Question & AnswerQ&A (DOH ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 186, S. 2004)
The rules and regulations are known as the "Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Quarantine Act of 2004."
It implements Republic Act No. 9271, also known as the Quarantine Act of 2004.
To protect and promote public health by ensuring maximum security against the introduction or spread of infectious diseases from foreign countries into the Philippines and within the country, while harmonizing public health protection with minimal 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, that enter or depart from seaports or airports within the territory of the Philippines.
The Bureau of Quarantine of the Department of Health is the health authority responsible for quarantine at seaports and airports of entry under the Implementing Rules and Regulations.
It signifies that the vessel is in quarantine status and subject to quarantine inspection before being granted clearance to operate.
The master must provide the 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, and other documents deemed necessary by the Quarantine Medical Officer.
Quarantine Medical Officers are duly licensed physicians trained by the Bureau of Quarantine to perform quarantine functions including inspection, medical examination, surveillance, and enforcement of quarantine regulations.
Administrative fines ranging from a warning to up to Five Hundred Thousand pesos depending on offense severity, as well as criminal penalties including fines from Ten Thousand to Fifty Thousand pesos or imprisonment of up to one year or both, depending on the court's discretion.
The Bureau is authorized to use at least fifty percent (50%) of the income generated as trust funds to support quarantine operations, excluding payment of salaries and allowances.
Quarantine is the separation and restriction of movement of persons exposed to an infectious disease but not yet ill, to prevent the disease's spread during the incubation period.
All travelers arriving from yellow fever-infected areas must present a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate effective for ten years, starting ten days after immunization.
Disinfection of contaminated water and waste, medical examination of crew and passengers, isolation and treatment of cases, and disinfection of baggage; compliance with anti-pollution laws during waste unloading.
When the Director of Quarantine determines the vessel is infected with diseases subject to the regulations, emerging diseases, or public health emergency of international concern.
The Director of Quarantine may order medical examinations and disallow any suspected person with infectious or emerging diseases and public health emergencies of international concern from embarking, except in cases for sick persons transported for medical reasons.
They cover the maintenance and supervision of sanitary environments in domestic ports, airport terminals, inter-island vessels, food service establishments; compliance with national sanitation codes and adoption of good manufacturing and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) standards.
A death certificate or official copy with translations, certification from the Consul of the country of origin, no pestilence certification from health authority of origin, embalming certificate confirming proper embalming and sealing, or cremation certificate if cremated remains.
No other person is allowed to board except the Quarantine Medical Officer; disembarkation of passengers and crew is not allowed until clearance; suspect cases will be medically evaluated and transported to designated hospitals for isolation; exposed persons may be isolated or quarantined.