IATF-EID Resolution No. 114, s. 2021

May 6, 2021

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 114, 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, P.1, and P.3 variants of the COVID-19;

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 likewise received information on the existence of B.1.617 variant first detected in India, which has not been detected in the Philippines but has been seen in twenty-six other countries;

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 May 06, 2021, there are a total of Sixty-Two Thousand Seven Hundred Thirteen (62,713) active COVID-19 cases in the Philippines.

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

A. Upon the recommendation of the Small Working Group on Testing and Quarantine Protocols, the following protocols shall hereinafter be observed for all inbound travellers to the Philippines, regardless of vaccination status, in all ports of entry:

1. All arriving travelers shall undergo fourteen (14)-day quarantine upon arrival. The first ten days of which shall be observed in a quarantine facility, with the remainder to be completed under home quarantine in their respective local government units of destination;

2. Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing shall be conducted on the seventh day with Day 1 being the day of arrival. Notwithstanding a negative test result, the arriving traveler shall complete the facility-based quarantine period of ten days;

3. The Bureau of Quarantine shall ensure strict symptom monitoring while in the facility quarantine for 10 days.

 In order to operationalize these protocols, the following identified agencies are directed to implement the foregoing:

1. Department of Health, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Transportation, Department of Labor and Employment, Bureau of Quarantine, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to issue advisories for widest dissemination regarding current testing and quarantine protocols;

2. The Department of Tourism to lead the establishment of a "One Hotel Command" together with other agencies it may deem fit, to be able to immediately and efficiently address concerns of those undergoing facility-based quarantine;

3. The Department of the Interior and Local Government, through the Philippine National Police, to augment the Philippine Coast Guard in providing security in quarantine facilities;

4. The Department of Health to coordinate with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of Transportation, Department of Tourism, Bureau of Quarantine, and the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Health to enhance current symptom tracking mechanisms and provide additional personnel to process and act on symptom tracking information;

5. The DOTr to ascertain that swabbing will be done at exactly the seventh day and results to be delivered on the ninth day. Day of release from the quarantine facility shall be standardized on the tenth (10th) day; and

6. Swabbers to continue the practice of double swabbing on the seventh day in case necessary for whole genome sequencing.

B. Recognizing that the registration to the Philippine Identification System is an essential government service and in support of the vaccine deployment to the general population, the IATF allows individuals ages fifteen (15) to seventeen (17) years old, and above sixty-five (65) years old to leave their residence for the purpose of proceeding to registration centers of the Philippine Statistics Authority for the Philippine Identification System Step 2 Registration; and

C. The recommendations of the IATF Technical Working Group, as follows:

1. Approving the request of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to host the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup Qualifiers in June 2021 to be held under a "bubble-type" setting in Clark, Pampanga. Provided that the testing and quarantine protocols of arriving foreign participants shall be subject to the FIBA-required protocols as presented, to the extent applicable, without prejudice to the entry travel restrictions as provided for under IATF Resolution No. 112 (s. 2021) issued on April 27, 2021 and the Memorandum from the Executive Secretary dated May 5, 2021. Provided, further, that all non-player participants not otherwise covered by FIBA rules, whether foreign or local, shall self-isolate upon arrival in the venue until the testing on the sixth day before release. As the national government agency with the visitorial and supervisory authority, the Philippine Sports Commission shall assume responsibility for monitoring and supervising the compliance of the health and safety protocols of the event. Provided, finally that the designated hotels within the bubble shall not accept other guests outside of the FIBA participants.

2. Approving the request of the Philippine Basketball Association to conduct its scrimmages and practice in areas under General Community Quarantine and Modified General Community Quarantine, subject to the vetting of the Games and Amusement Board, on the proper health and safety protocols to be observed following the Philippine Sports Commission-Games Amusement Board-Department of Health Joint Administrative Order No. 2020-0001.

3. Allowing the conduct of horse-racing activities in the areas under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine under a no-audience set-up. Only online and TeleBet activities in NCR Plus areas may operate. Off-track betting stations may only resume operations during General Community Quarantine or Modified General Community Quarantine. For this purpose, the implementation of Section 3 (5) (f) of the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines, as amended, particularly on horse racing is suspended in part and all other establishments, persons, and activities indicated therein shall remain to be part of the negative list;

4. The approval and adoption of the Guidelines on Point-to-Point Air Travel for Leisure Purposes from the National Capital Region Plus Areas of the Department of Tourism; and

5. Further amending the provisions on Interzonal Travel in the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines, as follows:

SECTION [7] GUIDELINES FOR INTERZONAL AND INTRAZONAL MOVEMENT. —

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2. (a) The movement of the following authorized persons outside their residences (APOR), by land, sea, or air, within and across areas placed under any form of community quarantine shall be allowed: (1) health and emergency frontline services and uniformed personnel, (2) government officials and employees on official travel, (3) duly-authorized humanitarian assistance actors (HAAs), especially those transporting medical supplies and laboratory specimens related to COVID-19, and other relief and humanitarian assistance, (4) persons traveling for medical or humanitarian reasons, (5) persons going to and from the airport, (6) anyone crossing zones for work or business permitted in the zone of destination, or activities as may be authorized by the IATF, and going back home, and (7) public utility vehicle operators. The PNP shall be authorized to promulgate and regularly update the list of APORs. Authorized shuttle services shall be allowed to travel within and across areas placed under any form of community quarantine, with priority given to persons rendering health and emergency frontline services.

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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 114th Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting, as reflected in the minutes of the meeting, held this May 06, 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;

5. In a regular meeting of the IATF, the IATF Resolution No. 113 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 6th day of May 2021, Manila.

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