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

March 12, 2020

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 011, 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 was 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) health event as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).On the same date, the Secretary of Health confirmed the first imported 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 COVID-19 outbreak, declared a State of Public Health Emergency throughout the entire Philippines through Proclamation No. 922;

WHEREAS,as of March 12, 2020, the Philippines through the Department of Health has confirmed a total of forty-nine (49) positive COVID-19 cases in the country; and

WHEREAS,on March 12, 2020, the WHO has characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic.

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

A. The Code Alert System for the COVID-19 public health event is hereby raised to Code Red Sublevel Two (2);

B. The recommendations of the Department of Health Technical Advisory Group on imposing Stringent Social Distancing Measures in the National Capital Region are adopted for a period of thirty (30) days from the issuance of this Resolution, the salient points of which are as follows:

1. The suspension of classes in all levels in Metro Manila is hereby extended until April 12, 2020. Provided,that all students shall continue to fulfil their educational requirements during said period. Provided, further,that concerned local government units (LGUs),with supervision of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, shall be responsible for implementing measures to ensure that students remain in their homes during said duration;

2. 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 prohibited during said period;

3. Community quarantine is hereby imposed in the entirety of Metro Manila. In other areas, the LGUs are advised to abide by the following guidelines in imposing localized community quarantine in their respective jurisdictions:

a. A barangay-wide quarantine is advised when there at least two positive COVID-19 cases belonging to different households in the same barangay;

b. A municipality/city-wide quarantine is advised when there are at least two positive COVID-19 cases belonging to different barangays in the same municipality/city; and

c. A province-wide quarantine is advised when there are at least two positive COVID-19 cases belonging to different municipalities, component cities or independent component cities in the same province; and

d. LGUs which have imposed community quarantine in their respective jurisdictions, upon the declaration of a State of Calamity, shall be allowed to access their Quick Response Fund.

4. Work in the executive branch shall be suspended during said period, without prejudice to the formation of skeletal workforces by government agencies in order to maintain the unimpeded delivery of services to the public. Provided,that the military, police and other uniformed personnel, the health and emergency frontline services shall continue in full operation. Provided, finally,that the legislative and judicial branches shall be encouraged to adopt the same policy;

5. Flexible work arrangements shall likewise be encouraged in the private sector. The Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Trade and Industry shall issue guidelines to safeguard the welfare of workers. All manufacturing, retail, and service establishments are advised to remain in operation during said period. Provided,that strict social distancing measures are required to be observed by their respective managements;

6. Mass public transports including the Light Rail Transits, the Metro Rail Transit, and the Philippine National Railways shall continue in operation. Provided,that the Department of Transportation shall issue guidelines to ensure social distancing in said public transports;

7. Land, domestic air, and domestic sea travel to and from Metro Manila shall be suspended beginning March 15, 2020 00:01H to end April 14, 2020 23:59H, subject to daily review by the Inter-Agency Task Force; and

8. The aforementioned measures shall be subject to close monitoring, and reassessment after the expiration of seven (7) days from the issuance of this Resolution.

C. LGUs outside of the National Capital Region are advised to exercise sound discretion in suspending classes in their respective localities, without prejudice to a determination by the national government to suspend classes if the situation so warrants. Provided,if so, all students shall continue to fulfil their educational requirements during the relevant period.;Provided, further,that the concerned LGU shall be responsible for implementing measures to ensure that students remain in their homes during the relevant duration;

D. The Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, in coordination with the Inter-Agency Task Force, shall be called upon to ensure effective and orderly implementation of the above-mentioned measures;

E. A meeting shall be conducted daily by and between the Secretaries of the member agencies of the IATF, including the Cabinet Secretary, Secretaries of National Defense, Environment and Natural Resources, Trade and Industry, Social Welfare and Development, Education, Agriculture, the Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP),Philippine Navy (PN),Philippine Air Force (PAF),Philippine Coast Guard (PCG),and the Philippine National Police (PNP),and such other agencies or entities as the IATF may invite, with the goal of mobilizing the entire government machinery in addressing the recent developments in the COVID-19 pandemic, until such time that the health event subsides;

F. Balik-Manggagawa Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) shall be allowed to travel to mainland China, except to Hubei Province, upon execution of a Declaration signifying their knowledge and understanding of the risks involved. Provided,that a health advisory pamphlet shall be handed out to the OFWs upon departure;

G. Entry travel restrictions shall be imposed upon those traveling from countries with localized COVID-19 transmissions, except for Filipino citizens including their foreign spouse and children, if any, holders of Permanent Resident Visa, and holders of 9 (e) Diplomat Visas issued by the Philippine Government; and

H. Finally, all the aforementioned provisions shall be subject to submission to the President for amendment, modification or approval.

APPROVED at the 11th Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting as reflected in the minutes of the meeting this 12th of March, 2020, at the Department of National Defense Convention Hall, Quezon City.

FRANCISCO T. DUQUE IIISecretary, Department of Health

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

MENARDO I. GUEVARRASecretary, Department of Justice

BERNADETTE ROMULO-PUYATSecretary, Department of Tourism

SILVESTRE H. BELLO IIISecretary, Department of Labor and Employment

BRIGIDO J. DULAYUndersecretary, Department of Foreign Affairs

MANUEL L. TAMAYOUndersecretary, Department of Transportation

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

KARLO B. NOGRALESCabinet Secretary