The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) yesterday, July 9, adopted through its Resolution No. 53 the recommendations of the National Task Force for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (NTF) to strengthen screening and surveillance activities.

The NTF earlier supported the efforts of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to hire more civilians who would serve as additional personnel for contract tracing and swabbing in ports of entry.

Dedicating Subic and other ports as hubs for international crew change, subject to established health protocols and guidelines, is another recommendation by the NTF.

Also approved is the establishment of one-stop shops under the DOTr to uniformly process arrivals in all gateways.

In the same meeting, the IATF adopted the inbound flight crew protocols mandated by the International Civil Aviation Organization for inbound flight crew.

The IATF directed the DOTr, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and other attached agencies to issue the necessary guidelines.

“Inbound flight crew must remain in their accommodation establishments upon arrival to avoid transmission,” IATF Resolution No. 53 stated. ###