IATF-EID Resolution No. 121, s. 2021

June 14, 2021

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 121, 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;

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;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved, that the IATF approves the following recommendations of the Sub-Technical Working Group on Data Analytics, the specifics of which are as follows:

A. Risk-level classifications of Provinces, Highly Urbanized Cities (HUCs), and Independent Component Cities (ICCs) effective 16 June 2021:

i. The following provinces, HUCs, and ICCs shall be reclassified to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) until 30 June 2021, without prejudice to their reclassification as may be warranted and the declaration of localized Enhanced Community Quarantine in critical areas:

a. Benguet;

b. For Mindanao:

1. Davao del Norte;

2. Region XII: Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Cotabato, and South Cotabato.

ii. The following provinces, HUCs, and ICCs shall be reclassified to Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) until 30 June 2021, without prejudice to their reclassification as may be warranted and the declaration of localized Enhanced Community Quarantine in critical areas:

a. For Luzon:

1. Bataan;

2. Lucena City; and

3. Naga City.

b. For Visayas:

1. Iloilo; and

2. Negros Oriental.

c. For Mindanao:

1. Region XIII (Caraga): Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Sur.

iii. The classification of all other provinces, HUCs, and ICCs not affected by the foregoing shall retain their respective risk level classifications until 30 June 2021;

iv. Laguna, Cavite, and Rizal shall remain under General Community Quarantine with the observance and implementation of the following heightened restrictions until 30 June 2021, during which the following rules shall apply:

a. Food preparation establishments such as commissaries, restaurants, and eateries may operate with their indoor dine-in services at the venue or seating capacity of twenty percent (20%), and with their al fresco or outdoor dine-in services at the venue or seating capacity of fifty percent (50%);

b. Personal care services, such as beauty salons, beauty parlors, barbershops, and nail spas, may operate up to thirty percent (30%) venue or seating capacity. For this purpose, these establishments shall only provide services that can accommodate the wearing of face masks at all times by patrons/clients and service providers;

c. Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) events in eligible venue establishments shall not be allowed to operate;

d. Outdoor tourist attractions shall remain to be allowed at thirty percent (30%) venue capacity with strict adherence to minimum public health standards;

e. Under the Safety Seal Certification Program, business establishments awarded Safety Seal Certifications shall be allowed to operate at an additional 10 percentage points beyond the prescribed on-site capacity or venue/seating capacity, whichever is applicable;

f. Indoor sports courts and venues and indoor tourist attractions shall not be allowed to operate;

g. Specialized markets of the DOT such as Staycations without age restrictions shall remain to be allowed at such capacities, protocols and restrictions as may be imposed by the DOT;

h. Interzonal travel shall be allowed subject to restrictions of the local government unit of destination. Point-to-Point travel to areas under General Community Quarantine and Modified General Community Quarantine shall be allowed without age restrictions subject to an RT-PCR test-before-travel requirement for those below eighteen years old (18) and above sixty-five (65), and other protocols and restrictions as may be imposed by the DOT and the Local Government Unit of destination;

i. Religious gatherings shall be allowed up to ten percent (10%) of the venue capacity. Provided that, there is no objection from the local government unit where the religious gathering may take place. Provided, further, that the LGU may increase the allowable venue capacity up to thirty percent (30%). The religious denominations should strictly observe their submitted protocols and the minimum public health standards;

Gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 shall be allowed, provided that the same shall be limited to immediate family members, upon satisfactory proof of their relationship with the deceased and with full compliance with the prescribed minimum public health standards for the duration of the activity.

j. Other provisions of the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines, as amended, not affected by the foregoing shall continue to be in effect including those on interzonal travel into and out of the aforementioned areas and the operation of public transportation. The use of active transportation shall likewise be promoted.

v. The National Capital Region and Bulacan shall remain under General Community Quarantine with the observance and implementation of the following restrictions until 30 June 2021, during which the following rules shall apply:

a. Food preparation establishments such as commissaries, restaurants, and eateries may operate with their indoor dine-in services at the venue or seating capacity of forty percent (40%), and with their al fresco or outdoor dine-in services at the venue or seating capacity of fifty percent (50%).

