IATF-EID Resolution No. 108-A, s. 2021

April 4, 2021

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 108-A, 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 (s. 2014) 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), the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC), and the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) biosurveillance has detected B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.3 variants of the COVID-19;

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 April 03, 2021, there are a total of One Hundred Sixty-Five Thousand Seven Hundred Fifteen (165,715) active COVID-19 cases in the Philippines.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved, that with the approval of the President being granted, the Enhanced Community Quarantine currently imposed on the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, with the highly urbanized cities of the National Capital Region and the municipality of Pateros, shall be extended until April 11, 2021. During this period, the following shall be implemented:

A. Daily monitoring and reporting of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 and its Implementers, and other accountable national government agencies, as to the progress of the heightened Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Rehabilitate (PDITR) Strategy particularly on the input, process, and output indicators;

B. Increase dedicated COVID-19 beds in isolation, quarantine, and health facilities through the joint effort of the Department of Education, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and the Department of Public Works and Highways:

1. Ensure that there are adequate number of COVID-19 dedicated beds, complementary health human resources, and well-coordinated triage and referral systems in place at the LGUs, isolation and quarantine facilities, and health facilities;

2. Establish field hospitals to accommodate cases, including severe and critical cases; and

3. Ensure responsive and timely payment and benefit packages by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.

C. Improve efficiency of contact tracing by increasing its capacity through the utilization of personnel from the Department of National Defense and/or the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Department of Labor and Employment to supplement contact tracing efforts; and

D. Intensify enforcement of current protocols and guidelines in the local level, through the review of existing local ordinances and executive orders to provide for the imposition of other forms of penalties such as community service.

The community quarantine classification currently imposed on the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, with the highly urbanized cities of the National Capital Region and the municipality of Pateros, may be relaxed to Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine upon proof of better performance across all indicators especially in terms of early detection and isolation. For this purpose, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Labor and Employment, the National Task Force Task Group for the Management of Returning Overseas Filipinos shall ensure that necessary and correct data are submitted from the local government units, workplaces and establishments, and returning overseas Filipinos and overseas Filipino workers, respectively.

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 108th Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting, as reflected in the minutes of the meeting, held this April 3, 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. 108-A 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 3rd day of April 2021, Manila.

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