Today, 22 March 2012, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles released the salient points of Resolution No. 14 of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Disease (IATF). This list of persons exempt from the Enhanced Community Quarantine (but required to wear a face mask) is culled from IATF Resolution Nos. 14 and 13, as well as Memorandum dated 16 March 2020 issued by the Executive Secretary [Update: see Updated list as of 29 April 2020]. 

Home Quarantine

A strict home quarantine shall be observed in all households; movement shall be limited to accessing basic necessities; provision for food and essential health services shall be regulated. [Per OES Memorandum dated 16 March 2020]

The requirement that “only one person per household would be allowed to buy/access basic necessities” is contained in the informal Bulletin No. 1, and  not found in OES Memoranda or IATF Resolutions. This is not repealed under IATF Resolution No. 14.

Cargoes (food and non-food)

The policy on the unhampered flow of cargoes is a nationwide policy that must be strictly followed in all Local Government Units (LGUs) nationwide. [IATF Resolution No. 14] To avert any threat of shortage of basic food, essential hygienic products and medical products, the IATF reaffirms its earlier resolution to ensure the unimpeded movement of all types of cargo (food and non-food), and allow the passage of personnel of business  establishments permitted to operate during the Enhanced Community Quarantine, subject to the presentation of proof of employment, and residence. [IATF Resolution No. 14; In Paragraph J of Resolution No. 16, the IATF resolved to: “Reiterate unhampered movement of all supplies used for agriculture, including food packaging and manufacturing materials.”]

The IATF reiterated, for the nth time, the policy of allowing the unhampered movement of all cargoes. Accordingly, the IATF enjoined Local Government Units (LGUs) and local health units NOT to issue orders that run counter to said directive, such as, but not limited to, requiring asymptomatic drivers and crews of cargo or service delivery vehicles to undergo mandatory fourteen (14)-day home quarantine. The IATF reaffirmed the directive contained in its Resolution No. 14, exempting such vehicles, with or without load, with not more than three (3) personnel onboard, provided that strict social distancing measures must be strictly observed, which may include, if necessary, the putting up of additional safe and humane seats or space in the vehicles. [IATF Resolution No. 18]

Health and Emergency frontline workers

IATF Resolution No. 14 does not repeal the exemption granted in favor of emergency frontline workers, enumerated under IATF Resolution No. 13:

• a. Public health workers (all employees of the Department of Health, DOH Hospitals, Hospitals of Local Government Units, and Provincial, City, and Rural Health Units);

• b. Private health workers, such as but not limited to medical professionals, hospital administrative staff and aides from private health facilities, as well as their service providers; and 

• c. Health workers and volunteers of the Philippine Red Cross and World Health Organization (WHO).

The Department of Transportation, in cooperation with Local Government Units, and upon consultation with the Department of Health, shall develop a system of point-to-point transport services for all the aforementioned health workers.

Persons Exempt from Enhanced Community Quarantine

Per IATF Resolution No. 14, the following persons are exempted from the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine, subject to strict compliance to skeleton workforce arrangement and strict social standing. No further exemptions shall be granted by 23 March 2020.

A. Members of Congress and their Chiefs of Staff, including close-in staff necessary to or connected to their movement;

B. Secretaries, Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and Bureau Directors of the different government agencies under the Executive Branch, including close-in staff necessary to or connected to their movement;

C. Ombudsman and their Deputy Ombudsman, including close-in staff necessary to or connected to their movement;

D. Justices of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Court of Tax Appeals and the Sandiganbayan, as well as their respective skeleton-workforce, including close-in staff necessary to or connected to their movement;

E. Judges of Regional, Metropolitan, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts and Prosecutors, as well as their respective skeleton-workforce, including close-in staff necessary to or connected to their movement;

F. Local Chief Executives, including close-in staff necessary to or connected to their movement;

G. At most three (3) personnel operating cargo vehicles and delivery service vehicles for food, drinking water, medicine, and other basic necessities, with or without load;

H. Employees of:

• 1. Manufacturing and processing plants of Basic Food Products, Essential Products, Medicine and Medical Supplies: (i) All food; (ii) Essential and Hygiene Products, i.e., soap and detergents, diapers, feminine hygiene products, tissue, wipes/and toilet papers, and disinfectants; (iii) Medicines and Vitamins; and (iv) Medical Products, such as PPEs, masks, gloves, and others. [Per Paragraph K of IATF Resolution No. 16: “The IATF endorses the recommendation of the DTI in allowing the full operation of those engaged in the manufacture of medicines, medical supplies, devices, and equipment, including but not limited to suppliers of inputs, packaging, and distribution, to address the country’s clear and present need for medical supples and equipment.”]

