Enhanced Community Quarantine

Question from Email: After Modified GCQ, what’s next?

Answer: (June 16, 2020)

The IATF’s June 3 Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines identifies four community quarantine regimes. These are Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), Modified ECQ (MECQ), General Community Quarantine (GCQ) and Modified GCQ (MGCQ). The most restrictive is the ECQ and the least restrictive is the MGCQ. Whether an area is to be downgraded will depend on the IATF’s recommendations and the approval of the President. The most desired is to have no quarantine restrictions in the New Normal but where health and safety measures will still be in place. Take note that there is a zoning concept. In areas even under MECQ, the local LGUs may put in place (as practiced a barangay, a street or an area) into ECQ-like restrictions upon the approval of the regional IATF. According to the Palace spokesperson on June 13, the option the President is considering for Metro Manila is to extend GCQ or reimpose MECQ. It is best to be updated for the latest CQ status in your area.

Sources: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1282698/duterte-approves-metro-manilas-shift-to-gcq-starting-june-1; https://www.covid19.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20200603-omnibus-guidelines-on-the-implementation-of-community-quarantine-in-the-philippines.pdf and https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1291295/du30-options-longer-gcq-or-back-to-stricter-quarantine

Question from Facebook: How to teach the grade1 pupils writing and reading. These needs face to face teaching. This is the concerns of grade 1 teachers. Thanks po

Answer: (June 10, 2020)

The 2020-2021 school year opening of classes is set on Aug. 24 but the Department of Education said on June 8 that in-person classes will be postponed until a vaccine for the new coronavirus disease is developed. This means students and teachers will rely on distance learning which includes alternative methods such as online classes, self-taught modules and instruction delivered through television or radio. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1288351/deped-postpones-in-person-classes

Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1287962/no-face-to-face-classes-until-covid-19-vaccine-is-available-deped

Question from Facebook: Totoo po ba ung may palibreng tablet ang q.c. government para sa mga batang wla pong mgamit na khit ano online gadget?

Answer: (June 10, 2020)

Yes, the Quezon City government has approved a P2.9 billion budget to provide tablets for public school students—155,921 enrolled junior high school students and 19,810 enrolled senior high school students. For students in kinder to grade school, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said they will receive modules, learning packets containing flash drives and other additional printed materials. A portion of the budget will be allocated for public school teachers.

Sources: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1287355/quezon-city-oks-p2-9-b-fund-to-equip-students-with-tablets and https://www.facebook.com/notes/quezon-city-government/qc-local-school-board-approves-p29-b-supplemental-budget-for-new-normal-in-educa/296608421726922/

Question from Facebook: tuloy po ba ang 2020-2021 classes?

Answer: (June 10, 2020)

Sources: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1288351/deped-postpones-in-person-classes and https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1287962/no-face-to-face-classes-until-covid-19-vaccine-is-available-deped

Question from Email: Me and my husband currently live in Pasig City and we are planning to go back to my husband’s hometown in Vigan City so I can give birth there. As of the moment, I am 4 months pregnant and work from home. I understand that we have to go on 14day quarantine when we arrive in Vigan. How is the Vigan quarantine procedure implemented? I want to know if I will still have online access so I can continue working from home.

Answer: (June 1, 2020)

Vigan City will be under modified general community quarantine starting June 1 and based on its latest guidelines, stranded individuals coming from general community quarantine (like Metro Manila) and other high-risk areas who wish to return to their hometowns shall undergo strict 14-day quarantine in the city’s designated facility. You and your husband must coordinate with the Vigan’s city health office for your arrival date and present to them your medical certificate from the Pasig’s city health office and travel authority from the Philippine National Police. The travel authority, which includes the date of travel, point of origin and destination, and name of driver and vehicles that will be used in the transport, will come from the director of the PNP directorate for operations since your travel involves two regions. You may reach the city health office of Vigan City at (077) 722-6785, 09171041803. 09478923128 or email them at [email protected].

Sources: https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1043381; https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1104465; https://www.facebook.com/vigancho/?ref=page_internal

Question from Email: My wife and two children are caught in lockdown in batangas. My wife is a public school teacher here in NCR. They are required to report starting first week of june. Can they go back here by first week of june?

