The Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases will be reorganized to streamline its meetings and processes to only those with "relevant" functions, Malacañang said.
It was disclosed that the Department of Health (DOH) will lead the restructuring of the pandemic task force which was activated in 2020 following the detection of Covid-19 in the country.
"The DOH is also reconstituting the member agencies of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to only those with relevant and intended functions," Malacañang said on Tuesday, July 19.
This was among the agenda discussed by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. during his meeting with Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Monday, July 18.
Pending the reconstitution, Vergeire said they "will streamline IATF meetings and processes with clear directives to assist in safe reopening and will be utilizing the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) platform."
The platform will replace the National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) to integrate it with the regular processes.
This will allow the IATF health expert groups to continue their work as they serve as the voice of science in the country, the Palace said.
Since the creation of the task force in 2020, members of the group, headed by the Health Secretary and the Executive Secretary, have been meeting to discuss measures to address the pandemic.
The task force is also tasked to study and determine Covid-19 alert level classifications in the country.
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