Luzon under Enhanced Community Quarantine starting March 17, 2020

Shortly after the earlier announced declaration of the city of Baguio under community quarantine by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, President Duterte has announced the whole Luzon, including NCR, to be put under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) starting 12:00 AM of March 17, 2020 to 12:00 AM of April 13, 2020, as per the Proclamation Nos. 929 and 922 s. 2020 and R.A. No. 1132 . This is due to the sharp increase of confirmed COVID-19 cases throughout the country.

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Effectivity

Strict enforcement and compliance of the public to the following guidelines will take effect starting 12:00 AM of March 17, 2020 to 12:00 AM of April 13, 2020.

Guidelines

Class Suspension

Classes and all school activities shall be suspended until April 14, 2020 and shall resume on April 15, 2020.

Mass Gatherings

Mass gathering shall be prohibited.

Home Quarantine

Strict home quarantine shall be observed in all households. Movement shall be limited to:
– accessing basic necessities;
– provision for food and essential health services, but shall be regulated;

Work From Home (WFH) for Executive Branch

A WFH arrangement shall be implemented in the executive branch, except:
– PNP
– AFP
– PCG
– health and emergency frontline
– border control
– and other critical services

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Private Establishments

The following establishments providing basic necessities and such activities related to food and medicine production shall be OPEN:

• Public Markets
• Supermarkets
• Groceries
• Convenience Stores
• Hospitals
• Medical Clinics
• Pharmacies
• Drug Stores
• Food preparation and delivery services
• Water-refilling stations
• Manufacturing and processing plants of basic food products and medicines
• Banks
• Money Transfer Services
• Power
• Energy
• Water
• Telecommunications supplies and facilities

The respective management of these establishments shall ensure the adoption of a strict skeletal workforce to support operations as well as strict social distancing measures.

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)

BPO establishments and export-oriented industries shall remain operational, subject to the condition that strict social distancing measures are observed. The skeletal workforce shall be implemented and respective personnel shall be provided appropriate temporary accommodation by March 18, 2020.

Media Personnel

Media personnels are allowed to travel within the quarantine area, provided that they shall secure an identification card from the Presidential Communications Operations Office within seventy-two (72) hours from the effectivity of the Enhanced Community Quarantine.

Mass Transport

Mass public transport facilities will be SUSPENDED. This includes:

• Train systems
• buses
• PUJs
• PUVs
• FX
• UV Express
• Point-to-Point (P2P) buses
• Motorcycle taxis
• other forms of mass transport such as Operations of Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVs) such as Grab and Angkas.

Residents of Luzon may only be allowed to walk or use their private vehicles when buying basic necessities in public markets, groceries, and convenience stores. Only one (1) person per household is allowed to go out to buy basic goods.

UPDATE: The City Government of Baguio has released additional advisories regarding public transportation and entry/exit to the City of Baguio during the effectivity of the Enhanced Community Quarantine. Read more here.

Land, Air, and Sea Travel

Land, air, and sea travel shall be RESTRICTED.

Outbound Passengers

Outbound Passengers intending to depart the Philippines from any of the international airports in Luzon will be allowed to travel within seventy-two (72) hours after the effectivity of Enhance Community Quarantine.

Inbound Passengers

Inbound international passengers in transit upon effectivity of ECQ shall be allowed entry but subject to applicable quarantine procedures if coming from countries with existing travel restrictions imposed by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Inbound Filipino passengers including their foreign spouse and children that are holders of Permanent Resident Visa and 9(e) Diplomat Visas issued by the Philippine Government shall be allowed entry, subject to applicable quarantine procedures if coming from countries with existing travel restrictions imposed by the IATF.

Movement of Cargo

The movement of cargos within, to and from the entire Luzon shall be unhampered. Guidelines for personnel of transiting cargoes shall be formulated by the Department of Transportation (DoTr).

Other Guidelines

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in coordination with the Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Budget and Management, and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shall formulate programs and measures for the social amelioration of affected workers and residents of the areas subject to ECQ. These measures may include, but shall not be limited to the following:

• Moratorium on lease rentals;
• Advancing a pro-rated thirteenth (13th) month pay;
• Reprieve in utility bills; and
• Assistance to Micro, Small, and Medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs)
• Measures to expedite the distribution of food assistance to the most affected residents of the entire Luzon

Failure of abidance

Failure to abide by the guidelines and measures shall be subjected to appropriate action, both criminal and administrative, in accordance with relevant rules and regulations.

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