RESOLUTION NO.
95
Series of 2021
January 21, 2021
WHEREAS, Section 15 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, Section 2(b) of Executive Order No. 168 mandates the Inter-Agency Task
Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to prevent and/or minimize the entry
of suspected or confirmed patients with emerging infectious diseases into the country;
WHEREAS, on September 16, 2020, the President issued Proclamation No. 1021 (s.2020)
extending the period of the State of Calamity throughout the Philippines until September 21, 2021;
WHEREAS, the Department of Health received reports regarding a new variant of the
SARS-CoV-2 (B.1.1.7 or VUI 2020/12/01) spreading in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland (United Kingdom) and another variant identified in South Africa (501.V2);
WHEREAS, Memorandums of the Executive Secretary provided for additional measures
to be observed relative to the SARS-COV-2 Variant detected in the United Kingdom including the
imposition of travel restrictions on countries/jurisdictions where the new COVID-19 variants were
officially reported, and subjected Filipino citizens coming from the same countries/jurisdictions to
an absolute 14-day quarantine period notwithstanding a negative Reverse-Transcription -
Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test result;
WHEREAS, the continued implementation of proactive measures is necessary to ensure
the utmost protection of the health of the Filipino people.
WHEREAS, as of January 20, 2021, there are a total of Twenty-Eight Thousand Nine
Hundred Four (28,904) active COVID-19 cases in the Philippines;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved, that the IATF
approves the following:
A. Pursuant to the approved Philippine National COVID-19 Vaccination Roadmap and
Implementation Plan, the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19,
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which shall serve as the end-to-end guide for vaccination implementers such as the
local government units, is hereby ratified;
B. Beginning February 1, 2021, when provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent
component cities shall be placed under their new community quarantine classifications,
age-based restrictions for areas placed under Modified General Community Quarantine
shall be relaxed. For areas under General Community Quarantine, local government
units are enjoined to adopt the same relaxation for age-based restrictions. For this
purpose, the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in
the Philippines is hereby amended as follows:
Section [5] GUIDELINES FOR AREAS PLACED UNDER MODIFIED
GENERAL COMMUNITY QUARANTINE. Areas placed under MGCQ
shall observe the following protocols:
3. Any person below ten (10) years old, those who are over sixty-five
(65) years of age, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, or
other health risks, and pregnant women shall be required to remain
in their residences at all times; Provided that all activities and
movements allowed under other Sections of these Guidelines for
the foregoing persons shall continue to be permitted under
MGCQ.
C. The recommendations of the IATF Technical Working Group, the specifics of which
are as follows:
1. To approve the request of the Professional Regulation Commission to
conduct and administer the licensure examinations for professionals
scheduled for January to March 2021, with observance of the strict health
protocols as approved by the Department of Health. Agencies are directed
to render full assistance for the safe and successful conduct of the
examinations;
2. Following the directives to the IATF TWG under IATF Resolution No. 94
to establish implementing guidelines for exemptions to entry travel
restrictions, IATF Resolution No. 92 to be amended as follows:
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C. All foreign travelers coming from, or with travel history within the
last 14 days prior to arrival in the Philippines in
countries/jurisdictions covered by travel restrictions for the
COVID-19 variants shall not be permitted entry into the
Philippines until January 31, 2021, notwithstanding any previous
IATF resolutions or exemptions, except for the following foreign
nationals with valid visas:
1. Accredited foreign diplomats and personnel of accredited
international organizations such as the World Health
Organization and the United Nations, provided they will
undergo RT-PCR test upon arrival at the airport, execute an
undertaking, and observe strict 14-day quarantine pursuant
to relevant DOH memorandum circular;
2. Foreign dignitaries who shall observe existing testing and
quarantine protocols upon arrival;
3. Those for medical and emergency cases, including their
medical escorts, if any, subject to the applicable testing and
quarantine protocols as prescribed by the Department of
Health; and
4. Spouse and minor children of Filipino citizens travelling
with them, subject to the same testing and quarantine
protocols applicable to Filipino citizens.
