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

March 20, 2020

IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 014, 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 s. 2020, 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, on 16 March 2020, to halt the spread of COVID-19 to other regions of the country, the President placed all regions in Luzon under Enhanced Community Quarantine;

WHEREAS, on the same date, to further capacitate Local Government Units in their preparation and response efforts, the President issued Proclamation No. 929 s. 2020, declaring a State of Calamity throughout the Philippines for a period of six (6) months;

WHEREAS, on 19 March 2020, an IATF Technical Working Group was convened to streamline existing guidelines of the IATF in implementing the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon.

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

A. Paragraph B (3) of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Resolution No. 13 s. 2020 is hereby amended to include the accommodation of distressed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), to wit:

"d. Distressed OFWs, subject to guidelines issued by the Overseas Welfare Workers Administration (OWWA) in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Health (DOH)."

For this purpose, OWWA is hereby authorized to issue the certifications it may deem appropriate to the concerned OFWs.

B. Paragraph D of IATF Resolution No. 12 s. 2020 is hereby repealed. The guidelines relative to inbound travelers and the issuance of visas shall be as follows:

1. Visa issuance to all foreign nationals is suspended with immediate effect;

2. Visa-free privileges based on Visa Waiver Agreements, those under Executive Order 408, s. 1960, holders of Hong Kong and Macau SAR passports, Macau-Portuguese passports and British National Overseas passports are also suspended effective 22 March 2020;

3. Foreign spouses and children of Filipinos are exempted from the above suspension; and

4. Foreign nationals with visas previously issued by Foreign Service Posts (FSPs) will not be allowed entry into the country starting 22 March 2020, except:

a. Accredited Foreign Government and International Organization officials and their dependents; and

b. Foreign spouses and children of Filipino nationals whose visas will remain valid and will be honored when entering the country even after said date.

Accordingly, the DFA shall issue the necessary implementing circular relative to the foregoing.

C. To avert any threat of shortage of basic food, essential hygienic products and medical products, the IATF reaffirms its earlier resolution to ensure the unimpeded movement of all types of cargo (food and non-food), and allow the passage of personnel of business establishments permitted to operate during the Enhanced Community Quarantine, subject to the presentation of proof of employment, and residence.

The policy on the unhampered flow of Cargoes is a nationwide policy that must be strictly followed in all LGUs nationwide, following the directive of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on 19 March 2020.

D. The deadline given to BPOs and export oriented establishments (including those inside economic zones), to prepare for their respective alternative work arrangements, such as the setting of the temporary accommodations for their workers, the need to shuttle employees, the transfer of necessary equipment to facilitate work from home arrangements, shall be extended until 11:59 PM of 22 March.

E. The period for the issuance of the IATF Accredited IDs is hereby extended until 26 March 2020. Accordingly, holders of bona fide IDs issued by exempted establishments or offices shall continue to be honored by law enforcement agencies so as to exempt the bearers thereof from the strict home quarantine requirements.

F. Exemptions to the implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine previously granted to employees of media establishments are hereby extended until 26 March 2020; Provided, that the number of exempted employees shall be limited to fifty (50%) percent of their total permanent staff complement as registered under the Department of Labor and Employment; Provided further, that such maximum limit includes reporters and other field employees as may be accredited by the PCOO; Provided further, that such maximum will be subject to regular assessment and review by the IATF.

G. Paragraph D of Resolution No. 13 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"D. The IATF hereby organizes the Response Cluster and Incident Management Team (IMT) at the National, Regional and Local levels. The Department of Health (DOH) shall be the overall lead for the Response Clusters while the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will be the overall lead for the IMTs. The National IATF, Response Cluster and IMT will locate their headquarters at the AFP Commissioned Officers Clubhouse (AFP-COC), Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City. Moreover, the regional Inter-Agency Task Groups for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATG-MEID) are hereby organized in all regions headed by the Regional Directors of the DOH."

H. All LGUs must first coordinate with DOH prior to acquiring, purchasing or utilizing testing kits within their respective territorial jurisdictions.