Answer: (May 20, 2020)

Your wife must follow the guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases for stranded persons seeking to go home. They need to get a travel authority or certification from the Director of the PNP Directorate for Operations. To do this, individuals must first secure from the local government health office where they are stranded a medical certificate clearing them of the coronavirus. Local officials of the place where she wants to go back to must also provide a certification that they are accepting their return. Both these documents are needed by the concerned police officers to issue a travel authority, which includes the date of travel, point of origin and destination, and name of driver and vehicles that will be used in the transport. According to Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, if the areas involved is within a province, the certification could be issued by the provincial commander. If the areas involve two provinces within a region, the certification could be secured from the police regional director and if the areas involve two regions, the certification will come from the Director of the PNP Directorate for Operations. To facilitate getting her travel authority, your wife may opt to get in touch with the nearest barangay, mayor or governor for assistance. Last March, Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano has tasked city mayors and other LGU heads in DILG memorandum circular no. 2020-062 to provide transportation to stranded persons and to those needing to go to hospitals or clinics and that “the LGU may coordinate with other LGUs for the transport of said persons.” For further information, you may contact the (JTF) COVID-19 Shield at 0917-538-2495 (Globe), 0998-849-0013 (SMART) and (02)87253176 (Landline).

Sources: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1273099/covid-19-task-force-warns-against-unnecessary-travel-if-ecq-is-lifted; https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1102543 and https://www.dilg.gov.ph/PDF_File/issuances/memo_circulars/dilg-memocircular-2020322_28333f20aa.pdf

Question from Email: I am a dentist in Pangasinan that is presently under GCQ and I’m planning to travel to Metro Manila under MECQ with my driver. I need to pick-up and purchase equipment and materials for my clinics. Do we need to have special passes?

Answer: (May 18, 2020)

Workers in industries permitted to operate in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) would be allowed to cross borders, or travel from a GCQ area to a modified ECQ area, according to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. Under GCQ, dental clinics are among those classified as essential services whose operations may resume with a skeleton workforce. Just be ready with an employment certificate, a company ID and IDs that show your place of residence. Social distancing in private vehicles (one seat apart) must also be observed. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1275358/ban-on-public-transport-stays-in-mecq-areas

Source: https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2020/05may/20200515-omnibus-guidelines-on-the-implementation-of-community-quarantine-in-the-philippines.pdf

Question from Facebook: How did DepEd come up with an August class opening? Is COVID solved by that time?

Answer: (May 8, 2020)

The Department of Education has set the opening of classes for next school year on August 24 amid the continued spread of COVID-19. Education Secretary Leonor Briones said the school opening date was selected based on consultations with various stakeholders and on a survey involving 700,000 respondents. Depending on the situation, Briones said classes may be done through online learning methods and not all students have to physically report to schools.

Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1269815/its-back-to-school-physically-or-virtually-on-august-24-deped

Question from Email: 1) What is the correct standard of physical distancing according to DOH and IATF–6ft or 3ft apart? 2) Are clothes and shoes carriers of the covid19 virus? Should companies require employees to change clothes and/or shoes BEFORE ENTERING offices? 3) Are covid19 tests free of charge — meaning Philhealth will completely shoulder the relevant fees?

Answer: (May 4, 2020)

1. According to the guidelines of the World Health Organization, Department of Health and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, everyone must maintain at least 1 meter (or 3 ft) distance between each other at all times, especially in public places. You can breathe in the droplets that may contain the virus from the nose or mouth of someone who coughs, sneezes or speaks, so it is important to maintain a safe distance from everyone else.
Sources: https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2020/04apr/2020030-EO-112-RRD.pdf
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

2. A recent study in Wuhan, China, found that floor swab samples from a hospital tested positive because of gravity and air flow that caused virus droplets to fall to the ground. The study also said that half of the samples from the soles of the shoes of some medical staff tested positive and might function as carriers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cited studies that showed that COVID-19 may remain for hours to days on surfaces, including clothing, which could hold respiratory droplets. Source: https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/297729/to-do-list-in-entering-your-home-after-running-an-errand-during-this-covid-19-pandemic

3. Yes. Filipinos eligible for testing, even those who are not enrolled in PhilHealth, shall be covered by the benefit package for COVID-19 testing, based on PhilHealth Circular No. 2020-0010. The amount of the package, which ranges from P2,710 to P8,150, depends on how the test kits were procured by the accredited laboratories.
Sources: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1239944/philhealth-shouldering-covid-19-testing-costs
https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/news/2020/will_pay.php
https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/news/2020/cont_coverage.php

Question from Email: May I know the guidelines in condominiums with occupants who tested positive for COVID-19?

