Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine: Basic Do’s and Don’ts

On 02 July 2020, IATF approved the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines (Omnibus Guidelines), as amended by IATF-MEID Resolution Nos. 43, 46, 51, 56, 57, and 60 series of 2020 dated 03 June 2020, 15 June 2020, 02 July 2020, 16 July 2020, 22 July 2020, and 30 July 2020, respectively, which shall be applied to all regions, provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays placed under community quarantine.

Under the Omnibus Guidelines, the employees of the following establishments may go out of their homes:

1. For Areas under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ):
   1. With full operational capacity:
      1. Public or private hospitals;
      2. Health emergency frontline services including dialysis centers, chemotherapy centers and the like;
      3. Manufacturers of medicines, medical supplies, devices and equipment, including suppliers of input, packaging and distribution;
      4. Industries involved in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and their workers, including farmers, and such other components of food value chain;
      5. Delivery and courier services, whether in-house or outsourced, transporting food, medicine, or other essential goods, delivery of clothing, accessories, hardware, housewares, school and office supplies, pet food and other veterinary products.
   2. At a maximum of 50% operational capacity, without prejudice to the adoption of work-from-home or other alternative work arrangements and without diminution of the current operational capacity previously allowed:
      1. Private establishments and employees involved in the provision of essential goods and services and activities in the value chain related to food, medicine and vitamins production, medical supplies, devices and equipment and other essential products; public markets, supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, laundry shops, food preparation establishments, water-refilling stations; unless a higher operational capacity is authorized by the DTI;
      2. Media establishments and their total permanent staff complement, inclusive of reporters and other field employees, as registered with the DOLE and accredited by the PCOO; and
      3. Workers accredited by the DOTr to work on utility relocation works, and specified limited works across 13 railway projects.
   3. With skeleton workforce:
      1. Other medical, dental, rehabilitation, and optometry clinics, pharmacies or drug stores; provided there is strict observance of infection prevention and control protocols and dental procedures shall be limited to emergency cases and wearing of PPEs; provided further that home service therapy for Persons with Disabilities shall be allowed;
      2. Veterinary clinics;
      3. Banks, money transfer services, microfinance institutions, including pawnshops performing money transfer functions, credit cooperatives, including their armored vehicle services, if any;
      4. Capital markets, BSP, SEC, PSE, PDEC, PSSC and PDTC;
      5. Water supply and sanitation services and facilities, waste disposal services, property management and building utility services;
      6. Energy and power companies, their third-party contractors and service providers, and those involved in the exploration, operations, trading and delivery of coal, oil, crude or petroleum and by-products;
      7. Telecommunications companies, internet service providers, cable television providers, including those who perform indirect services such as technical, sales and other support personnel, and employees of third-party contractors doing sales, installation, maintenance and repair works;
      8. Airline and aircraft maintenance employees, pilots and crew and employees of aviation schools for recurrent training for flight proficiency and type rating, ship captains and crew, shipyard operations and repair;
      9. Manufacturing companies and suppliers of equipment or products necessary to perform construction works such as cement and steel;
      10. Philippine Postal Corporation at an operational capacity necessary to maintain prompt delivery of services;
      11. Philippine Statistics Authority at an operational capacity necessary to COVID-19 data gathering and survey activities and national ID system registration;
      12. BPOs and export-oriented businesses, including mining and quarrying, with work-from-home, on-site or near site accommodation or point-to-point shuttling arrangements;
      13. Essential projects, whether public or private, such as quarantine and isolation facilities for PUMs, suspect and confirmed COVID-19 patients, emergency works, flood control, and rehabilitation works. Priority public and private construction projects, defined as those that refer to food production, agriculture, fishery, fish port development, energy, housing, communication, water utilities, manufacturing, and BPOs, shall likewise be allowed to operate in accordance with guidelines issued by the DPWH;
      14. Funeral and embalming services, provided that there is shuttling service and/or housing accommodation for their personnel and staff;
      15. Humanitarian assistance personnel from civil society organizations, NGOs and UN-Humanitarian Country teams, provided that they are authorized by the appropriate government agency or LGU;
