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

March 24, 2020

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 015, S. 2020

RESOLUTIONS 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 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, relative to the said order and the subsequent implementation of an Enhanced Community Quarantine over the entire Luzon, the IATF has been continuously been meeting so as to improve the implementation of and resolve issues and concerns relative to the same;

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

A. The proposed National Action Plan for COVID-19 as presented is provisionally approved, the specifics of which are as follows:

1. To adopt measures that will provide clear, accurate and timely information to support the operations against the COVID-19 pandemic. These measures will include creating a system or platform for regular reporting and updating on COVID-19 related news in the country, giving regular press releases and other measures to provide information to the public.

2. To adopt measures for containment and mitigation of the spread of the virus to reduce the spread of new cases and to facilitate the detection, identification and isolation of COVID-19 carriers.

3. To continuously sustain the conduct of the operations against COVID-19 pandemic in terms of human resource, logistics and finance.

4. To mitigate the consequences and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the social, economic, and personal security of the Filipino people.

5. To provisionally adopt the proposed NTF COVID-19 organizational structure in the National Action Plan to lessen the burden on the IATF and to streamline and decentralize the operations in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

a. The IATF will serve as the policy-making body of the operations while the NTF COVID-19 shall serve as the operational command to be headed by the Secretary of the National Defense. The National Incident Command (NIC) will take charge of the day to day concerns and operations in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

b. The NDRRMC shall determine and identify the agencies that will belong to the new units of the proposed NTF COVID-19 organizational structure. Within the proposed organizational structure: (i) the Task Group on Response Operations will be led by the DOH, with support from other national government agencies to address enforcement and security, food security, disaster risk management, and labor issues, among others; (ii) the Task Group on Resource Management and Logistics shall ensure that critical needs of all concerned agencies will be addressed and provided; and (iii) the Task Group on Strategic Communications will be in charge of communications.

c. Agencies identified by the NDRRMC shall immediately designate an official with the rank of Undersecretary or Assistant Secretary to their assigned clusters. The aforementioned clusters shall report directly to the IATF to ensure proper coordination.

B. The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is hereby directed by the IATF to transfer PHP420,585,000.00 to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC). The said amount shall be utilized to cover COVID-19-related packages of the PHIC. This amount corresponds to fifty percent (50%) of the remainder of the standby fund under Sec. 4 of EO No. 201, per Sec. 1 of EO No. 108 (s. 2020).

C. The separate Technical Working Group for Social Amelioration chaired by the Department of Social Welfare and Development is hereby directed to convene for the finalization of the Social Amelioration Program of the Government.

D. The IATF endorses the proposal of DOLE for the immediate release of the amount of PHP1.5 billion for financial assistance for overseas workers and repatriated overseas workers to be submitted to the Department of Budget Management, copy-furnished the Office of the Executive Secretary.

E. The IATF recommends the actions proposed on the handling and disposal of the remains of COVID-19 confirmed cases and PUIs. The proposed actions are as follows:

a. In handling the remains of COVID-19 cases, general infection precautions must be strictly observed to avoid further spread of the disease.

b. LGUs shall designate funeral service facilities to handle the remains of COVID-19 cases and to provide possible financial assistance to cover the logistics, fuel, salary and other expenses that will be incurred in the process.

c. LGUs and the DILG shall monitor and penalize funeral homes that refuse to provide logistics and transport of COVID-19 remains, including but not limited to, refusal to pick-up the remains subject to the policies and guidelines of the aforementioned LGUs or DILG.

d. The DSWD shall allocate amounts for a funeral support fund alloted to indigent confirmed COVID-19 cases and PUIs regardless whether they are undergoing home quarantine, or admitted in a public or private facility. DSWD shall allot Php25,000.00 per deceased for this purpose.

e. The LGU may release issuances or ordinances to put a price cap or impose a price freeze on funeral services located within their jurisdiction.

f. To reiterate, funeral services staff and personnel are granted exemptions from the imposed enhanced community quarantine. The said individuals may freely move and travel to ensure that the remains of deceased individuals will be given proper funeral services.

g. Funeral companies are directed to provide transportation and/or housing accommodations for funeral service staff.

