IATF-EID Resolution No. 169, s. 2022

June 27, 2022

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 169, 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 (e) of Executive Order No. 168 (s. 2014) mandates the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to educate the public on emerging infectious diseases and its prevention, control and management to promote positive health behaviors, and address public fear and anxiety through the conduct of a nationwide EID awareness campaign;

WHEREAS, on March 8, 2020, recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic requires the mobilization of a whole-of-government response, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte declared a State of Public Health Emergency in the entire Philippines through Proclamation No. 922. The declared State of Calamity was extended on 16 September 2021 for one year through Proclamation No. 1021, s. 2020, and on September 10, 2021, was further extended until September 12, 2022, unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant, through Proclamation No. 1218 (s. 2021);

WHEREAS, COVID-19 vaccines that have been granted with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are considered safe and effective, and, based on current available evidence, have been shown to (1) prevent symptomatic infection (2) prevent severe infection and (3) prevent transmission;

WHEREAS, following the Enhanced Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate-Vaccinate Strategy of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, its Vaccine Cluster is currently implementing the National COVID-19 Immunization Program that aims to provide added protection to all eligible Filipinos from COVID-19;

WHEREAS, the National COVID-19 Immunization Program has been opened to the general public nationwide as provided for under IATF Resolution No. 141 (s. 2021). Further, the IATF approved the recommended strategy for the Vaccination Rollout for the Rest of the Pediatric Population (ROPP) pursuant to IATF Resolution No. 146 (s. 2021);

WHEREAS, according to the National COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard of the Department of Health, as of 26 June 2022, 153,196,264 COVID-19 vaccine doses have already been administered, broken down as follows: 68,057,339 first dose administered, 70,277,898 complete dose administered, 14,861,027 booster doses administered;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved, upon the recommendation of the IATF Technical Advisory Group and the IATF Technical Working Group, the IATF hereby approves the following:

1. Paragraph A of IATF Resolution No. 148-B, s. 2021 dated 11 November 2021 is hereby amended as follows:

"A. In areas where there are sufficient supplies of COVID-19 vaccines as determined by the National Vaccines Operation Center (NVOC), all establishments and employers in the public and private sector shall require their eligible employees who are tasked to do on-site work to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Eligible employees who remain to be unvaccinated may not be terminated solely by reason thereof. However, they shall be required to undergo RT-PCR tests once every two (2) weeks, or weekly antigen tests for purposes of on-site work.

However, for public sector employees, government agencies, instrumentalities, including local government units may cover the costs of the RT-PCR or antigen tests to be administered, subject to availability of funds, and civil service, accounting and auditing rules and regulations."

2. Employees with recent COVID-19 infection within ninety (90) days, and those with alternative working arrangements that do not require on-site reporting may be exempted from the testing requirements under Section 1.

3. The testing requirements under Section 1 shall be waived for areas under Alert Level 1 classification, subject to the implementation of clinical-based management, including symptomatic testing. However, the testing requirements under Section 1 shall be reinstated in areas under Alert Level 2 classification or higher.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the provisions of IATF Resolution No. 149 in relation to IATF Resolution No. 148-B, and all other Resolutions inconsistent with this Resolution are hereby modified accordingly.

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 169th Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting, as reflected in the minutes of the meeting, held this June 27, 2022, at Diamond Hotel Philippines, Malate, Manila.

(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 OIC-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. IATF Resolution No. 169 was unanimously approved and adopted;

6. The foregoing resolution has been signed by Secretary Francisco T. Duque III and/or Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana 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 27th day of June 2022, Manila.

(SGD.) ATTY. CHARADE B. MERCADO-GRANDEOIC-Undersecretary of Health