      16. Pastors, priests or other religious ministers related to the conduct of necrological or funeral rites. . Immediate family members of the deceased who died of causes other than COVID-19 shall be allowed to move from their residences to attend the wake or interment of the deceased upon satisfactory proof of their relationship with the latter, fully complying with social distancing measures for the duration of the activity;
      17. Security personnel;
      18. Printing presses authorized by the BIR or other appropriate agencies to print official receipts and other accountable forms;
      19. Companies engaged in repair and maintenance of machinery and equipment, repair of computers, household furnitures and equipment; and
      20. Real estate activities limited to leasing only.
2. For Areas under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ):
   1. All the following shall be allowed to operate at full operational capacity:
      1. All establishments or activities permitted to operate or be undertaken under Section 2(4) of these Guidelines;
      2. Media establishments, without need of PCOO accreditation;
      3. BPOs and export-oriented establishments, without need to set up onsite or near-site accommodation arrangements;
      4. E-commerce companies;
      5. Other postal, courier and delivery services for articles or products not mentioned under Section 2;
      6. Rental and leasing, other than real estate, such as vehicles and equipment for permitted sectors;
      7. Employment activities that involve the recruitment and placement for permitted sectors; and
      8. Housing services activities such as plumbing, roofing and electrical works.
   2. The following are allowed to operate at 50% operational capacity, while encouraging work-from-home arrangement and other flexible work arrangement:
      1. Other manufacturing industries classified as beverages, including alcoholics drinks, electrical machinery, wood products and furniture, non-metallic products, textiles and clothing/wearing apparels, tobacco products, paper and paper products, rubber and plastic products, coke and refined petroleum products, other non-metallic mineral products, computers, electronic and optical products, electrical equipment, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers, other transport equipment, and others;
      2. Other Real estate activities;
      3. Administrative and office support, photocopying and billing services;
      4. Other financial services not mentioned in Section 2 of the Omnibus Guidelines such as money exchange, insurance, reinsurance and non-compulsory pension funding;
      5. Legal and accounting services;
      6. Management consultancy services;
      7. Architectural and engineering activities that includes technical testing and analysis;
      8. Science and technology, and research and development;
      9. Recruitment and placement agencies for overseas employment;
      10. Advertising and market research;
      11. Computer programming and information management services;
      12. Publishing and printing services;
      13. Film, music and television production;
      14. Photography, fashion, industrial, graphic and interior design;
      15. Wholesale and trail trade of vehicles and their parts;
      16. Repair and maintenance of vehicles as well as its parts or components, including car wash services;
      17. Mall and commercial centers subject to DTI guidelines;
      18. Dining establishments and restaurants, but for delivery and takeout only;
      19. Hardware stores;
      20. Clothing and accessories;
      21. Bookstore, school and office supplies,
      22. Baby or infant care supplies,
      23. Pet food and pet care supplies,
      24. Information technology, communications and electronic equipment;
      25. Flower, jewelry, novelty, antique and perfume shops;
      26. Toy stores, provided, that their playgrounds and amusement areas, if any, shall remain closed;
      27. Firearms and ammunition trading establishments, subject to strict regulation of the PNP-Firearms and Explosives Offices;
      28. Pastors, priests, rabbi, imams, and other religious ministers insofar as providing home religious services to households; provided that proper protocols shall be observed.
3. For Areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ):
   1. All permitted establishments and activities under Section 2(4) shall be allowed to operate or be undertaken at full operation capacity: In addition, the following sectors or industries shall be allowed to operate at an operational capacity provided herein:
      1. Category I Industries (full operational capacity): power, energy, water and other utilities, agriculture, fishery, forestry, food manufacturing and food supply chain, food retail (groceries, convenience stores), food preparation (take-out and delivery), health-related establishments, logistics sector, information technology, telecommunication companies, media;
      2. Category II Industries (anywhere between 50% to full operational capacity, without prejudice to work from home or other work arrangements): Mining and other manufacturing, electronic commerce companies, delivery, repair and maintenance, and housing and office services;
      3. Category III Industries - Financial services, legal and accounting, and auditing services, professional, scientific, technical and other non-leisure services, barbershops and salons limited to basic hair cutting services, and other non-leisure wholesale and retail establishments, from skeleton workforce to fifty percent (50%) operational capacity, and without prejudice to work-from-home and other alternative work arrangements.

