DFA,
DOLE, DOH Agree on Voluntary Domestic Quarantine Measures
Foreign Affairs Secretary
Blas F. Ople, Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit and Labor Secretary Patricia Sto.
Tomas met yesterday at the Department of Foreign Affairs to agree on precautions to take to prevent the entry
of SARS into the country.
Secretary Ople said the three departments are committed to helping prevent an outbreak of SARS
in the country through preventive measures. "Of particular concern are our OFWs who would need to be educated on
the nature of this mysterious illness and how best they can prevent infection," he stressed.
During the meeting, the three Secretaries agreed on the following:
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That all embassies and consulates abroad will embark on a public awareness campaign on SARS
among OFWs particularly in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Canada and other countries with known
SARS cases;
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That the Department of Health in close coordination with airport authorities shall promote voluntary
domestic quarantine measures wherein incoming passengers from countries with known SARS cases
shall have to stay for 7 days in their own homes to ensure that they are not carriers of the mysterious
virus;
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The Department of Labor and Employment through the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration is
coordinating the trip tomorrow of the parents of deceased Filipino domestic helper Adelina Dalingay to
Hong Kong;
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The parents have agreed to have their 39-year old daughter cremated in Hong Kong;
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The Department of Foreign Affairs is arranging that passports be immediately issued in their names to
facilitate their departure tomorrow;
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Prior and after their Hong Kong trip, the parents of Adlina Dalingay shall undergo a check-up by DOH-assigned doctors;
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Airport officials agreed to closely coordinate with the DOH on other preventive measures including the
setting up of a SARS Information Desk in all airports.
The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong reported that there are 790 cases of SARS in Guangdong,China and 290 cases in Hong Kong. Out of the 290 persons with SARS symptoms admitted in various Hong
Kong hospitals, 10 have died while 41 patients are said to be under intensive care. Hong Kong officials have
suspended classes in 50-60 schools as an additional preventive measure against the spread of SARS in the
community.
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