The participants of the Tabletop Exercise of NAIA Public Health Emergency Contingency Plan (TTEx NAIA PHECP)
Last April 4 and 5, 2018, the Bureau of Quarantine together with its stakeholders and partners from the private and public agencies participated in NAIA Public Health Emergency Contingency Plan (PHECP) Tabletop Exercise. The activity was designed to introduce, to the stakeholders and partners, the revisions for the NAIA PHECP and apply the stipulated protocols in an appropriate scenario.
Representative of Mr. Ed Monreal lead the opening of the activity putting emphasis on the trend of increasing travel and trade, and its effect on the transfer of diseases from one country to another, and how harmonious and systematize protocols can alleviate its effects. Dr. Cesar Hilario Anastacio, Chief- BOQ NCR Airport Station, delivered the overview of Republic Act No. 9271 or the Quarantine Act of 2004. Dr. Benjamin Terencio, Emergency Medical Services – Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), reiterated the rules under the Annex 9 of ICAA-CAPSCA.
The World Health Organization’s International Health Regulations (2005) was presented by Dr. Edgar Maala, Chief- BOQ NCR Seaport Station, where he emphasized on the internationally recognized regulations on Points of Entry, Core Capacity and Guide on Public Health Emergency Plans. Dr. Caridad Nuas, Manager – Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Medical Services, presented the MIAA Emergency Plans.
During the break-out session activity
Dr. Alexander Oba, Chief- BOQ Inspection Services Division, presented the existing NAIA PHECP that has been implemented for almost a decade. Dr. Oba also emphasized the need for revisiting the PHECP since approach to emergencies varies especially in infectious diseases. Finally, Ms. Fides Bentalla of the WritePath Research presented the revisions and updates on NAIA PHECP.
Dr. Arnel Rivera (DOH Health Emergency Management Bureau) delivering his critic and insights on the workshop outputs.
The stakeholders and partners were then divided into four groups and deliberately address an assigned case scenario using the protocols in the revised NAIA PHECP.
The last activity was a NAIA tour, where stakeholders and partners outside the NAIA premises have seen the actual work areas of BOQ and its partners in the airport.
Considered to be one of the oldest government agencies, Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) is the health authority and a line bureau of the Department of Health (DOH). BOQ is mandated to ensure security against the introduction and spread of infectious diseases, emerging diseases and public health emergencies of international concern (PHEIC).