Recommendations for the Management of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation

March 9, 2020

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 010, S. 2020

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CORONA VIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) SITUATION

WHEREAS, Section 15 of 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, recognizing the need for an inter-sectoral collaboration to establish preparedness and ensure efficient government response to assess, monitor, contain, control, and prevent the spread of any potential epidemic in the Philippines, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases was created by virtue of Executive Order No. 168, series of 2014;

WHEREAS,on January 7, 2020, Chinese health authorities reported that the cause of a viral pneumonia outbreak in the City of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China is a novel type of Corona Virus that has not been previously identified in humans;

WHEREAS,on January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) has considered the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC);

WHEREAS,on the same date, the Secretary of Health confirmed the first imported positive COVID-19 case in the Philippines;

WHEREAS,on March 7, 2020, the first case of localized COVID-19 transmission was confirmed by the Department of Health;

WHEREAS, on March 8, 2020, President Rodrigo R. Duterte, recognizing that the COVID-19 public health event constitutes a threat to national security, and to prompt a whole-of-government approach in addressing the outbreak, declared a State of Public Health Emergency throughout the entire Philippines by issuing Proclamation No. 922;

WHEREAS,as of March 9, 2020, the Philippines through the Department of Health has confirmed a total of twenty four (24) positive COVID-19 cases in the country;

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

1. The recommendations of the Department of Health Technical Advisory Group on the imposition of Social Distancing Measures in the National Capital Region shall hereby be adopted, the salient points of which are as follows:

a. Classes shall be suspended in all levels in Metro Manila from March 10 to March 14, 2020. Provided,that all students shall continue to fulfil their educational requirements during said period. Provided, further,that the concerned local government units shall be responsible for implementing measures to ensure that students remain in their homes during said duration;

b. Mass gatherings, defined as a planned or spontaneous event where the number of people attending could strain the planning and response resources of the community hosting the event, shall be temporarily prohibited during said period; and

c. Employers in the private sector and the Civil Service Commission are hereby encouraged to implement alternative working arrangements to impose social distancing between and among employees.

2. The aforementioned provisions shall be subject to continuous and regular reassessment by the Inter-Agency Task Force and other concerned agencies; and

3. Finally, the Office of the President shall be humbly requested to adopt this Resolution, and to direct other agencies of the national government to implement the aforementioned provisions.

APPROVED at the 10th Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting as reflected in the minutes of the meeting this 9th of March, 2020, at the Heroes Hall, Malacañang Palace, Manila, Philippines.

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

(SGD.) TEODORO L. LOCSIN, JR.Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs

(SGD.) EDUARDO M. AÑOSecretary, Department of the Interior and Local Government

(SGD.) MENARDO I. GUEVARRASecretary, Department of Justice

(SGD.) BERNADETTE FATIMA T. ROMULO-PUYATSecretary, Department of Tourism

(SGD.) ARTHUR P. TUGADESecretary, Department of Transportation

(SGD.) SILVESTRE H. BELLO IIISecretary, Department of Labor and Employment

(SGD.) ALAN A. SILORAssistant Secretary, Department of Information and Communications Technology