[See Summary/Discussion; Note that Memorandum Circular No. 20-12, cited in the circular below, has been amended by Memorandum Circular No. 20-31.]
Author Archives: P&L Law
The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020: Salient Points of Republic Act No. 11479
[Update: On 3 July 2020, the President signed Republic Act No. 11479, otherwise known as the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. Earlier this year, the Senate passed Senate Bill No. 1083, a proposed law to prevent, prohibit and penalize terrorism, and repeal Republic Act No. 9372, otherwise known as the “Human Security Act of 2007.” The provisions of SB 1083 were adopted in House Bill No. 6875, certified as urgent by the President on 1 June 2020. On 3 June 2020, the House of Representatives approved HB 6875 on third and final reading. The enrolled bill was transmitted to and received by Malacanang on 9 June 2020. The salient points of the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 are discussed below.]
Continue readingVideoconferencing Hearings to Continue in General Community Quarantine (GCQ) Areas
Videoconferencing hearings will continue in General Community Quarantine (GCQ) areas, the Supreme Court’s Public Information Office (PIO) announced on 31 May 2020. The government has lifted the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) in all areas in the Philippines, relaxing the quarantine to either GCQ or Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ).
Continue readingGuidelines for Dine-in Restaurants and Fastfood Establishments: DTI-Mandated Minimum Health Protocol
[No more buffet or self-service when you visit your favorite restaurant or fastfood chain. And you are required to fill up a medical checklist. On 31 May 2020, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) released the Guidelines on Minimum Health Protocol for Dine-in Restaurants and Fastfood Establishments. Dine-in is allowed at 50% capacity during the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) period. The full text of the guidelines is reproduced below.]
Continue readingCebu City Guidelines for Travel, Work and Related Matters during General Community Quarantine (GCQ): Executive Order No. 79
[The full text is reproduced to illustrate the reality that travel passes are still generally required by each local government, except for work in permitted establishments wherein the company ID is sufficient (see Sec. 3), although complications may arise because Sec. 15 requires of “Company ID, Certificate of Employment, Business Permit, and work schedule”. There is a list of permitted/ prohibited establishments (Secs. 9 and 10), subject to specific requirements such as a Business Monitoring Form (see process of submission and penalties in Sec. 7). Note the rules on mass gatherings (Sec. 14) and intrazonal and interzonal travel (Sec. 15). Public transportation is allowed (Sec. 5), subject to a number coding scheme (Sec. 21). Inter-island travel by ship is allowed (Sec. 6), subject to strict guidelines, and not to/from ECQ areas.]
Continue readingCross-Border Rehabilitation and Insolvency: Actions of Foreign Creditors and Enforcement Framework of Foreign Proceedings in the Philippines
The Financial Rehabilitation Rules of Procedure (2013), referred to as the “FR Rules,” covers cross-border insolvency proceedings pursuant to the Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act (FRIA) of 2010. These provisions are likewise made applicable in proceedings under the Financial Liquidation and Suspension of Payments Rules of Procedure for Insolvent Debtors (2015), referred to as the “FLSP Rules”.
Continue readingUpdated Community Quarantine Classifications: Provinces, Highly Urbanized Cities (HUCs) and Independent Component Cities (ICCs)
Community quarantine classifications change quickly, so it is helpful to present the information per region. The latest issuance, mostly based on the Resolutions of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), are indicated. Community quarantine classifications: Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ), General Community Quarantine (GCQ), Modified General Community Quarantine (GCQ), and New Normal/No Community Quarantine. See revised Omnibus Guidelines. Latest issuance: IATF Resolution No. 41 dated 29 May 2020.
Continue readingPrimer on the 2019 Supreme Court Revised Rule on Children in Conflict with the Law
On 22 January 2019, the Supreme Court resolved to promulgate the 2019 Supreme Court Revised Rule on Children in Conflict with the Law (A.M. No. 02-1-18-SC). This is a primer on or introduction to the Revised Rule on Children in Conflict with the Law or CICL.
Continue readingPolicy Guidelines on the Co-Location and Sharing of Passive Telecommunications Tower Infrastructure for Macro Cell Sites (DICT Circular No. 008)
[Reproduced below is the full text of Department Circular No. 008 of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), setting forth the policy guidelines on the sharing and co-location of telco towers in the Philippines.]
Continue readingRevised Community Quarantine Classifications (1-15 June 2020): IATF Resolution No. 41 dated 29 May 2020
Community quarantine classifications of provinces, highly urbanized cities (HUCs) and independent component cities (ICCs) in the Philippines for the period 1 to 15 June 2020, per IATF Resolution No. 41 dated 29 May 2020. [See running list].
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