IATF-EID Resolution No. 108, s. 2021

April 3, 2021

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 108, 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 (IATF) 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 the IATF approves the following:

A. In accordance with IATF Resolution No. 106-A (s. 2021) issued on March 27, 2021 wherein Rapid Antigen Testing Kits are to be procured and utilized to ensure the swift detection of cases and tracing of close contacts, the Office of the Civil Defense is hereby authorized to procure using their Quick Response Fund under the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund or such other available funds, an initial Five Hundred Thousand (500,000) pieces of any of the following Rapid Antigen Test Kits authorized by the Food and Drug Administration, which have undergone the validation of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, and/or underwent the Emergency Use Listing (EUL) of the World Health Organization (WHO):

1. Standard Q COVID-19 Ag Test manufactured by SD Biosensor, Inc.;

2. Panbio COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test Device manufactured by Abbot;

3. Wondfo 2019-nCoV Antigen Test (Lateral Flow Method) manufactured by Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co., Ltd.; * and

4. Such other Antigen Test Kits which may be approved by the abovementioned authorities.

The Rapid Antigen Test Kits shall be used in the provinces of Pampanga and Batangas, in addition to the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, together with the highly urbanized cities of the National Capital Region, and the municipality of Pateros. The utilization, including the qualified persons to undergo said tests, and reporting of these Rapid Antigen Test Kits shall comply with the guidelines of the Department of Health.

* Not included in EUL of WHO but validated by Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), a WHO Collaborating Centre for Laboratory Strengthening and Diagnostic Technology Evaluation.

B. The joint recommendations of the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Trade and Industry are adopted, the specifics of which are as follows:

1. Intensifying the enforcement and monitoring of compliance to the minimum public health standards in the workplaces;

2. Rolling out of the Safety Seal Certification Program, as provided for under IATF Resolution No. 87, issued on December 03, 2020, and its adoption in private companies, hotels, and business establishments, and public to transportation units; and

3. Encouraging citizenry reporting of non-compliant establishments through available government channels.

C. To harmonize and codify existing guidelines of the IATF and member-agencies pertaining to community quarantine which shall be applied to all regions, provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays placed under community quarantine, the revisions to the Omnibus Guidelines in the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines, as amended, are hereby adopted. Authority is hereby granted to the Chairperson and the Co-Chairperson to sign these Guidelines, in behalf of the IATF; and

D. The request of Region VI to temporarily suspend inbound passenger travel from the National Capital Region and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Cebu City, and Davao City to said Region until April 10, 2021, as endorsed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, is hereby approved.

 The National Task Force Against COVID-19 Chairperson or his duly designated deputy is hereby authorized to act on any similar request for suspension of domestic inbound travel to other jurisdictions.

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 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, (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;

1. n In a regular meeting of the IATF, the IATF Resolution No. 108 was unanimously approved and adopted;

1. 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;

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

5. 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

 

n Note from the Publisher. Copied verbatim from the official document. Irregular numerical sequence.