Category Archives: Obiter / News

Face Masks: Mandatory to be Worn when Going Outside the House

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Face masks are now required to be worn by anyone whenever they are authorized to go outside their residences in all areas placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). This directive is contained in Resolution No. 18 dated 1 April 2020 (“IATF Recommendations Relative to the Management of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation”) of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF). Resolution No. 18 pertinently reads:

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Contact Details for Complaints in Execution of Social Amelioration Programs

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There are unique challenges in addressing the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis. For one, there is a wide variety of Social Amelioration Programs, designed to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). Given that the scope is the entire Philippines, the sheer volume of work and moving parts understandably leads to confusion and problems. There are mechanisms provided under Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 to address the confusion and gray areas.

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Social Amelioration Programs for the Community Quarantine by Reason of COVID-19

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To streamline and harmonize the various social amelioration programs of the government, in order to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 health crisis during the Community Quarantine, the responsible government agencies released Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1. This is pursuant to the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (Republic Act No. 11469) and its Implementing Directives. The full list of social amelioration programs [see also Emergency Subsidy Program (ESP) and Second Tranche of SAP benefits], under the circular are as follows:

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P5,000 to P8,000 Emergency Subsidy Program (ESP) during the Community Quarantine

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The Emergency Subsidy Program (ESP) is a social amelioration program to provide cash or non-cash subsidy to eighteen (18) million household beneficiaries, as defined in the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, in the amount of at least Five Thousand Pesos (PhP 5,000) to a maximum of Eight Thousand Pesos (PhP 8,000) per month for two (2) months, for basic food, medicine, and toiletries. This is pursuant to the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (Republic Act No. 11469) and its Implementing Directives. The various social amelioration programs of the government are intended to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) health crisis during the Community Quarantine.

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Target Beneficiaries of the Government Social Amelioration Program for COVID-19

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The responsible government agencies released Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 for the social amelioration programs (see List of Social Amelioration Programs; Second Tranche) implemented pursuant to the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (Republic Act No. 11469) and its Implementing Directives. The Emergency Subsidy Program (ESP) is a social amelioration program to provide cash or non-cash subsidy to 18 million household beneficiaries, in the amount of at least P5,000 to a maximum of P8,000 per month, for 2 months (see Emergency Subsidy Program). The target beneficiaries, per the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, are families that belong to either the poor or informal sector which are at risk of not earning a living during the Enhanced Community Quarantine, who may have at least one (1) member belonging to any of the following vulnerable or disadvantaged sectors (see documentary requirements):

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P15,000 Livelihood Assistance Grants (LAG) during the Community Quarantine due to COVID-19

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The Livelihood Assistance Grants (LAG) is the financial assistance granted to qualified Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) beneficiaries whose livelihoods were affected by the declaration of community quarantine. The SLP, on the other hand, is the capability-building program for the poor, vulnerable and marginalized families and communities to help improve their socio-economic conditions through accessing and acquiring necessary assets to engage in and maintain thriving livelihoods. The SLP is one of the core programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) providing livelihood assistance during natural or human-induced disasters. 

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Cash Assistance for Rice Farmers during the Enhanced Community Quarantine

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There shall be a one-time provision of decoupled payments amounting to Five Thousand Pesos (PhP 5,000) to eligible rice farmer beneficiaries through identified Government Financial Institutions (GFIs). This is provided in Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, providing for a number of social amelioration programs (see List of Social Amelioration Programs) in order to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 health crisis during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), pursuant to the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (Republic Act No. 11469) and its Implementing Directives. The pertinent provisions of Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 are as follows:

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P3,000/5,000 Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), Burial Assistance during the COVID-19 Crisis

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The government has rolled out a number of social amelioration programs designed to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) health crisis during the Enhanced Community Quarantine, pursuant to the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (Republic Act No. 11469) and its Implementing Directives. These social amelioration programs (see List of Social Amelioration Programs and Second Tranche of Benefits) include an outright cash assistance and burial assistance. 

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Food and Non-Food Items (FNI) Distribution during the Enhanced Community Quarantine

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The Philippine government has lined up a number of social amelioration programs designed to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) health crisis during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), pursuant to the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (Republic Act No. 11469) and its Implementing Directives. One the social amelioration programs (see List of Social Amelioration Programs) is the Food and Non-Food Items (FNI) distribution. The guidelines provided in the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 are as follows:

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