IATF-EID Resolution No. 123-C, s. 2021

June 28, 2021

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 123-C, 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 recommendation of the IATF Technical Working Group on the implementation of phased "Green Lanes" for fully vaccinated individuals:

A. Effective 01 July 2021, and notwithstanding the provisions of the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines, as amended, the inbound international travel to any port of the Philippines of all individuals fully vaccinated in the Philippines regardless of travel history, and those vaccinated abroad who stayed exclusively in "Green" countries/jurisdictions in the past fourteen days immediately preceding arrival, shall be governed by the following guidelines:

1. "Green" countries/jurisdictions are those classified by the Department of Health as "Low Risk" countries/jurisdictions based on disease incidence rate, as follows: (i.) for populations greater than 100,000, the incidence rate (cumulative new cases over the past 28 days per 100,000 population) and new case trajectory (case trend for daily new cases over the past 28 days); and (ii.) For populations less than 100,000, the COVID-19 case counts (cumulative new cases over the past 28 days) and new case trajectory are considered, as prescribed by its Technical Advisory Group.

2. An individual shall be considered as having been fully vaccinated for COVID-19:

i. More than or equal to 2 weeks after having received the second dose in a 2-dose series, or

ii. More than or equal to 2 weeks after having received a single-dose vaccine.

iii. The vaccines administered to the individual are included in any of the following:

1. Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) List or Compassionate Special Permit (CSP) issued by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration; or

2. Emergency Use Listing of the World Health Organization.

3. Fully vaccinated individuals shall carry the following as proof of their vaccination status:

(i.) Those fully vaccinated in the Philippines must carry their vaccination card which should be verified prior to their departure by a certification issued through the Certificate of Vaccination Record Portal of the Department of Information and Communications Technology or the City Health Officer of the local government unit which administered the full vaccination; or

(ii.) Those fully vaccinated in countries/jurisdictions outside the Philippines must carry their official documentation of full vaccination validated through the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO), or present their International Certificate of Vaccination, whichever is applicable.

(iii.) The aforementioned documents must be presented to the dedicated Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) representative for re-verification at the Department of Transportation One-Stop-Shop (OSS) upon arrival in the Philippines;

4. All arriving individuals fully vaccinated in the Philippines regardless of travel history, and those vaccinated abroad who stayed exclusively in "Green" countries/jurisdictions in the past fourteen days immediately preceding arrival, shall be required to undergo a seven (7)-day facility-based quarantine upon arrival, with the date of arrival being the first day.

5. The BOQ shall ensure strict symptom monitoring while in the facility quarantine for seven (7) days. Thereafter, the individual is enjoined to monitor themselves for the next seven (7) days for any symptoms;

6. For purposes of gathering local data on breakthrough infections, all arriving individuals qualified for a seven (7)-day facility-based quarantine under the foregoing provisions shall undergo Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing on the fifth day of facility-based quarantine with day one being the date of arrival. The fifth-day testing requirement shall be subject to review after thirty days from implementation. Should the RT-PCR test yield a negative result, the individual shall complete the seven-day facility-based quarantine; but if found positive, he/she shall follow the prescribed isolation protocols. For this purpose, IATF Resolution No. 119, s.2021 is hereby amended accordingly;

7. Upon completion of the seven (7)-day facility-based quarantine, the BOQ shall issue a Quarantine Certificate indicating therein the individual's vaccination status;

8. All arriving fully vaccinated individuals not covered by the foregoing shall comply with the testing and quarantine protocols as prescribed under the pertinent provisions of the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines, as amended.

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 123rd Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting, as reflected in the minutes of the meeting, held this June 28, 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 28 June 2021 via teleconference during which a quorum was present and acted throughout, IATF Resolution No. 123 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 28th day of June 2021, Manila.

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