The foregoing lists of sectors and industries per category are illustrative. Specific industries under each category are reflected in a separate document issued by the DTI which shall contain the updated guidelines to implement the gradual increase of operational capacity without diminution of the current operational capacity previously allowed. This is without prejudice to the authority of the DTI to recategorize Category IV industries.

Beginning 21 July 2020, the operating capacity of restaurants and fastfood businesses for areas under GCQ shall be at a maximum of fifty percent (50%) of their dine-in services, subject to strict compliance with social distancing protocols. All food and retail businesses shall be allowed to operate until 11:00 pm and food delivery services up to 1:00 am. (DTI Memorandum Circular No. 20-39 dated 17 July 2020, as amended by Memorandum Circular No. 20-44 dated 31 July 2020)

On 31 July 2020, DTI issued Memorandum Circular No. 20-44 recategorizing the following business activities from Category IV to Category III, and allowing reopening beginning 01 August 2020 at 30 percent (30%) operation capacity, subject to mandatory minimum health standards protocols and respective protocols per business establishment and activities:

1. Testing, tutorial and review centers;
2. Gyms, fitness centers and sports facilities but limited to individual workouts only. Group workout sessions composed of 2 or more persons shall be strictly prohibited;
3. Internet cafes,
4. Dermatological clinics offering aesthetic procedures;
5. Other personal care services (except full-body massage service);
6. Pet grooming services; and
7. Drive-in cinemas.

Beginning 01 August 2020, barbershops and salons in areas declared under GCQ are allowed to offer all hair, nail and skin services, except full body massage, subject to the same operational capacity and subject to further strict protocol on hand sanitation, face mask and face shields, gloves and sterilized equipment. (Memorandum Circular No. 20-44)

4. For Areas under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ):

Except as otherwise provided below, all permitted establishments and activities under Category I, II and III of Industries allowed under GCQ and in pertinent Sections of the Omnibus Guidelines shall be allowed to operate or be undertaken at full operational capacity:

1. Barber shops, salons, and other personal care service establishments, shall be allowed to operate at a maximum of 50% of venue capacity;
2. Dine-in restaurants, fast food and food retail establishments such as supermarkets, grocery stores, and food preparation establishments, at a maximum of 50% seating capacity; and
3. Category IV and all other establishments not permitted to operate under previous Sections of these Guidelines, at a maximum of 50% capacity. However, for hotels and other accommodation establishments, only those accredited as provided by law and relevant DOT and DILG issuances may operate, and only upon issuance of a Certificate of Authority to operate by the DOT. DTI shall issue a negative list of industries which shall remain prohibited even in areas under MGCQ, establishments in the negative list shall not be allowed to operate in any form of community quarantine.(As amended by IATF-MEID Resolution Nos. 43 and 56). Under DTI Memorandum Circular 20-44, holding of traditional cockfighting and operation of cockpits, beerhouses and similar establishments whose primary business is service of alcoholic drinks and kid amusement industries shall not be allowed to operate under any form of community quarantine.