• 2. Retail establishments (groceries, supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience stores, public markets, pharmacies and drug stores). [Agricultural supply stores/outlets, added per Paragraph J of Resolution No. 16.]

• 3. Logistics Service Providers (cargo handling, warehousing, trucking, freight forwarding, and shipping line).

• 4. Hospitals and Medical Clinics. [Veterinary clinics, added per Paragraph J of Resolution No. 16.]

• 5. Food Preparations and Water Refilling Stations.

• 6. Delivery Services, whether in-house or outsourced, transporting only food, water, medicine or other basic necessities.

• 7. Banks and Capital Markets. Capital markers, including but not limited to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Securities and Exchange Commission, Philippine Stock Exchange, Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corporation, Philippine Securities Settlement Corporation, and Philippine Depository and Trust Corporation, shall be allowed to operate, subject to the qualification of establishing skeletal workforces in their respective establishments. [As supplemented by IATF Resolution No. 13]

• 8. Power, Energy, Water, IT and Telecommunications Supplies and Facilities, Waste Disposal Services.

• 9. Export and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies. The deadline given to BPOs and export oriented establishments (including those inside economic zones), to prepare for their respective alternative work arrangements, such as the setting of the temporary accommodations for their workers, the need to shuttle employees, the transfer of necessary equipment to facilitate work from home arrangements, shall be extended until 11:59 p.m. of 22 March. 

• 10. Airline and aircraft maintenance employees, including pilot and crew, and ship captain and crew.

• 11. Media establishments. The number of exempted employees be limited to but fifty percent (50%) of their total permanent staff complements as registered under the DOLE. Such maximum limit includes reporters and other field employees as may be accredited by the PCOO. The maximum will be subject to regular assessment and review by the IATF. Existing exemptions are extended until 26 March 2020.

• 12. Hotels that have bookings as of 17 March 2020 (refer to the related subheading below).

• 13. Energy companies and their third-party contractors, including such employees involved in electric transmission and distribution, electric power plant and line maintenance, as well as those involved in exploration, operations, trading and delivery of coal, oil or any kind of fuel used to produce electricity.

• 14. Under “Telecommunication utilities“, the Telecommunication-related force, i.e., Telecommunications companies (TelCos), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Cable TV Providers (CATV), including those who perform indirect services such as the security, technical, sales and other support personnel, as well as employees of their third-party contractors doing sales, installation, maintenance and repair works.

I. Pastors, priests, imams or such other religious ministers whose movement shall be related to the conduct of necrological or funeral rites.

J. Heads of Missions or designated Foreign Mission Representatives, including a limited number of their personnel or staff.

Farming and fishing activities are allowed to continue. All healthy farmers and farm workers, fishers, and agri-business personnel are exempt from the Enhanced Community Quarantine. [Paragraph J of IATF Resolution No. 16]

The period for the issuance of the IATF Accredited IDs is hereby extended until 26 March 2020. Holders of bona fide IDs issued by exempted establishments or offices shall continue to be honored by law enforcement agencies so as to exempt the bearers thereof from the strict home quarantine requirements.

[Per IATF Resolution No. 14, pursuant to the authority granted to the IATF under Memorandum dated 16 March 2020 issued by the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES), the following amendments or modifications to the existing guidelines on Enhanced Community Quarantine are hereby adopted]

Funeral Services

Funeral services staff and personnel are granted exemptions from the enhanced community quarantine, as reiterated in IATF Resolution No. 16 (Paragraphs E[f] and [g]). The said individuals may freely move and travel to ensure that the remains of deceased individuals will be given proper funeral services. Funeral companies are directed to provide transportation and/or housing accommodations for funeral service staff.

Note that, as stated above, the following are also exempted: Pastors, priests, imams or such other religious ministers whose movement shall be related to the conduct of necrological or funeral rites.

