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

April 3, 2020

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 019, S. 2020

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

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;

WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, to prevent the sharp rise of COVID-19 cases in the country, the President placed the entirety of Luzon under Enhanced Community Quarantine until April 14, 2020;

WHEREAS, on the same date, to provide the necessary flexibility for government agencies and Local Government Units (LGUs) to utilize appropriate emergency funds for disaster response, the President declared a country-wide State of Calamity through Proclamation No. 929;

WHEREAS, on March 30, 2020, to develop a science-based approach in determining whether the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon should be totally or partially lifted, extended, or expanded to other areas, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) convened a Technical Working Group tasked to define parameters in assessing recent developments in the Philippine COVID-19 situation;

WHEREAS, as of April 3, 2020, there are three thousand and eighteen (3,018) confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines.

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

A. The following parameters proposed by the IATF sub-technical working group (TWG) on Data Analytics for deciding on the total or partial lifting, or the possible extension of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon are hereby adopted:

1. Trends in the COVID-19 epidemiological curve, which include, among others, the doubling time, acceleration, or deceleration of new cases;

2. Capacity of the health care system, which includes, among others, the number and availability of quarantine, isolation, and treatment facilities, the capability to mount contact tracing, availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to frontliners, and the testing capacity of the country;

3. Social factors;

4. Economic factors; and

5. Security factors.

For this purpose, the Department of Health (DOH) is hereby directed to convene all concerned agencies, and to finalize the aggregation and analysis of all relevant data applicable to the contained area, subject to the deliberation of the IATF and final determination by the President.

Provided, that the same sub-TWG is likewise directed to apply said parameters and come up with recommendations in regard to the possible implementation of a general or enhanced community quarantine in localities in Visayas and Mindanao;

B. The Department of Health, together with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is hereby directed to draft the necessary guidelines for the utilization of FDA-approved COVID-19 rapid test kits, such as, but not limited to, lateral flow assay kits, to rationalize testing protocols as well as to complement the existing capacity of the country to conduct reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing;

C. The Interim Guidelines on the Repatriation of Land-Based Overseas Filipinos as revised by the IATF sub-TWG on the management of repatriated Overseas Filipinos (OFs), is hereby approved. The IATF sub-TWG is directed to include the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) as members;

D. The recommendations of the Department of Agriculture (DA) are hereby adopted, the specifics of which are as follows:

a. The augmentation of the existing budget for the "Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat" (ALPAS) program of the DA, to facilitate the early planting season specifically in areas with irrigation;

b. The recognition of the authority to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to issue quarantine accreditation passes to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs), to continue supplying agricultural products to critical areas affected by the ECQ;

c. The granting of additional budget to the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) to facilitate government-to-government negotiations in import 300,000 metric tons of rice to the country; and

d. The continued inclusion of rice farmers listed under the DA-FSRF as beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Social Amelioration Program.

E. The IATF authorizes the technical visit of twelve (12) medical experts from the People's Republic of China, who will assist government efforts in addressing the COVID-19 situation in the Philippines subject to ratification by the Office of the President;

F. An IATF sub-TWG is hereby created, which shall be composed of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) as chair, Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Department of Education (DepEd), the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), the National Privacy Commission (NPC), the National Security Council (NSC), the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), and such other agencies as the chair may deem appropriate, to convene and propose information and communications technology solutions in the government's response to the COVID-19 situation;

G. Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC), and health insurance providers, shall be considered as part of health frontline services, for purposes of exempting their workers in the implementation of the ECQ; and

H. The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases in the Philippines denounces in the strongest of terms acts of discrimination inflicted upon healthcare workers, OFWs, COVID-19 cases, whether confirmed or suspected, recovered or undergoing treatment, as well as Patients under Investigation and Persons under Monitoring. Acts in furtherance of discrimination, such, but not limited to, coercion, libel, slander, physical injuries and the dishonor of contractual obligations such as contracts of lease or employment, shall be dealt with criminally, civilly, and/or administratively. Local Government Units (LGUs) are enjoined to issue the necessary executive orders and/or enact ordinances prohibiting and penalizing these discriminatory acts.

APPROVED during the 20th Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting, as reflected in the minutes of the meeting, held this 3rd of April, 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

MENARDO I. GUEVARRASecretary, Department of Justice

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

ARTEMIO U. TUAZONUndersecretary, Department of Transportation

BRIGIDO J. DULAYUndersecretary, Department of Foreign Affairs

Conforme:

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

HERMOGENES C. ESPERONSecretary, 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

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

ERNESTO M. PERNIASecretary, National Economic and Development Authority

DELFIN N. LORENZANASecretary, Department of National Defense

BAYANI H. AGABINUndersecretary, Department of Finance

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

RYAN ALVIN R. ACOSTADeputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs, Office of the Executive Secretary

DARREN L. SALIPSIPAssistant Secretary, Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel

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

JEREMIAH B. BELGICADirector-General, Anti-Red Tape Authority