IATF-EID Resolution No. 160, s. 2022

February 3, 2022

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 160, S. 2022

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 (c) 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 local spread of emerging infectious diseases (EID) in the country through the establishment or reinforcement of a system in screening possible patients infected with EID, contact tracing, identification of the mode of exposure to the virus, and implementation of effective quarantine and proper isolation procedures;

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), B.1.617 (Delta), and B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variants of SARS-CoV-2 in the Philippines.

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

A. Upon the recommendations of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the national COVID-19 vaccination certificate of the following countries, namely Slovenia, Bahrain, Qatar, Switzerland, and Hong Kong SAR shall be accepted/recognized for purposes of arrival quarantine protocols as well as for interzonal/intrazonal movement, in addition to such other countries/territories/jurisdictions whose proofs of vaccination the IATF has already approved for recognition in the Philippines, and without prejudice to such other proofs of vaccination approved by IATF for all inbound travelers.

The Bureau of Quarantine, the Department of Transportation-One-Stop-Shop, and the Bureau of Immigration are directed to recognize only the proofs of vaccination thus approved by the IATF.

B. Upon the recommendations of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 Task Group on Vaccine Evaluation and Selection and with no objection from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the process for local COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial applications, as provided for under IATF Resolution No. 65 (s.2020), is hereby amended. Vaccine clinical trial applications shall hereinafter comply with the Department of Health Administrative Order No. 2020-0010 or the Regulations on the Conduct of Clinical Trials for Investigational Products which aims to ensure the full protection of the rights and safety of human subjects and integrity of clinical trial data through the adoption and implementation of International Council of Harmonization-Good Clinical Practice standards; ensure efficient and effective process for the approval of clinical trials; provide standards and requirements for the regulation and importation of investigational products; and strengthen the monitoring of compliance of all organizations, institutions, and entities to GCP and other related FDA regulations through regulatory inspections.

Clinical trial applications are now to be submitted directly to the FDA Drug Action Center and shall be acted upon by its Center for Drug Regulation and Research for review by its Regulatory Reviewers. The pool of Regulatory Reviewers shall include the Vaccine Expert Panel members.

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 160th Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting, as reflected in the minutes of the meeting, held this February 03, 2022, via video conference.

(SGD.) KARLO ALEXEI B. NOGRALESSecretary, Office of the Cabinet SecretariatIATF Co-Chairperson

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 03 February 2022 via teleconference during which a quorum was present and acted throughout, IATF Resolution No. 160 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 3rd day of February 2022, Manila.

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

n Note from the Publisher: Copied verbatim from the official document. Irregular Numerical Sequence.