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

April 6, 2020

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 021, 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 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 sub-Working Group tasked to define parameters in assessing recent developments in the Philippine COVID-19 situation;

WHEREAS,on April 3, 2020, the IATF finalized the parameters for deciding on the lifting or extension of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon, which include trends on the COVID-19 epidemiological curve, the health capacity of the country, social factors, economic factors, and security factors;

WHEREAS,as of April 6, 2020, there are three thousand six hundred and sixty (3,660) 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 recommendations of the Department of Labor and Employment for the social amelioration program for the formal workers sector as presented are hereby approved. For this purpose, the IATF supports the approval and immediate release of the requested budget by the Department of Labor and Employment amounting to Five Billion Pesos (P5,000,000,000.00),in order to defray the costs of the following social amelioration programs:

1. COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) for affected Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and local workers;

2. Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) Sanitation Project; and

3. The Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) sa OFWs program.

Provided,that the beneficiaries of the aforementioned shall be separate and distinct from those already covered by social amelioration programs by other agencies of the national government;

B. The IATF shall exhaust all means necessary to increase the COVID-19 testing capacity of the country, and for this reason hereby adopts and approves the Guidelines for COVID-19 Mass Testing as presented by the Department of Health;

C. The recommendations of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in ensuring food availability and food affordability as presented are hereby approved, the specifics of which are the following:

1. The boosting of domestic agricultural production and food processing in the country. All the agriculture and fishery stakeholders must be considered front liners and their movements shall remain unhampered;

2. The improvement of food adequacy levels through increased local crop and fish production and livestock and poultry raising including that of food processing by:

a. Sustaining budget for agriculture; and

b. Expanding support for improved agricultural production and productivity. In addition to the previously approved budget of P8.5 billion for the Rice Resiliency Project, the need for additional funding amounting to P22.5 billion for the Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) Program or the PLANT, PLANT, PLANT Program of the DA is reiterated.

3. The immediate activation of the Local Price Coordinating Councils, with the guidance of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG),to strictly monitor prices and enforce Suggested Retail Price (SRP) and price freeze for basic necessities and prime commodities.

D. The recommendation of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) for the creation of the Bayanihan One-Stop Shop for sectoral agencies involved in accreditation and logistics is hereby approved. Other sectoral agencies are hereby enjoined to create their own Bayanihan One-Stop Shop and coordinate closely with the ARTA for such creation;

E. The IATF approves the request of the Department of Transportation to allow the resumption of utility relocation works and resume specified limited works across thirteen (13) rail projects, including rail replacement works for MRT-3, which can only be done when MRT-3 is not undergoing passenger operations.

Provided,that 1) limited mobilization of personnel and skeletal staffing pattern is observed, 2) on- or near-site accommodations and/or point-to-point shuttle services are provided, where applicable; 3) regular disinfection of workplaces, shuttles, and accommodations are done; 4) regular monitoring of personnel's health, especially for COVID-19 symptoms, is practiced; 5) strict social distancing measures and proper hand hygiene; and all other precautionary measures that the DOTr may implement are observed at all times;

F. Paragraph (H) of the Inter-Agency Task Force Resolution No. 18 series of 2020 providing for a thirty (30)-day grace period extended to commercial rents falling due upon micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) within the period of the ECQ, without incurring interests, penalties, fees, and other charges is hereby adopted as a national policy. Thus, this policy shall apply to areas where ECQ is implemented for its duration; and

G. The IATF recognizes the initiatives of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Board of Investments (BOI),in cooperation with DOH and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the various manufacturers and exporters to repurpose their manufacturing operations to produce critical medical products and devices, such as personal protective equipment (PPEs),surgical masks, thermal scanners and ventilators. The IATF enjoins the DOH and other public and private health institutions to consider these new capacities in their medical supply requirements.

APPROVED during the 21st Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting, as reflected in the minutes of the meeting, held this 6th 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