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

March 30, 2020

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 017, S. 2020

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

WHEREAS, on 8 March 2020, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued Proclamation No. 922, declaring a State of Public Health Emergency throughout the entire Philippines, and prompting a whole-of-government approach in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic;

WHEREAS, on 12 March 2020, the President, upon recommendation by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), raised the Code Alert Level for COVID-19 to Code Red Sublevel Two, and directed the imposition of Stringent Social Distancing Measures in the National Capital Region (NCR) for thirty (30) days;

WHEREAS, on 16 March 2020, the entirety of Luzon was placed under enhanced community quarantine, with the objective of preventing a sharp rise of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines;

WHEREAS, on 24 March 2020, to unify the mobilization of government assets in addressing the COVID-19 situation, the National Task Force on COVID-19 was established;

WHEREAS, cognizant of the order of the President for the IATF to convene as frequently as required concerning the implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) over the entire Luzon, the IATF has been continuously convening so as to improve its implementation and resolve issues and concerns arising therefrom.

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

A. The Department of Health (DOH) shall coordinate with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of National Defense (DND) to ensure the prompt delivery of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) from suppliers or donors to the National Task Force (NTF) COVID-19 Task Group on Resource Management and Logistics and, ultimately, to the frontliners on the ground;

B. In addition to the directives of the IATF under Resolution No. 16, series of 2020, the following are directed to expedite their respective efforts in the identification, establishment and/or furbishing of facilities that will be utilized for quarantine or isolation:

1. The DOTr shall lead the identification of maritime vessels that can serve as floating quarantine centers, in coordination with the DOH;

2. The Department of Tourism (DOT) shall finalize the identification of hotels and other similar establishments as quarantine facilities in every region of the country. The Bureau of Quarantine is directed to assess the adequacy of such facilities identified by the DOT;

3. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), in cooperation with private entities, shall complete all the works necessary to convert the Philippine International Convention Center, World Trade Center, the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, and such other facilities as may be necessary, into fully-functional quarantine facilities;

4. LGUs shall finalize the identification and furbishing of Provincial, City, Municipal, and Barangay quarantine facilities in accordance with the guidelines issued by the DILG; and

5. The DOH Centers for Health Development and the regional offices of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Local Government Units (LGUs), including uniformed services, shall form composite teams who will serve as personnel in quarantine facilities operated by the national government and LGUs; and

Provided, that all identified facilities shall be reported to the NTF COVID-19 Task Group on Resource Management and Logistics for consolidation. Provided, further, that the latter shall classify the identified facilities into those that can be utilized for quarantine of Persons Under Monitoring (PUMs), isolation of Patients Under Investigation (PUIs), and those where positive COVID-19 cases with mild symptoms may be managed;

C. LGUs are likewise directed to fulfill the following functions in accordance with the guidelines issued by the DOH, as applicable:

1. Sustain the provision of basic necessities and local transport for their residents;

2. Identify appropriate human resources who may aid the national government in conducting intensive contact tracing, assessment, and monitoring of PUMs and PUIs, as well as in the issuance of Certificate of Completion of 14-Day Quarantine through their Local Health Units (LHUs); and

3. Disinfect areas in their respective localities as frequently as necessary.

D. Paragraph I of IATF Resolution No. 14, series of 2020, providing for exemptions on the implementation of the ECQ in the entirety of Luzon is hereby amended, to wit:

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k. Employees of the Philippine Postal Corporation at a capacity necessary to maintain the prompt delivery of services to its clients.

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Provided that such exemption shall be without prejudice to the requirement of strict social distancing measures in their establishments;

E. The IATF recommends to the Office of the President the proposal of the Department of Agriculture to import a total of 300,000 metric tons of rice by the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) through government-to-government arrangements for contingency purposes;

F. The national policy of unhampered movement of cargoes and workers from permitted establishments such as agriculture and food products, and their supply chain, is hereby affirmed;

G. The IATF Technical Working Group (TWG) to be led by the DOH is directed to convene and finalize the parameters for deciding on the eventual total or partial lifting of the ECQ in Luzon, the possible extension of its duration, or its expansion to other areas outside the contained area, subject to the approval, amendment or modification by the IATF;

H. The IATF TWG is likewise directed to formulate and present a decision tool for the management of land-based or sea-based Overseas Filipino Workers who may be repatriated through the efforts of the national government;

I. The IATF adopts the recommendation of the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the issuance of a Joint Memorandum Circular governing the handling of confiscated goods covered by the Price Act, and other relevant laws; and

J. The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) shall form part of the expanded membership of the IATF.

APPROVED during the 18th Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting, as reflected in the minutes of the meeting, held this 30th of March, 2020 via video conference.

FRANCISCO T. DUQUE IIISecretary, Department of Health

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

BERNADETTE ROMULO-PUYATSecretary, Department of Tourism

SILVESTRE H. BELLO IIISecretary, Department of Labor and Employment

TEODORO L. LOCSIN JR.Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs

MENARDO I. GUEVARRASecretary, Department of Justice

GREGORIO B. HONASAN IISecretary, Department of Information and Communications Technology

ARTHUR P. TUGADESecretary, Department of Transportation

Conforme:

SALVADOR C. MEDIALDEAExecutive Secretary, Office of the Executive Secretary

KARLO ALEXEI B. NOGRALESCabinet Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat of the Philippines

SALVADOR S. PANELOSecretary, Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel

HERMOGENES C. ESPERONDirector-General, National Security Council

CARLITO G. GALVEZ JR.Secretary, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process

JOSE RUPERTO MARTIN M. ANDANARSecretary, Presidential Communications Operations Office

DELFIN N. LORENZANASecretary, Department of National Defense

RAMON M. LOPEZSecretary, Department of Trade and Industry

WILLIAM D. DARSecretary, Department of Agriculture

ROY A. CIMATUSecretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources

LEONOR M. BRIONESSecretary, Department of Education

ROLANDO JOSELITO D. BAUTISTASecretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development

ERNESTO M. PERNIASecretary, National Economic and Development Authority

BAYANI H. AGABINUndersecretary, Department of Finance

ROLANDO U. TOLEDOAssistant Secretary, Department of Budget and Management

RICARDO B. JALADAdministrator, Office of the Civil Defense

ARCHIE FRANCISCO F. GAMBOAChief, Philippine National Police

FELIMON T. SANTOS, JR.Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines

JOEL S. GARCIACommandant, Philippine Coast Guard

DANILO D. LIMChairman, Metro Manila Development Authority