REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
DOH - DFA - DILG - DOJ - DOLE - DOT - DOTr - DICT
INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASE
RESOLUTION NO. 11
Series of 2020
March 12, 2020
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT
OF THE CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) SITUATION
WHEREAS, Section 15 of Article II of the 1987 Constitution states that the State shall
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them;
WHEREAS, recognizing the need for an inter-sectoral collaboration to establish
preparedness and ensure efficient government response to assess, monitor, contain, control, and
prevent the spread of any potential epidemic in the Philippines, the Inter-agency Task Force
(IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases was created by virtue of Executive
Order No. 168, series of 2014;
WHEREAS, on January 7, 2020, Chinese health authorities reported that the cause of a
viral pneumonia outbreak in the City of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China was a novel type of
Coronavirus that has not been previously identified in humans;
WHEREAS, on January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) has considered
the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) health event as a Public Health Emergency of
International Concern (PHEIC). On the same date, the Secretary of Health confirmed the first
imported COVID-19 case in the Philippines;
WHEREAS, on March 7, 2020, the first case of localized COVID-19 transmission was
confirmed by the Department of Health;
WHEREAS, on March 8, 2020, President Rodrigo R. Duterte, recognizing that the
COVID-19 public health event constitutes a threat to national security, and to prompt a whole-of-
government approach in addressing the COVID-19 outbreak, declared a State of Public Health
Emergency throughout the entire Philippines through Proclamation No. 922;
WHEREAS, as of March 12, 2020, the Philippines through the Department of Health has
confirmed a total of forty-nine (49) positive COVID-19 cases in the country; and
WHEREAS, on March 12, 2020, the WHO has characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic.
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
DOH - DFA - DILG - DOJ - DOLE - DOT - DOTr - DICT
INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASE
RESOLUTION NO. 11
Series of 2020
March 12, 2020
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved, that the IATF
approves the following:
A. The Code Alert System for the COVID-19 public health event is hereby raised to
Code Red Sublevel Two (2);
B. The recommendations of the Department of Health Technical Advisory Group on
imposing Stringent Social Distancing Measures in the National Capital Region are
adopted for a period of thirty (30) days from the issuance of this Resolution, the
salient points of which are as follows:
1. The suspension of classes in all levels in Metro Manila is hereby extended until
April 12, 2020. Provided, that all students shall continue to fulfil their
educational requirements during said period. Provided, further, that concerned
local government units (LGUs), with supervision of the Department of the
Interior and Local Government, shall be responsible for implementing
measures to ensure that students remain in their homes during said duration;
2. Mass gatherings, defined as a planned or spontaneous event where the number
of people attending could strain the planning and response resources of the
community hosting the event, shall be prohibited during said period;
3. Community quarantine is hereby imposed in the entirety of Metro Manila. In
other areas, the LGUs are advised to abide by the following guidelines in
imposing localized community quarantine in their respective jurisdictions:
a. A barangay-wide quarantine is advised when there at least two positive
COVID-19 cases belonging to different households in the same
barangay;
b. A municipality/city-wide quarantine is advised when there are at least
two positive COVID-19 cases belonging to different barangays in the
same municipality/city; and
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
DOH - DFA - DILG - DOJ - DOLE - DOT - DOTr - DICT
INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASE
RESOLUTION NO. 11
Series of 2020
March 12, 2020
c. A province-wide quarantine is advised when there are at least two
positive COVID-19 cases belonging to different municipalities,
component cities or independent component cities in the same province;
and
d. LGUs which have imposed community quarantine in their respective
jurisdictions, upon the declaration of a State of Calamity, shall be
allowed to access their Quick Response Fund;
4. Work in the executive branch shall be suspended during said period, without
prejudice to the formation of skeletal workforces by government agencies in
order to maintain the unimpeded delivery of services to the public. Provided,
that the military, police and other uniformed personnel, the health and
emergency frontline services shall continue in full operation. Provided, finally,
that the legislative and judicial branches shall be encouraged to adopt the same
policy;
5. Flexible work arrangements shall likewise be encouraged in the private sector.
The Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Trade and
Industry shall issue guidelines to safeguard the welfare of workers. All
manufacturing, retail, and service establishments are advised to remain in
operation during said period. Provided, that strict social distancing measures
are required to be observed by their respective managements;
6. Mass public transports including the Light Rail Transits, the Metro Rail
Transit, and the Philippine National Railways shall continue in operation.
