Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 201)
The Secretary of Health is designated as the Crisis Manager for the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) contagion.
The Secretary of Health is granted powers necessary to contain, control, prevent, and restrict the spread of SARS, including screening, quarantine, treatment, public education, and coordination with other government agencies until SARS is no longer a threat.
SARS is classified as a quarantinable disease due to its highly contagious nature and the danger it poses to public health.
The Bureau of Quarantine and International Health Surveillance (BQIHS) is responsible for examination, surveillance, detention, isolation, quarantine, and issuance of quarantine certificates for vessels, aircraft, passengers, crews, and cargoes.
The Secretary of Education has the authority to order the closure of schools, suspend classes, or utilize school buildings for managing the SARS epidemic upon advice of the Secretary of Health.
The DILG, upon recommendation of the Secretary of Health, mobilizes the Philippine National Police (PNP), supervises local governments, enforces quarantine areas, maintains peace and order related to SARS, and supports directives to control the crisis.
The Secretary of Health can call upon various government departments including Interior and Local Government, Foreign Affairs, Transportation, Labor, Tourism, Trade, Social Welfare, Immigration bureaus, airport and seaport authorities, National Security Council, Armed Forces, PNP, and Coast Guard for assistance.
Violations or infractions of lawful directives and orders issued by designated authorities under this Executive Order shall be punished according to existing laws and applicable rules and regulations.
An amount not exceeding One Billion Pesos (P1,000,000,000.00) is set aside from the funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to cover the financial requirements for managing the SARS crisis.
DOLE is responsible for providing information to Filipinos departing for SARS-affected countries, preventing departure from affected areas when public safety requires it, and monitoring entry of overseas Filipino workers who may pose a public health threat.
The Department of Foreign Affairs must coordinate with embassies and consulates to provide information and travel advisories that minimize or prevent entry of persons suspected of having contracted SARS in foreign ports of embarkation.
The Secretary of Health, in coordination with appropriate agencies, shall mitigate effects of SARS on tourism, trade and industry, labor and employment, deployment of overseas Filipino workers, and other related sectors.
The Secretary of Health or his representative may promulgate rules and regulations relative to containing, treating, isolating, and managing SARS patients in hospitals, health centers, quarantine areas, and the community, ensuring health and well-being of victims and contacts.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation shall develop an insurance package to assist public health workers with hospitalization and medical expenses if they contract SARS while performing their duties.
Checkpoints and other means of restricting movement may be enforced for a limited duration, respecting constitutional rights, primarily to control quarantine areas and facilitate transport of SARS patients as directed by the Secretary of Health.