Beginning 21 July 2020, the operating capacity of restaurants and fastfood businesses for areas under MGCQ shall be at a maximum of seventy-five percent (75%) of their dine-in services, subject to strict compliance with social distancing protocols. All restaurants and fastfood businesses shall be allowed to operate until 11:00 pm. (DTI Memorandum Circular No. 20-39 dated 17 July 2020)

Law enforcement agencies shall recognize any of the following IDs: (i) IATF IDs issued by the regulatory agencies with jurisdiction over permitted establishments or persons, (ii) Bona fide IDs issued by establishments exempted from the strict home quarantine requirement, or (iii) RapidPass IDs. No other IDs or passes specifically exempting persons from community quarantine shall be required of workers of permitted establishments and/or offices without prejudice to requiring the presentation of other documents establishing the nature of their work, and (iv) Integrated Bar of the Philippines ID for lawyers who will provide legal representation necessary to protect rights of persons under custodial investigation, to bail and to counsel during inquest proceedings. (as amended by IATF-MEID Resolution No. 46)

On 31 May 2020, DILG announced that the quarantine passes will no longer be required in areas under GCQ unless LGUs require it in critical and buffer zones or when required by local conditions. Those who need to cross to another province, however, are required to secure travel passes except for work-related undertakings. . (DILG: Quarantine passes no longer needed by June 1 unless required by LGUs in specific locations; travel pass to provinces and curfew remains, 31 May 2020)

Casinos and gambling places shall not be allowed to operate. On 01 May 2020, PAGCOR allowed partial resumption of POGO operations up to a maximum of 30% of its workforce after fulfilling requirements such as BIR clearance and PAGCOR clearance.[1]

Under the Omnibus Guidelines, hotels or other similar establishments accommodating the following are allowed to operate:

1. Guests who have existing booking accommodation for foreigners as of 17 March 2020 for Luzon and 01 May 2020 for other areas;
2. Guests who have existing long-term bookings;
3. Distressed OFWs and stranded Filipinos or foreign nationals;
4. Repatriated OFWs in compliance with approved quarantine protocols;
5. Non-OFWs required to undergo mandatory facility-based quarantine; and
6. Health care workers and other employees from exempted establishments under the Omnibus Guidelines and applicable Memoranda from the Executive Secretary.

Hotel operations may operate only upon the issuance of a Certificate of Authority to operate by the DOT and shall be limited to provision of basic accommodation services to guests through an in-house skeleton workforce, disallow operations and provision of room service of ancillary establishments within the premises such as restaurants, cafes, bars, gyms and spas, and allow preparation of packed meals for distribution to guests and food orders for take-out and delivery. (As amended by IATF-MEID Resolution No. 43)

Mass Public Transportation

Under the Omnibus Guidelines, the following forms of transportation shall be allowed:

1. For areas under ECQ, public transportation shall be suspended except commissioned shuttle services for employees of permitted offices or establishments, as well as point-to-point transport services provided by the government, giving priority to healthcare workers.
2. For areas under MECQ, public transportation shall be suspended except commissioned shuttle services for employees of permitted offices or establishments, and transport services for healthcare workers.
3. For areas under GCQ, road, rail, maritime and aviation sectors of public transportation shall operate at a reduced capacity in accordance with guidelines issued by the DOTr, provided, that in all public transports, a strict one (1) meter distance between passengers shall be observed and appropriate engineering controls shall be in place.
4. For areas under MGCQ, road, rail, maritime and aviation sectors of public transportation shall be allowed to operate at the capacity in accordance with DOTr guidelines, provided, that in all public transports, a strict one (1) meter distance between passengers shall be observed and appropriate engineering controls shall be in place.
5. For areas under MECQ, GCQ and MGCQ, private transportation such as company shuttles and personal vehicles utilized by authorized outside their residences are allowed subjected to DOTr guidelines. The use of bikes and other non-motorized transportation are strongly encouraged.

Flow of Goods

1. Movement of cargo via air, land and sea within and across areas placed under any form of community quarantine shall be unhampered. Provided, that only a maximum of five (5) personnel may operate a cargo and delivery vehicles by land, with or without load.
2. Workers in the logistics sector, such as cargo, trucking, courier delivery and port operations shall likewise be allowed to transit across areas placed under any form of community quarantine.

