The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) is having a “very healthy” coordination with local government units (LGUs) to ensure the proper implementation of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) protocols.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles gave the assurance on Friday after confusion recently ensued among several LGUs when the IATF-EID released new travel protocols for fully vaccinated individuals.
“Right now, the coordination has been very healthy with the LGUs,” Nograles said during the pre-State of the Nation Address forum.
Some LGUs earlier raised worry over the IATF-EID’s Resolution 124-B approved on July 2, which makes the presentation of vaccine card or a certificate of quarantine completion for interzonal travel a “sufficient alternative” to any Covid-19 testing requirement that may be required by a local government.
On July 8, the IATF-EID issued Resolution 125, stating that LGUs have the final say on the requirements for travelers who will visit tourist attractions within their jurisdiction.
Under IATF-EID Resolution 125, LGUs may accept the Covid-19 vaccination card or a certificate of quarantine completion as an alternative to a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.
Nograles said it is understandable that LGUs tend to be “stricter” in an effort to prevent the further transmission of Covid-19 within their respective localities.
He, nevertheless, ensured that the IATF-EID is crafting “uniform” protocols for travelers amid the prevailing pandemic to avoid confusion.
“What we’re really trying to do is come up with a general set of guidelines para (so) everybody is uniform in application at hindi magkaroon ng kalituhan (and in order to avoid confusion). And that’s what the IATF does,” Nograles said.
He added that LGUs can also come up with their own protocols, so long as the IATF-EID is informed.
“We set the policies whereas the LGUs, in accordance with those policies, can also create their own nuances. But everything has to be coordinated,” he said. (PNA)