b. Personal care services, such as beauty salons, beauty parlors, barbershops, and nail spas, may operate up to fifty percent (50%) venue or seating capacity. For this purpose, these establishments shall only provide services that can accommodate the wearing of face masks at all times by patrons/clients and service providers.

c. Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) events in eligible venue establishments shall continue to be allowed at thirty percent (30%) of venue capacity, while social events in the same establishments shall be allowed up to ten percent (10%) of the venue capacity.

d. Indoor tourist attractions, historical sites and museums as defined by the Department of Tourism (DOT) may operate at twenty percent (20%). Outdoor tourist attractions shall remain allowed at fifty percent (50%) with strict adherence to minimum public health standards.

e. Gyms and Fitness Centers may operate at twenty percent (20%) venue capacity. Other indoor non-contact sports venues shall be allowed to operate at thirty percent (30%) of their venue capacity.

f. Under the Safety Seal Certification Program, business establishments awarded Safety Seal Certifications shall be allowed to operate at an additional 10 percentage points beyond the prescribed on-site capacity or venue/seating capacity, whichever is applicable.

g. Specialized markets of the Department of Tourism (DOT) such as Staycations without age restrictions shall remain to be allowed at such capacities, protocols and restrictions as may be imposed by the DOT.

h. Point-to-Point travel to areas under General Community Quarantine and Modified General Community Quarantine shall be allowed without age restrictions subject to an RT-PCR test-before-travel requirement for those below eighteen years old (18) and above sixty-five (65), and other protocols and restrictions as may be imposed by the DOT and the Local Government Unit of destination.

i. Religious gatherings shall remain to be allowed up to thirty percent (30%) of the venue capacity, provided that there is no objection from the local government unit where the religious gathering may take place. Provided, further, that the LGUs may increase the allowable venue capacity up to fifty percent (50%). The religious denominations should strictly observe their submitted protocols and the minimum public health standards.

Gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 shall be allowed, provided that the same shall be limited to immediate family members, upon satisfactory proof of their relationship with the deceased and with full compliance with the prescribed minimum public health standards for the duration of the activity; and

j. Other provisions of the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines, as amended, not affected by the foregoing shall continue to be in effect in NCR and Bulacan including those on interzonal travel into and out of the aforementioned areas and the operation of public transportation. The use of active transportation shall likewise be promoted.

vi. Directing the Regional IATF and Regional Task Forces of the following:

a. Intensifying the Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate strategies in Region IV-A, as well as other areas experiencing COVID-19 surges, and ensuring prompt distribution of vaccines to Priority Groups A1-A3;

b. Continue augmenting health capacity. Possibly plan the next batch of modular hospitals in surge areas where available beds (especially Intensive Care Units beds) are low;

c. The implementation of localized community quarantine and the ramping up of the availability of identified quarantine facilities in priority/critical areas with community transmission, including in private and public establishments, with the concurrence of the RIATF;

d. Ensuring the availability of a digital contact-tracing application and its use in their respective local government units;

e. Strengthen monitoring and coordination to address increase in cases in regions identified to experience surges:

1. Emphasis on reducing interval between detection and isolation;

2. Granular lockdowns following standard protocols; and

3. Utilize digital solutions and technologies to improve case detection and contact tracing.

B. Pursuant to the authority vested by the Office of the President, the travel restrictions imposed upon India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, United Arab Emirates, and Oman is hereby extended until June 30, 2021.

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 121st Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting, as reflected in the minutes of the meeting, held this June 14, 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 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 the Regular Meeting of the IATF held on 14 June 2021 via teleconference during which a quorum was present and acted throughout, IATF Resolution No. 121 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 14th day of June 2021, Manila.

(SGD.) ATTY. CHARADE B. MERCADO-GRANDEAssistant Secretary of Health