LGUs and local health units are enjoined not to issue orders that run counter to the directive allowing the unhampered movement of all cargoes, such as requiring asymptomatic drivers and crews of cargo or service delivery vehicles to undergo mandatory fourteen (14)-day home quarantine. Provided, that strict social distancing measures must be observed and that PNP may conduct inspection procedures in checkpoints for purpose of ensuring that protocols on strict home quarantine are observed,

Employees in the private sector

1. Employers should extend financial help or assistance to their employees and may grant pro-rated 13^th month pay.
2. DOLE and DSWD will provide social amelioration packages for those affected by the work stoppage.
3. Employers should not terminate employees by reason only of not reporting for work because of the COVID-19 situation.

Companies are encouraged to process payrolls online. For those who cannot, payroll managers, and such other employees that may be required to process payrolls and print payrolls shall be allowed to travel and operate during the periods of ECQ and MECQ.

Employees in the government sector

Under the Omnibus Guidelines:

1. Work in agencies and instrumentalities of the government, including GOCCs and LGUs may operate under a skeleton workforce and with other alternative work arrangements as approved by the head of agency unless a different operational capacity is required in agencies providing health and emergency frontline services, border control and other critical services
2. Work in government offices under GCQ may be at full operational capacity or alternative work arrangements in accordance with CSC rules. Provided that for offices requiring employees to report physically, commissioned shuttle services as well as point-to-point transport services may be provided.
3. Work in all public and private offices shall be allowed to resume physical work in full capacity with alternative arrangements for persons who are 60 years old and above, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidities, other health risks and pregnant women.

All Courts and offices of the courts nationwide beginning 01 June 2020 shall be in full operation from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the National Capital Judicial Region, and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Regions 1 to 12, Monday to Friday. The night courts and Saturday courts shall remain suspended. Considering that mass transportation is not yet in full operation, the courts and offices of the courts may continue to function at work with a skeleton-staff, if necessary, to be determined by the Chief Justice, Associate Justices, Presiding Justices, Executive Judges, Presiding Judges and Chiefs of Offices, as the case may be. (SC Administrative No. 41-2020 dated 29 May 2020)]

In view of the imposition of MECQ in Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, Bulacan and Laguna from 04 August to 18 August 2020, all courts in the National Capital Judicial Region and those areas under ECQ or MECQ shall be physically closed to all court users and shall only be reached through their respective hotline numbers, email addresses and/or Facebook accounts as posted on the website of the Supreme Court. (SC Administrative Circular No. 43-2020 dated 02 August 2020 and SC Administrative Circular No. 43A-2020 dated 03 August 2020)

The movement of the following persons within and across areas placed under any form of community quarantine shall be permitted:

1. Health and emergency frontline services personnel;
2. Government officials and government frontline personnel;
3. Duly-authorized humanitarian assistance actors;
4. Persons traveling for medical or humanitarian reasons;
5. Persons going to the airport for travel abroad;
6. Returning or repatriated OFWs and other Overseas Filipinos returning to their places of residences;
7. Other persons transported through the efforts of the national government upon observance of the necessary quarantine protocols and with the concurrence of the receiving LGUs; and
8. Anyone crossing zones for work permitted in the zone of destination and going back home.

Travel in and out of the Philippines

Under IATF-MEID Resolution No. 57 dated 21 July 2020, as amended by IATF, the essential outbound travel of Filipinos shall be subject to the following conditions:

1. Execution of a Bureau of Immigration Declaration acknowledging the risks involved in travelling, including risk of delay in their return trip, to be provided for in the check-in counters by the airlines; and
2. Upon return, shall follow the Guidelines of Returning Overseas Filipinos of the NTF.

All the foregoing is without prejudice to the exercise of the mandate of the Bureau of Immigration prior to departure.