F. Guidelines, rules and regulations of all LGUs declaring their respective community quarantine under paragraph A.2 of IATF Resolution No. 12 must be compliant and consistent with the resolutions issued by the IATF.

G. IATF Resolution No. 13 dated March 17, 2020, Section B (1) is hereby amended and be read as follows:

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"1. Overseas Filipino Workers, permanent residents of foreign jurisdictions, and stranded foreign nationals leaving for abroad through any of the ports in Luzon shall be allowed to leave the Philippines without any impediment. Provided, that this provision shall not be interpreted to allow outbound travel to jurisdictions where travel restrictions are in place. Provided, further, that departing passengers may only be accompanied by not more than one person when traveling to any international port. Provided, finally, that the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration is hereby directed to provide transportation services to OFWs intending to leave for abroad;"

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H. Stranded passengers, whether Filipino or foreign nationals, are also allowed to book hotels and seek temporary accommodations. For hotel and other forms of accommodations, single occupancy of rooms shall only be required for health workers and repatriated OFWs. Double occupancy of rooms shall be allowed for other individuals not falling within the aforementioned individuals, subject to the guidelines of the DOH.

Outbound and repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and stranded foreign nationals shall be granted free and unimpeded access to and from national government facilities such as airports, ferries, bus terminals, etc., notwithstanding any LGU pronouncement to the contrary. The said free access shall extend to the vehicles carrying the aforementioned individuals in order for them to reach their final destination. No fee or any other requirement shall be imposed by LGUs in this regard.

I. The OCD is hereby designated as the main coordinating body for all domestic donations relative to the management of COVID-19. The OCD is authorized to receive all domestic financial donations which shall thereafter deposit the same to the Bureau of Treasury. The intended beneficiary agency shall then submit a request to the Department of Budget Management to access such funds. Government agencies who likewise receive donations in kind are hereby directed to report the same to OCD. The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) is hereby tasked to make the necessary communications to this effect.

International financial donations shall be evaluated and decided on by a technical working group comprising the DFA, OCD, DILG, DBM, and DOF.

J. The IATF approves the following recommendations of the DA, subject to implementation of skeletal workforce and social distancing measures:

1. Allow all farming and fishing activities to continue;

2. Exempt all healthy farmers and farm workers, fishers, and agri-business personnel;

3. Allow agricultural supply stores/outlets and veterinary clinics to operate;

4. Reiterate unhampered movement of all supplies used for agriculture, including food packaging and manufacturing materials;

5. Reactivation of the Local Price Coordination Council (LPCC) to strengthen the price monitoring and enforcement (MC77);

6. Upscaling KADIWA ni Ani at Kita in support for food availability, accessibility and price stability; and

7. Support the DA program — Ahon Lahat, Pagkain, Sapat (ALPAS) kontra COVID-19.

K. The IATF endorses the recommendation of the DTI in allowing the full operation of those engaged in the manufacture of medicines, medical supplies, devices, and equipment, including but not limited to suppliers of inputs, packaging, and distribution, to address the country's clear and present need for medical supplies and equipment.

L. The DTI shall enjoin concerned export enterprises that manufacture medicines, medical supplies and equipment to supply at least eighty percent (80%) of their daily production for local or domestic use. As such, the IATF recommends to the Office of the President that export requirements imposed under different relevant laws be suspended; and local sales be deemed and treated as export sales for availment of duties and taxes, exemptions and other incentives.

If so approved, the Department of Trade and Industry shall issue the appropriate guidelines for the effective implementation hereof.

M. The IATF strongly encourages companies to process payrolls online. However, for those who cannot, one payroll manager for each company is allowed to travel on March 26 and 27, for the purpose of processing their company payrolls covering the period until April 15, 2020.

APPROVED during the 15th Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting, as reflected in the minutes of the meeting, this 25th of March 2020 at the Tejeros Hall Armed Forces of the Philippines Commissioned Officers Club House, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

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

BERNADETTE ROMULO-PUYATSecretary, Department of Tourism