May 6, 2009, GMA News, 9:59 AM, Bayan: VFA exempts US troops from H1N1 checks,

May 6, 2009, GMA News, 9:59 AM, Bayan: VFA exempts US troops from H1N1 checks, 

MANILA, Philippines - No thanks to the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), US troops visiting the Philippines for the RP-US joint military exercises are exempt from going through government-initiated health surveillance measures against the dreaded A/H1N1 (swine flu) virus, militant groups said Wednesday.

Militant umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said the exemption makes the VFA a “public hazard" amid the high alert against A/H1N1.

“Under this provision, the Philippine government is deprived of the right to determine the health status of the visiting US troops. It will merely rely on the report of the commanding officer of the aircraft or vessel. This restricts the Philippine government from undertaking all the necessary precautions and efforts to detect and control contagious diseases," said Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. in a statement on the BayanWeb site. 

He cited the VFA's provision stating: "The commanding officer of a military aircraft or vessel shall present a declaration of health, and when required by the cognizant representative of the Government of the Philippines, shall conduct a quarantine inspection and will certify that the aircraft or vessel is free from quarantinable diseases. Any quarantine inspection of United States aircraft, or vessels, or cargoes thereon, shall be conducted by the United States commanding officer in accordance with the international health regulations as promulgated by the World Health Organization, and mutually agreed procedures."

Thus, he said that under the VFA, US commanders are not required to have their troops subjected to thermal scans, health surveillance and other standard operating procedures that are usually undertaken by host governments in civilian ports of entry.

"All US forces need to present is a declaration of health," Reyes said.

Bayan also pointed out that under the provisions of the VFA, any quarantine inspection can only be carried out by US personnel, not Philippine health officers.

“Even in matters of public health, Philippine sovereignty is undermined by the VFA. The Philippine Department of Health and our health professionals should not stand for this. Everyone else entering the country is subjected to inspection and scanning. Even the returning congressmen from Las Vegas will be subjected to inspection, why are US troops being exempted?" Reyes said.

He also said US troops are not required to have passports and visas, to go through immigration or present individual medical status.

The US commanders will simply issue a collective or group identification, he noted.

"They are not even required to state what countries they have recently visited to enable us to know if they pose any health risks," Reyes added.

Bayan challenged Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., head of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, to take a clear stand on this issue.

“Having expressed his concern over disasters and calamities, Mr.
Teodoro should take a good look at this provision which endangers the safety of Filipinos," Reyes said. - GMANews.TV