23-7-2023 (MANILA) President Lifts State of Public Health Emergency But Retains Vaccine Authorization for One Year: President Bongbong Marcos has lifted the state of public health emergency in the Philippines, which was declared by the former president Rodrigo Duterte through Proclamation No. 922 in March 2020 to mobilize government resources to contain the spread of COVID-19. However, Marcos retained the validity of the emergency use authorization (EUA) on vaccines for one year to exhaust the remaining supply of the jabs. Marcos noted that the country has maintained sufficient healthcare system capacity and low hospital bed utilization rates even after the liberalization of COVID-19 health protocols.
Under Proclamation No. 297 issued on July 21, all prior orders, memoranda, and issuances effective only during the state of public health emergency shall be deemed withdrawn, revoked, or canceled and shall no longer be in effect. The President enjoined all agencies to ensure that their policies, rules, and regulations would consider the lifting of the state of public health emergency and to amend existing or promulgate new issuances as may be appropriate.
In 2020, Duterte signed Executive Order No. 121 permitting the FDA director general to issue EUA for COVID-19 drugs and vaccines. The issuance allows the use of COVID-19 medicines and vaccines pending approval by health authorities, provided there is credible information suggesting that the drug or immunization can prevent, diagnose, or treat the virus. Marcos’ proclamation stated that all EUA for COVID-19 jabs issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shall remain valid for one year from the date of lifting of the state of public health emergency “for the sole purposes of exhausting the remaining vaccines.”
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said the COVID state of emergency in the country had been “de facto” lifted, noting that the wearing of face masks is no longer required. He said he was just waiting for the formal lifting of the emergency status. However, he emphasized that the public should remain vigilant and continuously safeguard their health.
The DOH said the Inter Agency Task Force on COVID-19 (IATF) is set to convene for a final meeting to reassess the situation and issue a comprehensive final report to the public. BHW partylist Rep. Angelica Natasha Co, who is also a vice-chair of the House committee on health, said the DOH should ensure that the “vulnerable, unvaccinated, and unboosted” will still get their anti-COVID-19 shots. Co said these vaccines should remain free “to anyone whether they get vaccinated in public or private facilities.”