Provided, that the Department of Transportation shall issue guidelines to
ensure social distancing in said public transports;
7. Land, domestic air, and domestic sea travel to and from Metro Manila shall be
suspended beginning March 15, 2020 00:01H to end April 14, 2020 23:59H,
subject to daily review by the Inter-Agency Task Force; and
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
DOH - DFA - DILG - DOJ - DOLE - DOT - DOTr - DICT
INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASE
RESOLUTION NO. 11
Series of 2020
March 12, 2020
8. The aforementioned measures shall be subject to close monitoring, and
reassessment after the expiration of seven (7) days from the issuance of this
Resolution.
C. LGUs outside of the National Capital Region are advised to exercise sound discretion in
suspending classes in their respective localities, without prejudice to a determination by
the national government to suspend classes if the situation so warrants. Provided, if so, all
students shall continue to fulfil their educational requirements during the relevant period.;
Provided, further, that the concerned LGU shall be responsible for implementing measures
to ensure that students remain in their homes during the relevant duration;
D. The Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, in coordination
with the Inter-Agency Task Force, shall be called upon to ensure effective and orderly
implementation of the above-mentioned measures;
E. A meeting shall be conducted daily by and between the Secretaries of the member agencies
of the IATF, including the Cabinet Secretary, Secretaries of National Defense,
Environment and Natural Resources, Trade and Industry, Social Welfare and
Development, Education, Agriculture, the Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP), Philippine Navy (PN), Philippine Air Force (PAF), Philippine Coast
Guard (PCG), and the Philippine National Police (PNP), and such other agencies or entities
as the IATF may invite, with the goal of mobilizing the entire government machinery in
addressing the recent developments in the COVID-19 pandemic, until such time that the
health event subsides;
F. Balik-Manggagawa Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) shall be allowed to travel to
mainland China, except to Hubei Province, upon execution of a Declaration signifying
their knowledge and understanding of the risks involved. Provided, that a health advisory
pamphlet shall be handed out to the OFWs upon departure;
G. Entry travel restrictions shall be imposed upon those traveling from countries with
localized COVID-19 transmissions, except for Filipino citizens including their foreign
spouse and children, if any, holders of Permanent Resident Visa, and holders of 9(e)
Diplomat Visas issued by the Philippine Government; and
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
DOH - DFA - DILG - DOJ - DOLE - DOT - DOTr - DICT
INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASE
RESOLUTION NO. 11
Series of 2020
March 12, 2020
H. Finally, all the aforementioned provisions shall be subject to submission to the President
for amendment, modification or approval.
APPROVED at the 11th Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting as reflected in the minutes of
the meeting this 12th of March, 2020, at the Department of National Defense Convention Hall,
Quezon City.
FRANCISCO T. DUQUE III
Secretary, Department of Health
EDUARDO M. AÑO
Secretary, Department of the Interior and Local Government
MENARDO I. GUEVARRA
Secretary, Department of Justice
BERNADETTE ROMULO-PUYAT
Secretary, Department of Tourism
SILVESTRE H. BELLO III
Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
DOH - DFA - DILG - DOJ - DOLE - DOT - DOTr - DICT
INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASE
RESOLUTION NO. 11
Series of 2020
March 12, 2020
BRIGIDO J. DULAY
Undersecretary, Department of Foreign Affairs
MANUEL L. TAMAYO
Undersecretary, Department of Transportation
ALAN A. SILOR
Assistant Secretary, Department of Information and Communications Technology
KARLO B. NOGRALES
Cabinet Secretary
