IATF-EID Resolution No. 131, s. 2021

August 5, 2021

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 131, 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 have detected B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), and P.1 (Gamma) variants of SARS-CoV-2 in the Philippines. The DOH, UP-PGH, and UP-NIH have likewise confirmed the presence of the B.1.617 (Delta) variant that was 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:

A. As the premium contingency tool to prepare for the impending spikes in COVID-19 cases driven by the variants of concern, the Crisis Action Plan Against COVID-19 Delta Variant, together with the proposed restructuring of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 is hereby approved.

B. Upon the recommendations of the Sub-Technical Working Group on Data Analytics, the risk level classification of the following provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities shall be as follows, without prejudice to their further reclassification and the imposition of localized Enhanced Community Quarantine in critical areas:

1. Beginning 06 August 2021, Laguna, Iloilo City, and Cagayan de Oro shall be placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine until 15 August 2021;

2. Beginning 06 August 2021, Cavite, Lucena City, Rizal, and Iloilo Province shall be placed under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine until 15 August 2021;

3. Beginning 06 August 2021, Batangas and Quezon shall be placed under General Community Quarantine, with the observance and implementation of the following heightened restrictions until 15 August 2021:

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.

C. The recommendations of the IATF Technical Working Group are approved, the specifics of which are as follows:

1. The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) shall be allowed to resume the 46th Season of their Philippine Cup Conference in areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) and/or Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) in compliance with the provisions of the Joint Administrative Order No. 2021-002 of the Philippine Sports Commission, Games and Amusement Board, and Department of Health, and related issuances are complied with, and with the written concurrence of the local government unit concerned. Should the community quarantine classification of their proposed new venue be escalated to a community quarantine classification higher than GCQ, the PBA should look for another venue that is under GCQ or MGCQ;

2. Further amending the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines as follows:

a. Inclusion of contractors in port terminals and ancillary services. Section [2] (4) (a) (v) shall now be read as follows:

v. Logistics service providers (delivery and courier services; cargo handling; warehousing; trucking; freight forwarding; shipping, port and terminal operators and contractors and ancillary services (i.e., drivers, conductors, terminal workers)).

b. The inclusion of the contractors, subcontractors, and consultants of the Department of Transportation for the construction of Build Build Build flagship infrastructure projects. Section [2] (4) (a) (vi.) shall now be read as follows:

vi. Employees/workers in essential and priority construction projects, whether public or private, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), including contractors, subcontractors, and consultants of the Department of Transportation for the construction of Build Build Build flagship infrastructure projects.

c. Clarifying that liquefied petroleum gas is included in the energy sector. Section [2] (4) (c) (vi) shall now be read as follows:

vi. The energy sector (oil, gas, and power companies), their third-party contractors and service providers, including employees involved in electric transmission and distribution, electric power plant and line maintenance, electricity market and retail suppliers, as well as those involved in the exploration, operations, trading and delivery of coal, oil, crude or petroleum and by-products (gasoline, diesel, liquefied petroleum gas or LPG, jet oil, kerosene, lubricants), including gasoline stations, refineries, LPG stations, and depots or any kind of fuel used to produce power;

e. n Allowing other printing establishments contracted by government agencies to operate, Section [2] (4) (c) (xi) shall now be read as follows:

xi. Printing establishments authorized by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and those contracted by other government agencies.

f. Qualifying the authority of lawyers to be outside of their respective residences, Section [2] (4) (c) (xvii) shall now be read as follows:

xvii. Lawyers only when required to provide on-site legal representation necessary to protect rights of persons, whether natural or juridical.

g. Noting that the continued provision of COVID-19 vaccines and consular services are essential even during ECQ, Section [7] (2) (a) (4) shall now be read as follows:

(4) persons traveling for medical or humanitarian reasons, and those leaving their residence to be vaccinated (with proof of schedule), and persons availing of DFA consular services (with confirmed appointments)

h. Highlighting that persons going to and from the airport include Overseas Filipino Workers, Section [7] (2) (a) (5) shall now be read as follows:

(5) persons going to and from the airport including Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) carrying Overseas Employment Certificates.

i. Restricting the APORs who can cross zones for work, business, or an activity, Section [7] (2) (a) (6) shall now be read as follows:

(6) any person whose purpose of travel to the zone of destination is for a work, business, or activity that is also permitted in areas under ECQ.

j. Such other amendments relating only to style and formatting not otherwise affecting the spirit of the provisions.

To aid in the implementation of the pertinent provisions of the Omnibus Guidelines, the Comprehensive List of Persons Allowed to Travel within, to and from Areas under Enhanced Community Quarantine, Also Known as Authorized Persons Outside of Residences is hereby issued together with this Resolution.

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 131st Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting, as reflected in the minutes of the meeting, held this August 05, 2021, via video conference.

(SGD.) FRANCISCO T. DUQUE IIISecretary, Department of HealthIATF Chairperson

(SGD.) KARLO ALEXEI B. NOGRALESCabinet Secretary, Office of the Cabinet SecretaryIATF 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 05 August 2021 via teleconference during which a quorum was present and acted throughout, IATF Resolution No. 131 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 5th day of August 2021, Manila.

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

 

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