On 15 June 2020, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) issued Resolution No. 46-A dated 15 June 2020, providing for the community quarantine classifications, starting 16 June 2020 until 30 June 2020, for provinces, highly urbanized cities (HUCs) and independent component cities (ICCs).
Continue readingThe revised list of businesses or activities under Category I to IV is contained in Memorandum Circular No. 20-33 issued by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on 8 June 2020. As used in the list below: NO means not allowed to operate; SKT means skeleton workforce; 50% means partial operating capacity; 100% means full operating capacity. The complete list, as provided in the Annex of MC 20-33, is reproduced below.
Continue reading[The full text of Memorandum Circular No. 20-33 (“Revised Category I-IV Business Establishments or Activities Pursuant to the Revised Omnibus Guidelines on Community Quarantine dated 22 May 2020 Amending for the Purpose Memorandum Circular 20-22 S. 2020”), issued by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), is reproduced below. The Annex containing the list of business is provided in a separate post.]
Continue readingThe Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) issued the Supplemental Guidelines on the Concessions on Residential Rents and Commercial Rents (Memorandum Circular No. 20-29) and the Amendment to Supplemental Guidelines on the Concessions on Residential Rents and Commercial Rents (Memorandum Circular No. 20-31). Here is a summary/discussion of the amended supplemental guidelines:
Continue reading[Full text of the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines, with Amendments as of 3 June 2020. This is prepared by the IATF Secretarial for general reference purposes. See also: marked up text.]
Continue readingThere are specific rules for various activities, depending on the quarantine classification of an area. The existing quarantine classification for all areas in the Philippines is either General Community Quarantine (GCQ) or Modified General Quarantine (MGCQ). Here are the rules governing MASS gatherings in both GCQ or MGCQ:
Continue reading[The Department of Finance (DOF) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) did not issue any new guidelines, which means that the original Implementing Rules and Regulations covering the 30-day grace period for loans remain the same. The rule is different for rents. Loans with due dates falling before 1 June 2020 still enjoy the 30-day grace period, but loans with due dates falling on 1 June 2020 and thereafter do not enjoy such benefit. This is clear in the latest Frequent Asked Questions (FAQ) of the BSP, reproduced below for the purpose of disseminating the information.]
Continue readingWith more businesses and establishments allowed to operate during the General Community Quarantine (GCQ), public transportation is crucial. Officials say that companies should provide transportation solutions for their employees. This is a heavy burden for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), especially considering that these MSMEs are already suffering from severe financial strain brought about by the lockdown. Each LGU has its unique traffic or transportation concerns. Metro Manila has its Modified Number Coding Scheme, but this will most likely be insufficient to address the transportation shortage. On the other hand, Cebu City has provided its own guidelines, basically allowing ALL public transportation and ALL private vehicles of employees working in permitted establishments.
Continue readingThe Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has announced that the Modified Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or “Number Coding Scheme” for Metro Manila will take effect on 8 June 2020 (the full text of MMDA Regulation No. 2020-001 is reproduced below). Update (7 June 2020): Number Coding Scheme suspended until further notice, per the MMDA.
Continue readingThe provisions on force majeure affects contracts and obligations during the community quarantine, as discussed in a previous post. In a welcome move, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) issued the guidelines on refund of payments made for events affected by the State of public health emergency. The salient points of DTI Memorandum Circular No. 20-30 are as follows:
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