OFWs, students enrolled abroad and participants accepted in exchange visitor programs, permanent residents of foreign jurisdictions, and stranded foreign nationals, or those leaving for medical and other humanitarian reasons may leave for abroad through any of the airports or seaports in the country. Essential travel of Filipinos leaving for abroad for business and work, medical, emergency, and other humanitarian reasons, and which cannot be postponed, subject to presentation of sufficient supporting documents including the execution of Declaration acknowledging the risks involved in travelling, including risk of delay in their return trip, to be provided for in the check-in counters by the airlines, and observance of Guidelines of Returning Overseas Filipinos of the National Task Force. (IATF-MEID Resolution No. 57 dated 21 July 2020).

Beginning 01 August 2020, foreign nationals with long-term visas (immigrant visas under Sec. 13 of CA 613; RA 7919 and EO 324, including native-born foreign nationals) shall be allowed entry in the Philippines while maintaining the priority of returning OFWs subject to the following conditions:

1. Must have valid and existing visas at the time of entry. However, no new entry visa application shall be accepted;
2. With pre-booked accredited quarantine facility;
3. With pre-booked COVID-19 testing provider;
4. Subject to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date of entry; and
5. The foregoing is without prejudice to the applicable immigration laws, rules and regulations. (IATF-MEID Resolution No. 56 dated 16 July 2020)

Foreign spouses, minor children including children with special needs regardless of age, of Filipino nationals as well foreign parents of minor Filipino nationals including children with special needs regardless of age, are exempted from the visa-issuance suspension provided they secure or possess the appropriate visas. (IATF-MEID Resolution No. 60 dated 30 July 2020). In a press release last 08 August 2020, BI clarified that foreign spouses of Filipinos must secure entry visas from Philippine Consulates abroad before travelling to the Philippines. Otherwise, they will be denied entry by immigration officers and sent back to their ports of origin. The BI likewise clarified that the visa requirement only applies to foreign spouses, dependents and parents of Filipinos who do not have existing visas and those who already hold valid permanent and temporary resident visas acquired by reason of marriage to Filipinos under Section 13(a) of the Philippine Immigration Act can enter the country anytime. (Alien Spouses of Pinoys need visas to enter PH, BI Press Release, 08 August 2020)

In a press release last 07 August 2020, the BI announced that the government has not imposed additional restrictions or revised its guidelines on international travel despite the re-imposition of MECQ in Metro Manila and other areas in the country. (No Additional International Travel Restrictions under MECQ, BI Press Release, 07 August 2020)

Click here to read the Luzon Enhanced Community Quarantine Basic Do’s and Don’ts Bulletin No. 1. If you wish to know more about the conditions for exemptions, you may email us, and we shall respond as we work from home in observance of the Enhanced Community Quarantine.

When in doubt, we advise you to stay home until the quarantine is lifted, for your and everyone’s safety.

[1] DILG: Quarantine passes no longer needed by June 1 unless required by LGUs in specific locations; travel pass to provinces and curfew remains, 31 May 2020.

[2] PAL, AirAsia prepare for resumption of flights in June, 29 May 2020.

[1] Partial resumption of POGO ops allowed in GCQ, ECQ zones: Palace, 01 May 2020.

Click to read the following issuances:

• Luzon Enhanced Community Quarantine Basic Do’s and Don’ts Bulletin No. 1
• Revised Omnibus Guidelines for the Implementation of the Community Quarantine in the Philippines
• IATF-MEID Resolution No. 18 Series of 2020
• IATF-MEID Resolution No. 28 Series of 2020
• IATF-MEID Resolution No. 38, s. of 2020
• IATF-MEID Resolution No. 40, s. of 2020
• IAFT-MEID Resolution No. 41, s. of 2020
• SC Administrative Circular No. 41-2020 dated 29 May 2020
• BI Press release dated 01 June 2020
• BI Press Release dated 29 May 2020

Click to read the following related articles:

• Business Operations Under ECQ, MECQ, GCQ and MGCQ
• The "New Normal" for Businesses
• Alternative Work Arrangements under the “New Normal” for Businesses
• Guidelines in COVID-19 Testing by Employers of Returning Employees
• The Construction Industry's "New Normal"