Declaration of Policy: Why is there a need to enact this policy?

• To contain and mitigate the transmission of COVID-19
• To provide assistance to those affected by the community quarantine
• To shoulder the overburdening of the healthcare system
• To immediately provide medical tests and treatments to COVID-19 patients, PUIs and PUMs
• To undertake recovery and rehabilitation programs and provision safety nets to all affected sectors
• To ensure that there is sufficient, adequate and readily available funding for the said programs
• To promote and protect the collective interest of all Filipinos in these challenging times.

Authorized Powers

• Adopt and implement measures to stop the spread of COVID-19

• Expedite accreditation of testing kits
  • Facilitate testing of PUIs and PUMs by public and designated private institutions
  • Cost of treatment shall be covered under National Health Insurance Program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation
• Provide emergency subsidy to around 18 million low-income households of 5,000-8,000 pesos per month in a span of 2 months
• Ensure that all public health workers will be provided a hazard pay, called “COVID-19 special risk allowance”, pursuant to the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers
• Direct PhilHealth to shoulder all medical expenses of public and private health workers in case of exposure to COVID-19 or any work-related injury or disease during this time
• Provide compensation of 100,000 pesos to any health worker who may contract the disease while in the line of duty
• Provide compensation of 1,000,000 pesos to any health worker who may die while fighting the disease
• Ensure that all LGUs will follow National Government directives and implementing the standards of Community Quarantine while exercising their autonomy to better serve their constituents
• Authorize that all LGUs are allowed to use more than 5% of their calamity fund subject to additional funding and support from the National Government
• Direct privately-owned establishments (hospitals, health facilities, transportation, housing) to be used for temporary facilities such as health facilities, quarantine centers, and housing for health workers and other frontline personnel
• Enforce measures to avoid hoarding, profiteering, manipulation of prices in food, clothing, hygiene and sanitation products, medical supplies, fuel, and other necessities
• Ensure that acceptance and distribution of health products for COVID-19 donations are automatically cleared
• Direct the procurement (in the fastest way possible) of the following:
  • Goods such as PPEs, medical equipments and supplies (alcohol, sanitizers, other cleaning materials), common medicine (paracetamol, vitamins, etc), testing kits
    • The DOH will prioritize allocation and distribution of goods, equipments and supplies to the designated COVID-19 referral public or private hospitals and public and private laboratories
  • Goods and services to help affected communities
  • Venues to use as temporary housing for health workers or to serve as quarantine centers, relief distribution centers or temporary medical facilities
  • Establishment of temporary medical facilities
  • Telecommunications and other utilities for the operation of quarantine centers, medical relief and aid distribution centers, and temporary medical facilities

• Partner with the Philippine Red Cross in humanitarian aid such as distribution of goods and services
• Engage temporary medical staff and other related jobs to support the current health workforce or operate temporary medical facilities
• Ensure the availability of loans and credit, especially for those in the countryside, with lowered current lending rates
• Grant incentives for those manufacturing and importing of needed healthcare equipment and supplies
• Require businesses to prioritize and accept contracts for materials and services relating to the national policy
• Regulate and limit transportation and traffic
• Authorize alternative working arrangements for employees and workers in the Executive Branch, and when necessary, other government branches and the private sector as well
• Regulate the distribution of resources such as power, water, fuel, and energy, and ensure the adequate supply of these four
• Direct the discontinuance of programs, projects, or activities of any agency of the Executive Department and reallocate funds to promote support operations and response measures addressing COVID-19
  • Any unused or unutilized balance in a special purpose fund will be used to address the COVID-19 situation
• Move deadlines for filing and submitting documents, paying taxes and fees, in order to ease the burden of those affected by the quarantine
• Ensure that a minimum of a 30-day grace period will be allotted for the payment of loans and residential rents without interest, penalties, fees or other charges
• Implement an enhanced Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps) which, when necessary, will transfer cash or cash vouchers, or goods of an adequate amount through the LGUs or directly to households who have no savings to draw from to restore the capacity to purchase food and other basic needs during the quarantine
• Lift the 30% cap on the amount appropriated for the Quick Response Fund 

Reports to Congress and the Oversight Committee

• During Monday of every week, the President is required to submit a weekly report of all acts performed pursuant to this Act.
• The report should include the amount and corresponding utilization of the funds used and allocated pursuant to this Act.
• The Joint Congressional Oversight Committee is composed of four (4) members of each house to be appointed by the Senate President and the House Speaker.

Penalties

• The following offenses can be punishable with imprisonment of 2 months or a fine of not less than P10,000 and not more than P1,000,000.
  • LGUs disobeying national government policies or directives in imposing quarantines
  • Owners of privately-owned hospitals, medical and health facilities who unjustifiably refuse to cooperate with the directives of the President 
  • Hoarding, profiteering, price manipulation, product deception, and other malpractices affecting the supply, distribution, and movement of food and other essential needs during the crisis
  • Refusal to accept contracts for materials and services necessary to address the COVID-19 situation
  • Refusal to provide the 30-day grace period for loans and residential rents
  • Individuals or groups creating or spreading false information or fake news regarding the COVID-19 crisis on social media or on other platforms
  • Failure to comply with reasonable limitations on the operations of certain transportation sectors whether land, air, sea, be it public or private
  • Impeding access to roads, streets and bridges

• If the offender is a corporation, association, partnership or juridical, the penalty will be imposed on i.e. president, directors, who participated, knowingly permitted, or failed to prevent the offense.
• If the offender is a foreigner, he/she will be deported without further proceedings.
• If the offender is a public official, he will suffer perpetual or temporary disqualification from office in addition to the penalties above.

Effectivity

• This will take effect after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation or on the Official Gazette and will be in full force and effect only for three (3) months unless extended by Congress.
• The powers provided by this Act may also be withdrawn earlier by a concurrent resolution of Congress or ended by Presidential Proclamation. 

Source: https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2020/03mar/20200324-RA-11469-RRD.pdf