IATF-EID Resolution No. 153, s. 2021

December 9, 2021

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 153, 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 10, 2021, the President issued Proclamation No. 1218 (s.2021) further extending the period of the State of Calamity throughout the Philippines until September 12, 2022, unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant;

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), P.1 (Gamma), and B.1.617 (Delta) variants of SARS-CoV-2 in the Philippines;

WHEREAS, with a new B.1.1.529 variant designated as Variant of Concern and named Omicron, proactive measures and restrictions must be put in place.

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

A. Upon the recommendations of the Task Force on COVID-19 Variants, Portugal shall be escalated to the Red List of countries/territories/jurisdictions effective 0001H of 12 December 2021.

1. Passengers who have been to Portugal within fourteen (14) days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, who arrive on or after 0001H of 12 December 2021 but before 0001H of 15 December 2021, shall be required to undergo the testing and quarantine protocols as prescribed under Paragraph B of this Resolution.

2. From 0001H of 15 December 2021, entry in any port of the Philippines shall not be allowed for passengers coming from or who have been to Portugal within the last fourteen (14) days prior to arrival in the Philippines, regardless of vaccination status. Only Filipinos returning to the country via government-initiated repatriation, non-government-initiated repatriation, and Bayanihan Flights may be allowed entry.

3. As in all international inbound travels, the testing and quarantine protocols for minors shall follow the testing and quarantine protocols of the parent/guardian traveling with them, regardless of the minor's vaccination status. This notwithstanding, children three (3) years old and below, regardless of country of origin, shall be exempt from the requirement of presenting a negative RT-PCR test result before boarding the flight, unless symptomatic.

4. Notwithstanding the foregoing, passengers who arrived prior to 12 December 2021, and are currently undergoing quarantine shall complete the testing and quarantine protocols in effect at the time of their arrival.

B. The testing and quarantine protocols of returning Filipinos allowed entry, via government-initiated repatriation, non-government-initiated repatriation, and Bayanihan Flights, from "Red List" countries/territories/jurisdictions shall be as follows:

1. For fully vaccinated individuals: International arriving passengers shall be required to present a negative RT-PCR test taken within seventy-two hours (72hrs) prior to departure from the country of origin. Additionally, they shall be required to undergo facility-based quarantine with an RT-PCR test taken on the seventh (7th) day. They may be discharged from the facility upon the release of a negative RT-PCR result but shall observe home quarantine until the fourteenth (14th) day of arrival with the day of arrival being the first day.

2. For individuals who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or whose vaccination status cannot be independently validated: International arriving passengers shall be required to present a negative RT-PCR test taken within seventy-two hours (72hrs) prior to departure from the country of origin. Additionally, they shall be required to undergo a mandatory ten (10) day facility-based quarantine with RT-PCR testing on the seventh (7th) day. They may be discharged only upon the completion of a 10-day facility-based quarantine, regardless of a negative RT-PCR result, and shall observe home quarantine until the fourteenth (14th) day of arrival with the day of arrival being the first day.

3. As in all international inbound travels, the testing and quarantine protocols for minors shall follow the testing and quarantine protocols of the parent/guardian traveling with them, regardless of the minor's vaccination status. This notwithstanding, children three (3) years old and below, regardless of country of origin, shall be exempt from the requirement of presenting a negative RT-PCR test result before boarding the flight, unless symptomatic.

4. Passengers merely transiting through Red List countries/territories/jurisdictions shall not be deemed as having come from or having been to said country/territory/jurisdiction if they stayed in the airport the whole time and were not cleared for entry into such country/territory/jurisdiction by its immigration authorities. Upon arrival in the Philippines, passengers who merely transited through a Red List country/territory/jurisdiction shall comply with existing testing and quarantine protocols.

5. All individuals from "Red List" countries/territories/jurisdictions undergoing facility-based quarantine at the date of implementation of this Resolution may retroactively avail of the testing and quarantine protocols approved herein.

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

1. In order to ensure the safe and effective conduct of the 2022 National and Local Elections, the IATF poses no objection to the request of the Commission on Elections to conduct nationwide mock election exercises on 29 December 2021.

2. Upon the authority vested to the IATF through Memorandum from the Executive Secretary dated 20 November 2020, the 2021 annual deployment ceiling of new hire healthcare workers (HCWs) for occupations identified by the Department of Labor and Employment as Mission Critical Skills (MCS) shall be further increased to seven thousand (7,000). Nurses whose visas shall expire by 31 December 2021 shall be given preference.

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 153rd Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting, as reflected in the minutes of the meeting, held this December 09, 2021, via video conference.

(SGD.) FRANCISCO T. DUQUE IIISecretary, Department of Health

(SGD.) KARLO ALEXEI B. NOGRALESSecretary, Office of the Cabinet Secretariat

ATTACHMENT

Certification

This is to certify that:

1. I am presently an Undersecretary 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;

1. n  In the Regular Meeting of the IATF held on 09 December 2021 via teleconference during which a quorum was present and acted throughout, IATF Resolution No. 153 was unanimously approved and adopted;

5. The foregoing resolution has been signed by Secretary Francisco T. Duque III and/or Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles upon the authority of the IATF Members;

6. I am executing this Certification for whatever legitimate purpose this may serve.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my signature this 9th day of December 2021, Manila.

(SGD.) ATTY. CHARADE B. MERCADO-GRANDEUndersecretary of Health

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