D. Filipino citizens coming from countries/jurisdictions where travel
restrictions for COVID-19 new variants are in place, or who have
been to the same within fourteen (14) days immediately preceding
arrival in the Philippines shall be subject to the prescribed testing
and quarantine protocols. Filipino citizens arriving for highly
exceptional and/or medical reasons, and local diplomats, shall be
subject to the applicable quarantine protocols as prescribed by the
Department of Health; and
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3. To amend the testing and quarantine protocols for passengers coming from,
and transiting through countries where travel restrictions are in place due to
the new COVID-19 variants. Incoming passengers shall be tested upon
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arrival and shall be quarantined until the result of a subsequent test
administered on the fifth day is released. After which, said persons who
yield a negative result from both COVID-19 tests shall be endorsed to their
local government units of destination who shall then strictly monitor the
remainder of the fourteen-day quarantine through their respective Barangay
Health Emergency Response Teams. The Department of Health, and such
other implementing agencies providing for quarantine protocols, are
directed to amend their issuances to conform with the foregoing;
4. To adopt the amendments of the Department of Tourism to the Omnibus
Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the
Philippines as follows:
SECTION [2] GUIDELINES FOR AREAS PLACED UNDER
ENHANCED COMMUNITY QUARANTINE. Areas placed under
ECQ shall observe the following protocols:
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9. Only hotels or accommodation establishments with valid DOT
Accreditation shall be allowed to accommodate guests and clients
for legitimate purposes under a state of public health emergency.
The operations of such hotels and accommodation establishments,
as well as ancillary establishments within their premises such as
restaurants, cafés, gyms, spas, function halls, and the like, shall be
subject to guidelines issued by the DOT and the IATF.
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SECTION [3] GUIDELINES FOR AREAS PLACED UNDER
MODIFIED ENHANCED COMMUNITY QUARANTINE. Areas
placed under MECQ shall observe the following protocols:
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8.Only hotels or accommodation establishments with valid DOT
Accreditation shall be allowed to accommodate guests and clients
for legitimate purposes under a state of public health emergency.
The operations of such hotels and accommodation establishments,
as well as ancillary establishments within their premises such as
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restaurants, cafés, gyms, spas, function halls, and the like, shall be
subject to guidelines issued by the DOT and the IATF.
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SECTION [4] GUIDELINES FOR AREAS UNDER GENERAL
COMMUNITY QUARANTINE. Areas placed under GCQ shall
observe the following protocols:
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10. Only hotels or accommodation establishments with valid DOT
Accreditation shall be allowed to accommodate guests and clients
for legitimate purposes under a state of public health emergency.
The operations of such hotels and accommodation establishments,
as well as ancillary establishments within their premises such as
restaurants, cafés, gyms, spas, function halls, and the like, shall be
subject to guidelines issued by the DOT and the IATF.
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SECTION [5] GUIDELINES FOR AREAS PLACED UNDER
MODIFIED GENERAL COMMUNITY QUARANTINE. Areas placed
under MGCQ shall observe the following protocols:
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11. Only hotels or accommodation establishments with valid DOT
Accreditation shall be allowed to accommodate guests and clients
for legitimate purposes under a state of public health emergency.
The operations of such hotels and accommodation establishments,
as well as ancillary establishments within their premises such as
restaurants, cafés, gyms, spas, function halls, and the like, shall be
subject to guidelines issued by the DOT and the IATF.
12. Except as otherwise provided below, all permitted establishments
and activities under Categories I, II and III of Section 4(6) and those
in previous Sections of these Omnibus Guidelines shall be allowed to
operate or be undertaken at full operational capacity:
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c. Category IV and all other establishments not permitted to
operate under previous Sections of these Guidelines, at a
maximum of fifty percent (50%) operational capacity.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the DTI is hereby authorized to
issue a negative list of industries which shall remain prohibited
even in areas under MGCQ. Establishments in the negative list
shall not be allowed to operate in any form of community
quarantine.
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RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Chairperson and the Co-Chairperson shall
be duly authorized to sign this Resolution for and on behalf of the Inter-Agency Task
Force.
APPROVED this 21st of January 2021 via videoconference.
FRANCISCO T. DUQUE III KARLO ALEXEI B. NOGRALES
Secretary, Department of Health Secretary, Office of the Cabinet Secretary
IATF Chairperson IATF Co-Chairperson
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CERTIFICATION
This is to certify that:
1. I am presently an Assistant Secretary of the Department of Health;
2. I am the interim OIC-Head of the Secretariat of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF)
on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases created under Executive Order
No. 168, series of 2014 and chaired by the Department of Health (DOH);
3. The IATF Secretariat holds office in the DOH Main Office, San Lazaro Compound,
Tayuman, Sta. Cruz, Manila;
4. I am the custodian of the records of the IATF, including the Minutes of Meetings and
Resolutions;
5. In a regular meeting of the IATF, the IATF Resolution No. 95 was unanimously
approved and adopted;
6. The foregoing resolution has been signed by Secretary Francisco T. Duque III and
Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles upon the authority of the IATF Members;
7. The aforesaid resolution has not been altered, modified nor revoked and the same is
now in full force and effect;
8. I am executing this Certification for whatever legitimate purpose this may serve.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my signature this 21st day of January
2021, Manila.
ATTY. CHARADE B. MERCADO-GRANDE
OIC-Head of the Secretariat, IATF
Assistant Secretary of Health
