END OF PANDEMIC, END OF AN ERA - Marcos lifts COVID-19 state of public health emergency

 

Marcos lifts COVID-19 state of public health emergency

By GMA Integrated News

Published July 22, 2023 1:10pm

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has lifted the State of Public Health Emergency throughout the Philippines due to COVID-19 through Proclamation No. 297.

"All prior orders, memoranda, and issuances that are effective only during the State of Public Health Emergency shall be deemed withdrawn, revoked or canceled and shall no longer be in effect," read the President’s proclamation.

Proclamation No. 297 was issued on Friday but was only made public through a statement from the Palace released on Saturday, July 22, 2023. 

"All EUA (emergency use authorization) issued by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) pursuant to Executive Order (EO) No. 121 (s. 2020) shall remain valid for a period of one year from the date of lifting of the State of Public of Public Health Emergency for the sole purposes of exhausting the remaining vaccines," it added. 

Marcos also enjoined all agencies to ensure that their policies take into consideration the lifting of the State of Public Health Emergency and to amend existing or promulgate new issuances, as may be appropriate.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation No. 922, declaring a State of Public Health Emergency all over the country amidst the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

Proclamation 922 also stated that the public health emergency declaration would remain in force until lifted or withdrawn by the President.

The PCO said that the succeeding Executive Order No. 121 (s. 2020), which authorized the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue emergency use authorization (EUA) for COVID-19 vaccines, “shall be valid only within the duration of the declared public health emergency.”

The latest proclamation, meanwhile, also states that although COVID-19 remains to be a serious concern for certain subpopulations and requires continued public health response, the country has maintained sufficient healthcare system capacity and low hospital bed utilization rates even after the liberalization of COVID-19 health protocols.

Last May, the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted the decreasing trend in COVID-19 deaths, decline in COVID-19-related hospitalizations and intensive care unit admission, and the high levels of population immunity to SARS-CoV-2.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also concurred with the advice offered by the said committee regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and determined that COVID-9 is now an established and ongoing health issue, which no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern, and advised the transition to long-term management of the COVID-19 pandemic.—Vince G. Lopez and Ted Cordero/ VAL, GMA Integrated News

 

 

 

 

Updated list for the price freeze of essential emergency medicines and medical devices due to the COVID-19- APRIL 15, 2020 DTI Price Freeze

LOOK | The Department of Health released a department circular reiterating the updated list for the price freeze of essential emergency medicines and medical devices due to the COVID-19 health event. #iamDTIph

 Ref= https://www.facebook.com/DTI.Philippines/?tn-str=k*F

China says it has sold nearly 4 billion masks abroad

Agence France-Presse

Posted at Apr 06 2020 06:48 AM

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Masks are seen on a production line manufacturing masks at a factory in Shanghai, China January 31, 2020. Aly Song, Reuters/File

BEIJING - China has sold nearly 4 billion masks to foreign countries since March, officials said Sunday, as they tried to stem widespread fears over the quality of medical exports.

Despite Chinese cases dwindling, Beijing has encouraged factories to increase production of medical supplies as the pandemic kills over 60,000 globally and parts of the world face a protective equipment shortage.

China has exported 3.86 billion masks, 37.5 million pieces of protective clothing, 16,000 ventilators and 2.84 million COVID-19 testing kits since March 1, customs official Jin Hai said, with orders to more than 50 countries.

She added the country's medical supply exports were valued at 10.2 billion yuan ($1.4 billion).

However numerous nations -- including the Netherlands, the Philippines, Croatia, Turkey and Spain -- have complained about substandard or faulty medical products shipped from China.

Last week, the Dutch government recalled 600,000 masks out of a Chinese shipment of 1.3 million that did not meet quality standards.

China said the manufacturer "stated clearly that (the masks) are non-surgical."

Spain also rejected thousands of rapid test kits sent by an unauthorized Chinese company after it found that they were unreliable last week.

