Question & AnswerQ&A (IRR OF Republic Act No. 9271)
These rules and regulations are known as the "Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Quarantine Act of 2004."
The Bureau of Quarantine of the Department of Health is the health authority that exercises regulatory functions under these rules and regulations.
The purpose is to protect and promote the health of the people by ensuring maximum security against the introduction or spread of diseases subject to the International Health Regulations, particularly emerging diseases and public health emergencies of international concern, and to harmonize the protection of public health with the need to avoid unnecessary disruption of trade and travel.
The regulations apply to all vessels, aircraft, their crew or passengers, and cargoes, whether owned by government or private entities, entering or departing from seaports or airports within the territory of the Philippines.
Quarantine means the separation of people who have been exposed to an illness, usually an infection, but are not ill or have not yet shown any signs of the illness. Their movements and interactions are restricted during the quarantine period, which corresponds to the incubation period of the disease.
The master must provide the following: Maritime Declaration of Health, Deratting/deratting exemption certificate, Passenger and crew list, Voyage Memo/Ports of Call, Clinical record of cases treated during the voyage if any, and other documents as deemed necessary by the Quarantine Medical Officer.
Upon investigation and hearing, the Director of the Bureau of Quarantine may impose fines ranging from not less than One Hundred Thousand pesos (P100,000.00) to not more than Five Hundred Thousand pesos (P500,000.00), with progressive penalties including warnings and public censure depending on offenses. Administrative penalties may also include withholding operation of vessels or aircraft.
Yes, they may file a notice of appeal within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the decision with the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Health and serve a copy to the Bureau of Quarantine. The Bureau then certifies the decision and all documents to DOH-OSEC for review.
Specific measures include disinfection of contaminated water and materials, isolation and treatment of infected persons, deratting and fumigation of vessels, vaccination requirements (e.g., yellow fever vaccination certificate), medical examination of passengers and crew, disinsection for vectors, and potentially quarantine of exposed persons or vessels until cleared.
The Bureau is responsible for developing protocols on quarantine management of suspected persons, vessels and aircraft exposed to RBC incidents, conducting surveillance and preparedness at ports and airports, monitoring public health threats from such incidents abroad, providing technical inputs on training and alert systems, and coordinating with government agencies.
Human remains must be accompanied by: a death certificate or certified true copy with translation, a certification from the Consul at the country of origin, a pestilence-free certification from the health authority of the country of origin, an embalming certificate (if applicable), or a cremation certificate if cremated, and must comply with conditions based on the cause of death.
At least fifty percent (50%) of the income generated is retained as a Trust Fund to augment the Bureau's Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) and Capital Outlays, excluding the payment of salaries and allowances, while the other fifty percent (50%) is remitted to the Bureau of Treasury as part of the General Fund.
Conditions include no death on board during the voyage; ports visited must have no infectious diseases subject to the Regulations; no sick persons on board; no deaths or illnesses among captive animals including rodents; and a valid deratting or deratting exemption certificate.
Quarantine inspections are conducted from 0800 to 1200 hours and from 1300 to 1700 hours, Mondays to Fridays. Inspections outside these hours and on weekends or holidays are compensated accordingly.