Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 237)
The main purpose of Executive Order No. 237 is to direct the conduct of a nationwide follow-up measles campaign called the "Ligtas Tigdas" campaign on February 2004, providing free measles vaccines to children aged 9 months to less than 8 years to sustain high measles immunization coverage and combat measles infection and deaths.
The Department of Health (DOH) is designated as the lead agency for the implementation of the "Ligtas Tigdas" campaign.
The Secretary of Health is empowered to call upon all government agencies for assistance in implementing the campaign, formulate guidelines and procedures, provide technical assistance to local government units (LGUs), conduct national and regional advocacy, allocate and distribute vaccines and logistics, and monitor LGU activities during the campaign.
The DILG is tasked to issue and disseminate memorandum circulars to local chief executives, mobilize field offices, directly oversee campaign activities, supervise, monitor, and evaluate immunization efforts to ensure high coverage in all communities.
The DepEd must ensure high immunization coverage in all public and private schools by informing parents and guardians, mobilizing medical teams to conduct vaccinations in schools, and issuing appropriate circulars to facilitate these efforts.
The DSWD is responsible for ensuring that target children in Day Care Centers and welfare institutions under their supervision are vaccinated, issuing relevant circulars, and assisting in advocacy and social mobilization for the campaign in coordination with LGUs.
LGUs are to lead the local implementation of the campaign by encouraging families to have their children immunized, allocating resources, conducting social mobilization activities, issuing ordinances or resolutions to support the campaign, and submitting accomplishment reports two weeks after immunization.
They are encouraged to contribute through information dissemination, social mobilization, recruiting volunteers, providing donations, and other appropriate support measures to ensure the success of the campaign.
The campaign is supported by the government's declared policy to promote the rights of children to survival, development, special protection, and participation, as well as the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Act (Republic Act No. 8980) which institutionalizes a comprehensive and multi-sectoral national ECCD system.
The Executive Order took effect immediately upon approval on September 19, 2003.