extended to whole municipality and city;

b. Limit inter-zonal mobility, especially into and out of high-transmission areas;

c. Limit non-essential travels within the lockdowns;

d. Regional IATF/Task Forces should actively monitor, identify, and address gaps in PDITR implementation;

e. Regional DOLE and DTI to inspect workplaces and establishments and provide IATF with their findings and action plans; and

f. Fast track vaccination of priority groups.

D. To maximize the speed and impact of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Program in consideration of its evidence on protection against severe COVID-19 and death, the following policy directions are adopted for implementation and operationalization of the Vaccine Cluster:

1. Maximize masterlisting and vaccination of Priority Group A1 (Workers in frontline services) especially those who are not based in health facilities but provide COVID-19 case management from womb to tomb, screening at borders and points of entry, or management of COVID-19 specimens.

2. Implementation of simultaneous vaccination of Priority Group A1 (Health care workers) to succeeding priority groups is allowed up to Priority Group A2 (Senior citizens) and Priority Group A3 (Population with controlled comorbidities) as quick substitution list, provided provision of vaccines to priority groups are consistent with the Food and Drug Administration Emergency Use Authorization and other national guidelines.

3. Simultaneous vaccination of succeeding priority groups especially when supplies from multipartite agreements come in is adopted in principle. The Department of Health and Vaccine Cluster is instructed to develop operational guidelines endorsed by the Interim National Immunization Technical Advisory Group for presentation and final approval of the IATF.

4. Implementation of the vaccination program shall be coordinated with the assistance of uniformed personnel, the private sector, and support from other national government agencies, especially to fulfill the following:

a. Lessen on-site processes through the completion of documentation and screening processes prior to the actual date of vaccination;

b. Designate and utilize larger vaccination sites as necessary, with observance of the respective allowed capacities of such sites;

c. Maintain minimum public health standards particularly on physical distancing measures;

d. Relegate administrative and ministerial functions to non-healthcare workers to reduce workload of healthcare workers during actual inoculation dates;

e. Maximize business processes to ramp up the vaccination program such as but not limited to the following: marketing, organizing, managing manpower, and employing responsive Information and Communications System (ICT) solutions; and

f. Ensure continuous vaccination activities even during the observance of the holidays.

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 106th Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting, as reflected in the minutes of the meeting, held this 27th of March 2021 via video conference.

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

(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. 106 was approved and adopted with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Executive Secretary manifesting their reservations particularly on Par. B, thereof;

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 25th day of March 2021, Manila.

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