IATF-EID Resolution No. 165, s. 2022

March 24, 2022

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 165, 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 National Task Force Against COVID-19 National Vaccination Operations Center, IATF Resolution No. 163 (s. 2022), as amended by IATF Resolution No. 164 (s. 2022), providing for, among others, the criteria for the deescalation of provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities to Alert Level 1 shall be further amended, as follows:

b. Provinces, highly urbanized cities, independent component cities, component cities, and municipalities shall be deescalated to Alert Level 1 upon meeting all of the following criteria:

1. Low to minimal risk case classification;

2. Total bed utilization rate of less than fifty percent (<50%). For component cities and municipalities, low risk total bed utilization rate of their province and/or region;

3. Full vaccination of seventy percent (70%) of its target population (denominator is (80%) of its total population); and

4. Full vaccination of seventy percent (70%) of its Priority Group A2 (Senior Citizens) target population (denominator is 85% of A2 population).

These metrics shall be applied for the determination of the alert level classification beginning 01 April 2022. Further, the Sub-Technical Working Group on Data Analytics may recommend the reclassification of Local Government Units upon appeal of their respective Alert Level Classification at anytime upon the determination that such province, highly urbanized city, independent component city, component city, and municipality has met the prescribed metrics for escalation or de-escalation.

B. Upon the recommendations of the Technical Working Group, fully vaccinated foreign nationals shall be allowed entry into the Philippines, as follows:

1. Beginning 0001H, 01 April 2022, foreign nationals may enter the Philippines without need of an Entry Exemption Document (EED); provided they comply with the applicable visa requirements and immigration entry and departure formalities; provided further that they:

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

b. Carry/possess an acceptable proof of vaccination, as set out in Section 3 below;

c. 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-overs; provided, that, he/she has not left the airport premises or has not been admitted into another country during such lay-over;

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

e. Except for foreign spouses and/or children of Filipino citizens and former Filipino citizens with Balikbayan privileges 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

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

2. A foreign national shall be deemed fully vaccinated only if he/she is fully compliant with the following requisites:

a. Received the second (2nd) dose in a 2-dose series or a single dose vaccine more than fourteen (14) days prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin/port of embarkation.

b. The vaccine is included in any of the following:

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

ii. Emergency Use Listing of the World Health Organization.

3. The following shall be the only acceptable proofs of vaccination, which shall be presented prior to departing/boarding from the country of origin/port of embarkation and upon arrival in the country:

a. World Health Organization International Certificate of Vaccination and Prophylaxis; OR

b. VaxCertPH; OR

c. National or state digital certificate of the country/foreign government which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement; OR

d. Other proof of vaccination permitted by the IATF.

4. Foreign nationals who fail to fully comply with the conditions and requisites set forth in Sections 1 to 3 above shall be denied admission into the country and shall be subject to the appropriate exclusion proceedings.

5. Once admitted into the country, they are no longer required to observe facility-based quarantine but shall self-monitor for any sign or symptom for seven (7) days with the first day being the date of arrival. However, they are required to report to the local government unit (LGU) of their destination should they manifest any symptoms.

6. Foreign nationals with valid and subsisting Entry Exemption Documents (EED) issued prior to 01 April 2022 shall be allowed entry pursuant to Section C of Resolution 160-B.

7. With the new rules on the entry of foreign nationals, IATF Resolution No. 131-A dated 05 August 2021 allowing for the interim application for visa issuance shall no longer be applied beginning 01 April 2022.

 The Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Justice, the Department of Transportation-One Stop Shop, the Bureau of Quarantine, and the Bureau of Immigration are directed to ensure smooth implementation of the foregoing.

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 165th Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting, as reflected in the minutes of the meeting, held this March 24, 2022, at the Diamond Ballroom, Diamond Hotel Philippines, Manila and via videoconference.

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

(SGD.) DELFIN N. LORENZANASecretary, Department of National Defense

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;

5. In the Regular Meeting of the IATF held on 24 March 2022 at the Grand Ballroom Diamond Hotel, Manila and via videoconference during which a quorum was present and acted throughout, IATF Resolution No. 165 was unanimously approved and adopted;

6. The foregoing resolution has been signed by Secretary Francisco T. Duque III and Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana upon the authority of the IATF Members;

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

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my signature this 24th day of March 2022, Manila.

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