IATF-EID Resolution No. 164-A, s. 2022

March 10, 2022

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 164-A, S. 2022

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 the exposure to the virus, and implementation of effective quarantine and proper isolation procedures;

WHEREAS, on 10 September 2021, the President issued Proclamation No. 1218 (s. 2021) further extending the period of the State of Calamity throughout the Philippines until 12 September 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;

WHEREAS, in order to minimize the cross-border transmission of SARS CoV-2, there is a need to adopt border control and quarantine measures for all passengers entering the Philippine territory by sea or by air.

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

I. Upon the recommendations of the Technical Working Group, the entry, testing, and quarantine protocols for foreign nationals arriving from abroad under the following provisions of Resolution No. 160-B, dated 03 February 2022 as amended by Resolution 160-D, dated 10 February 2022 are hereby further amended as follows:

A. Section A (1) (b) to A (1) (h) shall be amended to read as follows:

"A. Foreign Nationals Entering the Philippines Visa-Free

1. Foreign nationals traveling to the Philippines for business and tourism purposes may enter the Philippines without visas, provided they: x x x

b. Are a citizen/national of the following countries entitled to a stay not exceeding thirty (30) days 1 (Executive Order 408, S. 1960, as amended):

xxx xxx xxx

OR

c. Are holders of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or Macau SAR passports entitled to stay for a period not exceeding fourteen (14) days;

d. Are fully vaccinated, as defined in Section A(2) below, except only for minor children below twelve (12) years of age traveling with their fully-vaccinated foreign parent/s;

e. Carry/possess an acceptable proof of vaccination, as set out in Section A(3) below;

f. Present a negative RT-PCR test taken within forty-eight (48) hours, or a negative laboratory based Antigen Test taken within twenty-four (24) hours, prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin/first port of embarkation in a continuous travel to the Philippines, excluding lay-ovens; provided, that, he/she has not left the airport premises or has not been admitted into another country during such lay-over;

g. Have passports valid for a period of at least six (6) months at the time of their arrival to the Philippines;

h. Except for foreign spouses and/or children of Filipino citizens and former Filipino citizens with balikbayan privilege under Republic Act No. 9174, including their foreign spouse and/or children who: (i) are not balikbayans in their own right and (ii) are traveling with them to the Philippines, have valid tickets for their return journey to the port of origin or next port of destination not later than thirty (30) days from date of arrival in the Philippines; AND

i. Obtain, prior to arrival, a travel insurance for COVID-19 treatment costs from reputed insurers, with a minimum coverage of USD35,000.00 for the duration of their stay in the Philippines."

B. Section C (1) shall be amended to read as follows:

"C. Foreign Nationals Entering Through 9(a) Visa

1. Foreign nationals covered by Section A(1)(b) intending to stay beyond thirty (30) days 2 for purposes other than tourism or leisure, or not covered or qualified under Section A(1)(a), A(1)(b), or A(1)(c) above, or foreign nationals from visa-required countries or restricted nationals, may enter the Philippines through an entry exemption document (EED) issued under existing IATF rules and regulations, provided: x x x"

C. Section C (2) shall be amended to read as follows:

"C. Foreign Nationals Entering Through 9(a) Visa

2. Foreign spouses and children of Filipino citizens who: (i) are not nationals of E.O. 408 countries, whether or not traveling with said Filipino citizen; or (ii) are from visa-required countries; or (iii) who are restricted nationals may enter the country without need of an entry exemption document (EED), provided they have been issued a 9(a) visa with the appropriate visa notation. These foreign nationals are likewise required to comply with the provisions of Section A(1)(d) to A(1)(i)."

II. The entry, testing, and quarantine protocols for Filipino nationals arriving from abroad under the following provisions of Resolution 160-A, dated 03 February 2022, are hereby amended as follows:

A. Section A (1) shall be amended to read as follows:

"A. Fully-vaccinated Filipino Nationals

1. Present a negative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test taken within forty-eight (48) hours, or a negative laboratory based Antigen test taken within twenty-four (24) hours, prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin/first port of embarkation in a continuous travel to the Philippines, excluding lay-overs; provided, that he/she has not left the airport premises or has not been admitted into another country during such lay-over."

B. Section B (A) shall be amended to read as follows:

"B. Unvaccinated, Partially Unvaccinated, or Filipino Nationals Whose Vaccination Status Cannot be Independently Validated

1. Present a negative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test taken within forty-eight (48) hours, or a negative laboratory based Antigen test taken within twenty-four (24) hours, prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin/first port of embarkation in a continuous travel to the Philippines, excluding lay-overs; provided, that he/she has not left the airport premises or has not been admitted into another country during such lay-over."

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the IATF Secretariat shall re-publish IATF Resolution Nos. 160-A and 160-B, dated 03 February 2022 as amended by Resolution No. 160-D, dated 10 February 2022, incorporating amendments herein made, for the reference of the general public;

RESOLVED FINALLY, 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 164th Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting, as reflected in the minutes of the meeting, held this March 10, 2022, via video conference.

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

ATTACHMENT

Certification

This is to certify that:

1. I am presently an Assistant Secretary of the Department of Health;

2. I am the interim OIC-Head of the Secretariat of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases created under Executive Order No. 168, series of 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 a regular meeting of the IATF, the IATF Resolution No. 164-A was unanimously approved and adopted;

6. The foregoing resolution has been signed by Secretary Francisco T. Duque III 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 10th day of March 2022, Manila.

(SGD.) ATTY. CHARADE B. MERCADO-GRANDEHead of the Secretariat, IATF

Footnotes

1. Citizens/nationals of Brazil and Israel are allowed to say for a period not exceeding fifty-nine (59) days.

2. Fifty-nine (59) days for citizens/nationals of Brazil and Israel.