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

April 8, 2020

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 022, S. 2020

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

WHEREAS, on March 8, 2020, recognizing that the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (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 12, 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 7, 2020, upon the recommendation by the IATF, the President extended the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine over the entirety of Luzon until April 30, 2020;

WHEREAS, as of April 8, 2020, there are three thousand eight hundred and seventy (3,870) confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines.

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

A. In adherence to comity and reciprocity, and only to the extent of the principle of national treatment, the IATF approves the recommendations of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on the Testing and Treatment Coverage for COVID-19 Positive Foreign Nationals and Diplomats, as follows:

1. If the foreign national is tested and/or treated in a government hospital and the results are positive, no testing or treatment costs/fees will be charged;

2. If the foreign national is tested and/or treated in a government hospital and the results are negative, testing or treatment costs/fees shall be charged against the individual or his/her medical insurance;

3. If the foreign national is tested and/or treated in a private hospital, testing or treatment costs/fees shall be charged against the individual or his/her medical insurance; and

4. The Department of Health (DOH) designates the following as testing and/or treatment hospitals for foreign diplomatic missions and international organizations:

a. Designated government hospitals: The Philippine General Hospital, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium, and the Lung Center of the Philippines; and

b. Designated private hospital: Fe Del Mundo Medical Center.

The DOH is hereby directed to issue the necessary guidelines to implement and operationalize the foregoing provisions. Upon issuance, the DFA is likewise directed to transmit such guidelines to diplomatic missions and international organizations in the Philippines;

B. The Office of Civil Defense (OCD), in coordination with other agencies and Local Government Units (LGUs) as may be appropriate, shall hereafter lead the contact-tracing efforts of the government. For this purpose, the DOH and the OCD are directed to enter into a data-sharing agreement (DSA) in accordance with Republic Act No. 10173 or the "Data Privacy Act";

C. The IATF adopts the policy of mandatory public disclosure of personal information relating to positive COVID-19 cases to enhance the contact-tracing efforts of the government;

D. The recommendations of the National Security Council as presented are hereby adopted, the specifics of which are as follows:

1. Intensify risk communication operations of the National Task Force (NTF) on Strategic Communications (STRATCOM), and the NTF to End Local Communist Armed Conflict STRATCOM Cluster to achieve information transparency and manage the public's expectations;

2. Ensure food and water security, including shelter and energy, of the people through the activation of the Food Security subgroup under the Technical Group of Resource and Logistics Management of the National Task Force headed by Department of Agriculture with member agencies: Department of Trade and Industry, National Economic and Development Authority, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Budget and Management, among others and give regular updates to the appropriate NTF TG on food production and manufacturing;

3. Develop resiliency among the public, especially of the eighteen million families targeted for social amelioration by ensuring the delivery of food and basic services and continuously apprising them of the government's efforts through tri-media channels.

E. Paragraph (I) of IATF Resolution No. 14, series of 2020, providing for exemptions on the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon is hereby amended, to wit:

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"l. The Philippine Statistics Authority shall be allowed to operate at a capacity necessary to conduct data gathering and survey activities related to COVID-19, including those related to the registration and implementation of the National Identification (I.D.) System."

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Provided, that such exemption shall be without prejudice to the requirement of strict social distancing measures in all its operations and data-gathering activities.

F. Pursuant to the exemption granted in favor of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and export-oriented establishments under IATF Resolution No. 13, series of 2020, and due to the extension of the ECQ, BPOs and their services providers shall be allowed to install the necessary work-from-home equipment at any time for its duration. Export-oriented industries are likewise allowed to enhance their operations by deploying their workers under on-site or near-site accommodation arrangements, or by providing point-to-point shuttle services, subject to strict social distancing measures and routinary disinfection of facilities and vehicles.

LGUs are directed to allow the movement of these workers and their equipment for the aforementioned purposes; and

G. To carry out the directive under Paragraph (F) of IATF Resolution No. 18, series of 2020 of ensuring the unhampered transit of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who have been issued certificates of completion of fourteen (14)-day quarantine, or those who may be required to undergo mandatory 14-day home quarantine, all LGUs are enjoined to allow the docking of maritime vessels in their ports, as well as to allow the disembarkation and transit of the aforementioned OFWs to their ultimate destination in the country; and

H. Subject to the requirements and recommendations of the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) pursuant to Republic Act No. 11223, or the "Universal Health Care Act," the DOH is hereby directed to issue updated guidelines or protocols on the use of rapid test kits in the Philippines.

APPROVED during the 22nd Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting, as reflected in the minutes of the meeting, held this 8th 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

DANILO G. PAMONAGUndersecretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development

RICARDO P. BERNABE IIIUndersecretary, 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