by Sheila Crisostomo, Christina Mendez (The Philippine Star), 6 Feb 2021
MANILA, Philippines — Government officials and staff on official business won’t be mandated to undergo strict 14-day quarantine and testing protocols for COVID-19 imposed by local governments, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) announced yesterday.
“To enable National Government Agencies and their attached agencies, including the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC), to fulfill their respective mandates, government officials/personnel on official business shall be allowed unimpeded travel to their place of destination and shall not be required to undergo mandatory testing and/or quarantine protocols of the local government units of destination,” read IATF Resolution 98-A.
At a press briefing, presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. affirmed the exemption but said that government employees “must present valid IDs issued by their respective government agency and an original or a certified true copy of the Travel Authority/Order issued by the Department Secretary or his/her designated official.”
The exemption came amid reports that some Cabinet officials and their staff are still reportedly being subjected to strict quarantine protocols, particularly when flying to Davao City to attend meetings with President Duterte.
At a press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire defended the IATF decision to exempt government officials from mandatory quarantine and testing to make their official travels swift and seamless.
But she maintained that officials still have to go through symptom screening “upon arrival or on the points of entry” in their destination and must strictly adhere to minimum public health standards being implemented against COVID-19.
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
“Safety and health at work every day!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations against serious violations of Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government
(NUG) of Myanmar.
Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
March – Women’s Role in History Month
April – Month of Planet Earth
Weekly Observances:
Last Week of March: Protection and Gender Fair Treatment of the Girl Child Week
Last Week of April – World Immunization Week
Daily Observances:
Mar 25 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transallantic Slave Trade
Mar 27– Earth Hour
Apr 21 – Civil Service Day
Apr 22 – World Earth Day
Apr 28 – World Day for Safety and Health at Work
