The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) on December 17, 2020, Thursday, instructed the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and other agencies of the national government to issue a consolidated advisory to the public on the proper use of face shields when leaving residences, including exclusions or exemptions, as may be appropriate.
The IATF likewise appealed to local government units (LGUs) to provide regulatory relief assistance, such as but not limited to deferment of payment of deadlines for local government business fees, to micro, small, and medium business establishments.
Abovementioned business establishments were those which were not permitted to operate or adversely affected by the restrictions imposed under the different community quarantine classifications.
The IATF, in its 89th meeting, also allowed the re-entry to the Philippines of foreign nationals with valid and existing visas under Section 9(e) and 9(g) of Commonwealth Act No. 613, as amended, who are already in the country and will be leaving the country starting December 17, 2020.
This, however, is subject to conditions, such as they must have a valid and existing visa on the date of the arrival; they must have a pre-booked quarantine facility; they must have a pre-booked COVID-19 testing at a laboratory operating at the airport; and they must be subject to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date of entry.
In this regard, the Bureau of Immigration has been directed to issue the guidelines to implement this IATF resolution on foreign nationals.
In the same meeting the IATF directed the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) to cease and desist in the expansion of permissible accessory activities in the golf clubs like the reopening of locker rooms for golfers, among others, pending the review and approval of health protocols by the appropriate government agencies.
The NGAP is further ordered to transmit its proposed protocols for golf to the DOH and DOLE for vetting.