I. Further, pursuant to the authority granted to the IATF under the Memorandum dated 16 March 2020 issued by the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES), the following amendments or modifications to the existing guidelines on Enhanced Community Quarantine are hereby adopted:

1. Providing exemptions from the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine to the following persons but with strict compliance to skeleton-workforce arrangement and strict social distancing:

a. Members of Congress and their Chiefs of Staff;

b. Secretaries, Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and Bureau Directors of the different government agencies under the Executive Branch;

c. Ombudsman and their Deputy Ombudsman;

d. Justices of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Court of Tax Appeals and the Sandiganbayan, as well as their respective skeleton-workforce;

e. Judges of Regional, Metropolitan, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts and Prosecutors, as well as their respective skeleton-workforce;

f. Local Chief Executives;

The close-in staff necessary to or connected to the movement of the above-enumerated are likewise granted the exemption.

g. At most three (3) personnel operating cargo vehicles and delivery service vehicles for food, drinking water, medicine, and other basic necessities, with or without load;

h. Employees of:

1. Manufacturing and Processing Plants of Basic Food Products, Essential Products, Medicine and Medical Supplies:

a. All Food

b. Essential and Hygiene Products:

i. Soap and detergents

ii. Diapers, feminine hygiene products, tissue, wipes/and toilet papers

iii. Disinfectants

c. Medicines and Vitamins

d. Medical Products, such as:

i. PPEs

ii. Masks, gloves

iii. Others

2. Retail Establishments (Groceries, Supermarkets, Hypermarkets, Convenience Stores, Public Markets, Pharmacies and Drug Stores)

3. Logistics Service Providers (Cargo Handling, Warehousing, Trucking, Freight Forwarding, and Shipping Line)

4. Hospitals and Medical Clinics

5. Food Preparations and Water Refilling Stations only for take-away and delivery consistent with Paragraph D (11) of IATF Resolution No. 13, s. 2020

6. Delivery Services, whether in-house or outsourced, Transporting only Food, Water, Medicine or other Basic Necessities

7. Banks and Capital Markets, per Section 5 of IATF Resolution No. 13 dated March 17, 2020

8. Power, Energy, Water, IT and Telecommunications Supplies and Facilities, Waste Disposal Services

9. Export and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Companies pursuant to section D hereof

10. Airline and aircraft maintenance employees, including pilot and crew, and ship captain and crew

11. Media establishments; Provided, that the number of exempted employees be limited to but fifty (50%) percent of their total permanent staff complement as registered under the DOLE; Provided further, that such maximum limit includes reporters and other field employees as may be accredited by the PCOO

12. Hotels that have bookings as of 17 March 2020

13. Energy companies and their third-party contractors, including such employees involved in electric transmission and distribution, electric power plant and line maintenance, as well as those involved in exploration, operations, trading and delivery of coal, oil or any kind of fuel used to produce electricity; and

14. Under "Telecommunication utilities," the Telecommunications-related work force, i.e., Telecommunications Companies (TelCos), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Cable TV Providers (CATV), including those who perform indirect services such as the security, technical, sales and other support personnel, as well as employees of their third-party contractors doing sales, installation, maintenance and repair works.

i. Pastors, priests, imams or such other religious ministers whose movement shall be related to the conduct of necrological or funeral rites; and

j. Heads of Mission or designated Foreign Mission Representatives, including a limited number of their personnel or staff.

2. No further exemptions shall be granted by 23 March 2020.

APPROVED during the 15th Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting, as reflected in the minutes of the meeting, this 20th 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

(SGD.) BERNADETTE ROMULO-PUYATSecretary, Department of Tourism

(SGD.) SILVESTRE H. BELLO IIISecretary, Department of Labor and Employment

Signed by representative:Secretary, Department of Information and Communications Technology

GERARDO V. BAYUGOUndersecretary, Department of Health

(SGD.) DEO L. MARCOUndersecretary, Department of Justice

(SGD.) BRIGIDO D. DULAYUndersecretary, Department of Foreign Affairs

ARTEMIO U. TUAZON, JR.Undersecretary, Department of Transportation

Conforme:

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

DELFIN N. LORENZANASecretary, Department of National Defense

(SGD.) RAMON M. LOPEZSecretary, Department of Trade and Industry

ROLANDO D. BAUTISTASecretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development

(SGD.) WILLIAM D. DARSecretary, Department of Agriculture

(SGD.) ROY A. CIMATUSecretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources

JOSE RUPERTINO MARTIN M. ANDANARSecretary, Presidential Communications Operations Office

(SGD.) 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

WILLIAM U. ISAGAChief of Coast Guard Staff, Philippine Coast Guard

JESUS R. MATEOUndersecretary, Department of Education

BAYANI H. AGABINUndersecretary, Department of Finance

MERCEDITA A. SOMBILLAUndersecretary, National Economic and Development Authority

ANTONIO JOSELITO G. LAMBINO IIAssistant Secretary, Department of Finance

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