Chinese officials hit back on Sunday at media reports over defective medical supplies, saying that they "did not reflect the full facts".

"In reality there are various factors, such as China having different standards and different usage habits to other countries. Even improper use can lead to doubts over quality," said Jiang Fan, an official with the Ministry of Commerce.

The comments echoed remarks from Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying, who over the past week has repeatedly urged Western media not to "politicize" or "hype up" the issue. 

Earlier this week, Beijing tightened regulations for exported coronavirus medical equipment, requiring products to fulfill both domestic licensing standards and that of their destination countries.

China has also increased its production capacity of COVID-19 testing kits to over 4 million a day, said Zhang Qi, an official with the National Medical Products Administration.

 
© Agence France-Presse 

ref:
https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/06/20/china-says-it-has-sold-nearly-4-billion-masks-abroad

DTI ensures unhampered movement of cargo and transit of personnel of operating establishments

“Movement of all food and non-food cargoes within, to, and from Luzon shall be unhampered, and if subjected to random inspection, shall not be delayed. Transit of personnel of all establishments allowed to operate shall likewise be permitted,” says the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in its latest issuance, Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 20-06.

The MC covers enterprises engaged in the manufacture of all food and essential products, medicine, and medical supplies such as, but not limited to, soap and detergents, diapers, feminine hygiene products, tissue, wipes, and toilet papers, disinfectants, medicines and vitamins; medical personal protective equipment, gloves, and masks.

This includes the distribution and logistics to support manufacturing activities, including cargo handling, warehousing, trucking, and port operations.

Retail establishments such as supermarkets, groceries, hypermarkets, convenience stores, and pharmacies and drug stores, and the Export and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies are likewise included in the said issuance.

While the MC ensures the smooth and unimpeded movement of all cargoes in the Luzon area, when stopped at any checkpoint for random inspection, the cargo manifest or delivery receipt indicating the destination, nature, and quantity of the loaded goods/cargoes must be presented for them not be delayed.

Transit of personnel of these operating enterprises and establishments shall likewise be allowed in all checkpoints upon presentation of a valid companyissued identification card, proof of residence, or certificate of employment. To further facilitate this, by 22 March 2020, an official IATF ID duly issued by the DTI will be presented at the checkpoints instead of the usual identification requirements.

To apply for the IATF ID, qualified enterprises and establishments covered by MC 20-06 may download and fill-out the template from the DTI website, www.dti.gov.ph/iatfid/, and submit to the following contact points:

CONTACT PERSONS	EMAIL
MANUFACTURING Board of Investments (BOI)   Executive Director Ma. Corazon H. Dichosa	manufacturers@dti.gov.ph
RETAIL DTI-Consumer Protection Group (CPG)   Ms. Angeli Ann Solis Ms. Maria Lorena A. Yanga	retailers@dti.gov.ph
LOGISTICS SERVICES DTI-Supply Chain and Logistics Management Division (SCLMD)   Mr. Jonathan Cabaltera Ms. Wea Bohol Ms. Berlin Mabuna	logistics@dti.gov.ph

Meanwhile, operations of Export and BPO companies on a skeletal workforce will be allowed provided that, they observe strict social distancing measures and provide temporary lodging and shuttle service to those assigned as skeletal personnel.

Arrangement with hotels for accommodation of employees of exportoriented and BPO companies and transfer of necessary equipment such as, but not limited to, desktop computers and laptops for those working from home will be permitted until 20 March 2020, unless extended.

“We completely understand the plight of the enterprises and establishments, and their people. The government is doing everything it can to facilitate the most reasonable arrangements while adhering to the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon for the smooth delivery of basic essential goods and services to the people in this time of emergency,” says DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez. Copies of MC 20-06 were furnished to the Philippine National Police and local government units for proper implementation. ♦

Date of Release: 20 March 2020

REF:

https://www.dti.gov.ph/news/dti-ensures-unhampered-movement-of-cargo-and-transit-of-personnel-of-operating-establishments/