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

April 29, 2020

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 030, S. 2020

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

WHEREAS, on April 20, 2020, the IATF adopted the policy of utilizing rapid test kits to test and manage all incoming repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers;

WHEREAS, on April 22, 2020, the IATF instructed the Sub-Task Group for the Repatriation of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to issue omnibus protocols governing the management n and surveillance of repatriated land-based and sea-based OFWs upon arrival and after the completion of the mandated quarantine period;

WHEREAS, on April 27, 2020, the IATF directed the National Task Force (NTF) COVID-19 to explore the utilization of Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests for OFW returning from high-risk jurisdictions.

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

A. The IATF formally recommends for the approval and confirmation of the President the Omnibus Guidelines for the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines, which shall apply to all regions, provinces, cities, or areas placed under General or Enhanced Community Quarantine, and without prejudice to amendment, revision, or modification;

B. The following geographic areas, including all provinces, highly-urbanized cities (HUCs), independent component cities (ICCs), component cities (CCs), and municipalities situated therein, shall be placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine from the period of May 1, 12:01 AM, up to May 15, 11:59 PM:

1. The National Capital Region;

2. Region III (Central Luzon), except Aurora;

3. Region IV-A (CALABARZON);

4. Pangasinan;

5. Benguet;

6. Iloilo;

7. Cebu;

8. The City of Bacolod; and

9. The City of Davao.

C. A special batch of around two hundred (200) Overseas Filipinos (OFs) from Milan, Italy shall be subjected to RT-PCR test upon arrival. Those who test negative shall be exempted from the requirement of facility-based quarantine, and shall be allowed to proceed to their respective destinations and undergo a mandatory fourteen-day home quarantine;

D. The NTF COVID-19 Chief Implementer is hereby authorized to exercise discretion in utilizing RT-PCR or rapid antibody test kits to facilitate the speedy management or processing of more or less sixteen thousand (16,000) OFWs who are currently in quarantine facilities, and arriving foreign nationals;

E. All arriving non-OFWs shall be managed in accordance with the updated algorithm for the triage and management of repatriated OFWs from high-risk or other jurisdictions issued by the Department of Health and the Bureau of Quarantine;

F. Paragraph (B) of the Inter-Agency Task Force Resolution No. 29, s. 2020 is hereby amended as follows:

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Beginning 16 May 2020, all decisions to impose, lift, or extend a community quarantine in provinces, highly-urbanized cities (HUCs) and independent component cities (ICCs) shall rest with the IATF.

This notwithstanding, provincial governors shall be authorized to impose, lift, or extend ECQ in component cities (CCs) and municipalities upon the concurrence of the relevant regional counterpart body of the IATF. Local Chief Executives of cities and municipalities are authorized to impose, lift, or extend, ECQ in barangays, upon the concurrence of the relevant regional counterpart body of the IATF. This is without prejudice to the authority of the IATF to directly impose, lift, or extend ECQ in these areas should circumstances call for it.

No LGU shall declare its own community quarantine, regardless of nomenclature, without observing the foregoing procedure.

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APPROVED during the 30th Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting, as reflected in the minutes of the meeting, held this 29th of April, 2020 via video conference.

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

(SGD.) KARLO ALEXEI B. NOGRALESCabinet Secretary, Office of the Cabinet SecretaryIATF Co-Chairperson

 

n Note from the Publisher: Written as "governing the aand surveillance" in the original document.