GOVERNMENT officials are no longer required to comply with quarantine protocols, as the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) authorized their “unimpeded travel” provided they are on official business.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque disclosed to newsmen that the latest IATF policy covers officials and personnel of national government agencies, including the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation.
He said these public officials and employees no longer have to undergo mandatory testing and/or quarantine protocols of the local government units of destination as long as they comply with the following requirements:
· Present valid IDs issued by their respective government agency
· Present original or a certified true copy of the travel authority/order issued by the Department Secretary or his/ her designated official
· Pass symptom screening at the port upon arrival, and in the case of public transport, upon boarding
· Strictly comply with the minimum public health standards
The IATF said it came up with the protocols to “enable” the agencies to “fulfill their respective mandates.”