4 May 2020
Philippines

Extension of Enhanced Community Quarantine in the Philippines

Pursuant to Executive Order No. 112 released by the Office of the President of the Philippines on 1 May 2020, the Enhanced Community Quarantine (“ECQ”) imposed on the National Capital Region (“NCR”) where Metropolitan Manila is located has been effectively extended until 15 May 2020. In addition to NCR, several other provinces, cities and municipalities identified as high-risk geographic areas are likewise placed under the ECQ. At the same time, the rest of the Philippines not covered by the ECQ are under a new category of community quarantine called General Community Quarantine (“GCQ”).

During the ECQ, stringent measures are implemented to limit the movement and transport of people to accessing of essential goods and services. Some industries and businesses are allowed to function during the ECQ on the condition that they will operate only with a skeleton staff, unless a different operational capacity is provided, e.g., industries involved in the food value chain can operate at their full capacity. To enforce the ECQ protocol, the Philippine Government has authorized the heightened presence of uniformed personnel, such as the military and police force, in these high-risk places.

Meanwhile, areas under the GCQ would experience less stringent measures, wherein three (3) categories of sectors or industries would be allowed to operate at their full operational capacity without prejudice to work-from-home or other alternative work arrangements. However, movement for leisure purposes and mass gatherings are still strictly prohibited.

We provide below a summary of business and industries allowed to operate during the ECQ and GCQ for your reference.

In view of the extension of the ECQ, Insights Philippines Legal Advisors will continue to observe a work-from-home policy for all lawyers and staff until 15 May 2020. Rest assured that we will continue to monitor any further developments and issuances from the Philippine government regarding this matter and update everyone accordingly.

 


For any questions, please contact our Managing Partner, Felix Sy at . We hope you and your family remain safe, healthy and vigilant.  Thank you for your continued support and trust in Insights Philippines Legal Advisors.

 

ECQ

(allowed to work or operate with a skeleton workforce unless a different operational capacity is provided)

GCQ
  • Government agencies and instrumentalities;
  • Capital markets, 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;
  • Officials and employees of diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs (“DFA”) whenever performing diplomatic functions and subject to DFA guidelines;
  • Industries involved in agriculture, forestry, and fishery and their workers, and other components of food value chain shall be allowed to operate at full capacity;
  • Private establishments and their employees involved in the provision of essential goods and services, such as food and medicine;
  • Manufacturing and processing plants of essential goods and products (they may be allowed to operate at a maximum of 50% of their respective workforce);
  • Delivery services;
  • Banks, money transfer services, microfinance institutions, excluding pawnshops not performing money transfer, and credit cooperatives;
  • Power, energy, water, information technology and telecommunications supplies and facilities;
  • Energy companies;
  • Telecommunications companies, internet service providers, cable television providers;
  • Business process outsourcing (“BPO”) establishments and export-oriented business with work-from-home, on-site or near-site accommodations, or point-to-point shuttling arrangements;
  • Airline and aircraft maintenance employees;
  • Media establishments (at a maximum operational capacity of 50% of total permanent staff component);
  • Construction workers accredited by the Department of Public Works and Highways to work on facilities identified for purposes of quarantine and isolation facilities;
  • Manufacturing companies and suppliers of equipment or products necessary to perform construction works;
  • Workers accredited by the Department of Transportation to work on utility relocation works and specified limited works across thirteen railway projects;
  • Employees of the Philippine Postal Corporation at a capacity necessary to maintain the prompt delivery of services to its clients;
  • Philippine Statistics Authority  at a capacity necessary to conduct data gathering and survey activities related to COVID-19 and the registration and implementation of the national ID system;
  • Funeral and embalming services;
  • Humanitarian assistance from civil society organizations, non-government organizations and United Nations-Humanitarian Country Teams;
  • Pastors, priests, imams or such other religious ministers whose movement shall be related to the conduct of necrological or funeral services;
  • Veterinary services; and
  • Security personnel.

Category I industries are allowed to operate at full capacity:

  • Agriculture, fishery and forestry;
  • Food manufacturing and food supply chain businesses, including supermarkets, grocery stores, and food delivery services;
  • Health-related establishments;
  • Logistics sector;
  • Information technology and telecommunication companies; and
  • Media

Category II industries are allowed to operate at anywhere between 50% up to full capacity, without prejudice to work-from-home and other alternative work arrangements:

  • Mining;
  • Manufacturing, export-oriented, and electronic commerce companies;
  • Delivery, repair and maintenance and housing and office services

Category III industries are also allowed to operate at anywhere between 50% up to full capacity, without prejudice to work-from-home and other alternative work arrangements:

  • Financial services,
  • BPOs;
  • Legal and accounting and auditing services;
  • Professional, scientific, technical and other non-leisure services; and
  • Barber shops, salon and other personal care services

Other guidelines:

  • Work in government offices may be at full operational capacity or under alternative work arrangement;
  • Accredited diplomatic missions and international organizations may be at 50% operational capacity;
  • Limited operations in malls and shopping centers shall be allowed, except leisure establishments and services shall continue to be closed;
  • Amusement, gaming, fitness establishments, and tourism industries (or Category IV industries) may not operate; and
  • The Department of Trade and Industry will issue a separate document specifying the industries under each category.

Announcement

On 1 December 2022, KPMG and ZICO Law entered into an agreement under which a number of law firms and teams from the ZICO Law network have joined the KPMG network of firms.

The deal will see more than 275 lawyers join over 2,900 legal professionals in the KPMG global organization, creating a significant legal footprint across Asia. It will offer legal services and solutions, a globally connected legal services platform, and specialists who work with leading technology providers to modernize legal functions across organizations. The strategic combination increases the total number of legal professionals in the KPMG network to over 3,750 across 84 jurisdictions. You may read the press release here.

For more information and to see how we can assist you in your desired jurisdiction, please follow the links below: