The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) reminded all individuals with transactions in its offices in Mandaluyong City that they are required to declare their current health status.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
In a statement, the POEA said this is part of the administration’s stricter health protocols against the spread of COVID-19. The POEA noted that pursuant to Republic Act 11332, series of 2018, the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Disease and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, all “individuals physically entering POEA office premises are required to disclose their current health condition and previous exposure/travels within 14 days, in their every day visit.”
The policy covers all POEA employees, OSSCO personnel, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), OFW applicants, recruitment agency officers, liaison officers, and other agency personnel.
The POEA added that visitors, including foreigners, foreign dignitaries, government employees from other national or local agencies, are required to render such a declaration.
The POEA said that the Health Declaration Forms are primarily electronic records and integrated through the initial channels available in the POEA website, including the MyPOEA System for the POEA employees, and the POEA Online Appointment System (POAS) for external visitors, such as for OFWs, OFW applicants, recruitment agency personnel, and other visitors.
“A visitor who was not able to secure any e-health declaration form ahead of their visit can use the QR Code-enabled Online System, wherein a mobile-data-capable phone may be used to access the form via QR-code and fill it out on the spot,” POEA said. “Giving false information or providing significant inaccurate health information will be subjected to administrative charges imposed by the POEA,” it added
The POEA added that the health information system and database will be established for the storage and management of the collected health information, which will be shared with the organizations involved in the control and eradication of COVID-19.
“All data are subject to Data Privacy protection,” the POEA assured. The agency added that a detailed health mitigation plan will be also implemented in the event of COVID-19 infection within the POEA premises for the “protection and preservation of public health.”