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

April 17, 2020

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 025, 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, to mitigate and contain the transmission of COVID-19, and to mobilize the provision of basic necessities to sectors adversely affected by the Enhanced Community Quarantine, Congress enacted Republic Act No. 11469, or the "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act";

WHEREAS, on April 7, 2020, upon the recommendation of 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 17, 2020, there are five thousand eight hundred seventy-eight (5,878) 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 IATF adopts a national-government-enabled, Local Government Unit (LGU)-led, and people-centered response to the COVID-19 health event.

In materializing the aforementioned general principles, all agencies are directed to recommend sector-specific plans, strategies and targets to the IATF. The National Task Force (NTF) COVID-19 is likewise directed to develop the necessary operational plans. LGUs are enjoined to pursue regional cooperation in leading the fight against COVID-19.

B. Paragraph (B) of IATF Resolution No. 22, series of 2020, is hereby amended, to wit:

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"The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), in coordination with Local Government Units (LGUs), shall hereafter lead the contact-tracing efforts of the government. For this purpose, the Department of Health (DOH) and the DILG are directed to enter into a data-sharing agreement (DSA) in accordance with Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act."

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C. The DOH guidelines for the utilization of rapid antibody test kits as presented and amended are hereby approved.

D. The NTF Sub-group on Food Security established under Resolution No. 22, series of 2020, is hereby reorganized into the NTF Task Group on Food Security, with the Department of Agriculture (DA) as chair, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the National Security Council (NSC), the DILG, and such other agencies as may be determined by the chair, as members.

E. With a view to assist and support sugar farmers and the sugar industry, the recommendation of the DA to encourage LGUs to include sugar in their relief good packages is adopted, and

F. The NTF Chief Implementer is hereby authorized to establish, reorganize, and abolish NTF sub-task groups as may be necessary to carry out the government's response to the COVID-19 health event.

APPROVED during the 25th Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting, as reflected in the minutes of the meeting, held this 17th of April, 2020 via video conference.

FRANCISCO T. DUQUE IIISecretary, Department of HealthIATF Chairperson

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

ATTACHMENT

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )

City of Manila ) S.S

SECRETARY'S CERTIFICATE

I, KENNETH G. RONQUILLO, MD, MPHM, of legal age, Filipino, with office address at San Lazaro Compound, Tayuman, Sta. Cruz, Manila, after having been sworn in accordance with law, hereby depose and say as follows:

1) That I am the duly appointed Head Secretariat of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases in the Philippines hereinafter referred to as the "IATF," an entity duly organized and existing and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office and place of business at San Lazaro Compound, Tayuman, Sta. Cruz, Manila;

2) That I am the custodian of the books and records of the IATF, including the Minutes and Resolutions;

3) That at the Regular Meeting of the IATF held on 17 April 2020, during which a quorum was present and acted throughout, the following resolution was unanimously approved:

IATF Resolution No. 25

4) That the foregoing resolution has not been altered, modified, nor revoked; and that the same is now in full force and in effect; and

5) That I am executing this Certificate for whatever legitimate purpose it may serve.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my signature this 17th day of April 2020 at San Lazaro Compound, Tayuman, Sta. Cruz, Manila.

KENNETH G. RONQUILLO, MD, MPHMIATF HEAD SECRETARIAT

Subscribed and sworn to before me this ____ day of ________ at _____________, affiant exhibiting to me his competent proof of identification issued on ________________ in ________________ and his Passport/Driver License No. ________________, which will expire on _______________________.

Doc. No. _________;

Page No. _________;

Book No. _________;

Series of __________.

NOTARY PUBLIC