Executive Branch employees

A work from home arrangement shall be implemented in the Executive branch, except: Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and health and emergency frontline services, border control and other critical services, which shall ensure a skeleton workforce. [Per OES Memorandum dated 16 March 2020]

The Department of Labor and Employment is authorized to accredit a skeleton workforce for the purpose of facilitating the conduct of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program. [Per IATF Resolution No. 13]

Hotels or Similar Establishments

No hotels or similar establishments shall be allowed to operate, except those accommodating:

• (a) Guests who have existing booking accommodations for foreigners as of March 17, 2020; [Paragraph B(3) of IATF Resolution No. 13]

• (b) Guests who have existing long-term leases; [Paragraph B(3) of IATF Resolution No. 13]

• (c) Employees from exempted establishments; [Paragraph B(3) of IATF Resolution No. 13] and

• (d) Distressed OFWs, subject to guidelines issued by the Overseas Welfare Workers Administration (OWWA) in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Health (DOH). OWWA is authorized to issue the certification it may deem appropriate to the concerned OFWs. [IATF Resolution No. 14, amending Paragraph B(3) of IATF Resolution No. 13]

Stranded passengers, whether Filipino or foreign nationals, are also allowed to book hotels and seek temporary accommodations. For hotel and other forms of accommodations, single occupancy of rooms shall only be required for health workers and repatriated OFWs. Double occupancy of rooms shall be allowed for other individuals not falling within the aforementioned individuals, subject to the guidelines of the DOH. [Paragraph H of IATF Resolution No. 16, which did not repeal the similar provisions in previous Resolutions]

Access to and from Ports/Terminals

Outbound and repatriated OFWs and stranded foreign nationals shall be granted free and unimpeded access to and from national government facilities such as airports, ferries, bus terminals, etc., notwithstanding any LGU pronouncement to the contrary. The said free access shall extend to the vehicles carrying the aforementioned individuals in order for them to reach their final destination. No fee or any other requirement shall be imposed by LGUs in this regard. [Paragraphs H of IATF Resolution No. 16]

Inbound  International Travel and Issuance of Visa

Inbound travel is suspended. The DFA shall issue the necessary implementing circular relative to following [IATF Resolution No. 14]:

1. Visa issuance to all foreign nationals is suspended with immediate effect.

2. Visa-free privileges based on Visa Waiver Agreements, those under Executive Order No. 408, s. 1960, holders of Hong Kong and Macau SAR possports, Macau-Portuguese passports and British National Overseas passports are also suspended effective 22 March 2020;

3. Foreign spouses and children of Filipinos are exempted from the above suspension; and 

4. Foreign nationals with visas previously issued by Foreign Service Posts (FSPs) will not be allowed entry into the country starting 22 March 2020, except:

• a. Accredited Foreign Government and International Organization officials and their dependents; and

• b. Foreign spouses and children of Filipino nationals whose visas will remain valid and will be honored when entering the country even after said date.

Outbound International Travel

Overseas Filipino Workers, permanent residents of foreign jurisdictions and stranded foreign nationals leaving for abroad through any of the ports in Luzon shall be allowed to leave the Philippines without any impediment. Provided, that this provision shall not be interpreted to allow outbound travel to jurisdictions where travel restrictions are in place. Provided, further, that departing passengers may only be accompanied by not more than one person when traveling to any international port. Provided, finally that the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration is hereby directed to provide transportation services to OFWs intending to leave for abroad. [Paragraphs G of IATF Resolution No. 16]

IATF Resolution No. 14 does not cover outbound international travel, but it also does not repeal the applicable provision in IATF Resolution No. 13 on outbound travel. “OFWs, balikbayans, and foreign nationals leaving for abroad through any ports in Luzon shall be allowed to leave the Philippines at any time for the duration of the Enhanced Community Quarantine. Provided, that proof of international travel itinerary scheduled within twenty-four (24) hours must be presented, Provided, further, that non-essential travel by Filipinos from any port of Luzon shall be suspended. Provided, further, that departing passengers may only be accompanied by not more than one (1) person when traveling to any international port. Provided, further, that OWWA may provide transportation services to OFWs intending to leave for abroad. Provided, finally, that all the foregoing shall be subject to joint guidelines to be issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment, and the Department of Tourism.” [Per IATF Resolution No. 13]

Other activities

As provided in Paragraph J of IATF Resolution No. 16, the IATF approves the following recommendations of the DA, subject to implementation of skeletal workforce and social distancing measures:

• Allow farming and fishing activities to continue;

• Exempt all healthy farmers and farm workers, fishers, and agri-business personnel;

• Allow agricultural supply stores/outlets and veterinary clinics to operate;

• Reiterate unhampered movement of all supplies used for agriculture, including food packaging and manufacturing materials;