Answer: (April 30, 2020)

The new guidelines issued by the government last April 15, 2020 following the Department of Health’s new classification of Covid-19 cases did not mention members of the Inter-agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infection Diseases as exempted from quarantine protocols. But if you are a person under monitoring (PUM) which the Department of Health has now dropped in its new classification of Covid cases, joint administrative order no. 2020-0001 now refers to PUMs as “contacts” that can be subjected to quarantine protocols this time either in home quarantine or Ligtas covid-19 centers to be put up by LGUs. But this new guidelines only cover contacts “with mild symptoms and who are not vulnerable persons in households and communities.” Still, the Department of Health told the Inquirer that “anyone who has close contact (with a Covid-19 positive person) should quarantine himself, watch out for symptoms.” If any symptoms develop, he should go to the nearest hospital. Also, he should report to his barangay emergency response team to “enable the community to take specific actions on how to prevent transmission and also help the government in contact tracing” people who may have been exposed.

Source: https://www.doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/health-update/jao2020-0001_0.pdf

Question from Facebook: Kailan matatapos ang lockdown sa Visayas? Kailan magbabalik ang biyahe ng RORO ports?

Answer: (April 27, 2020)

Pinalawig ang enhanced community quarantine hanggang May 15 sa mga high-risk areas, na kinabibilangan ng lalawigan ng Antique, Iloilo at Cebu. Gayunman, ang sinasabing extension sa nasabing mga probinsiya ay maaari pa ring mabago base sa gagawing review ngayong Abril 30.

Maliban sa tatlong lalawigang natukoy, ang kabuuang Visayas ay isasailalim sa general community quarantine kung saan ang ibang sector ay maari nang magbukas. Bubuksan na rin ang mga airports at seaports sa ECQ at GCQ areas.

Ayon sa Maritime Industry Authority (MIA), ang mga cargo at passenger shipping operations, kabilang na ang Ro-Ro (Roll on-Roll off) ships, ay patuloy ang operasyon habang ipinatutupad ang ECQ. Bagamat ang ibang operasyon ay apektado, ang Ro-Pax (Roll on-Roll off passenger) ships ay bumiyahe lang para maghatid ng mga cargo.

Question from Email: Are financing companies considered “essential service” under Covid19 ECQ?

Answer: (April 16, 2020)

Among those listed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) as essential BSP-supervised institutions (BSFIs) were banks, non-bank savings and loan associations, money transfer/remittance companies, electronic money issuers, payment system operators and pawn shops. These institutions were instructed to remain operating with skeleton forces, with stricter social distancing measures and were given BSFI-issued IDs to use during the implementation of the ECQ.

Source: https://www.bsp.gov.ph/printpage.asp?ref=https://www.bsp.gov.ph/publications/media.asp?id=5328

Question from Email: How is mandatory home quarantine being administered? how is this monitored? My father-in-law is supposed to return from Dubai going to Bicol. But since Luzon is still on ECQ, he has no choice but to drop by here in Manila and stay with us. Will he be required for quarantine? If yes, how long and who’s going to monitor and give clearance once completed?

Answer: (April 15, 2020)

The Bureau of Quarantine stationed at the airport will decide whether returning Filipinos must undergo a mandatory quarantine in a facility or if they should undergo home quarantine instead. If ordered to undergo home quarantine, they must not leave their room and home for 14 days. After this, they may get their certificate of quarantine completion and clearance from the nearest barangay or barangay health center where they are staying.

Source: https://www.doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/health-update/DM-Interim%20Guidelines%20for%20Home%20Quarantine.pdf

Question from Email: I just want some clarification about the latest home quarantine requirements for OFW. Ang alam ko po kasi based sa DOH memo ay 14 days ang home quarantine ng isang cruise ship crew member. Nabago na po ba ito? May nagsabi po kasi very recently na ayon daw kay Sec. Nograles ng IATF ay pwedeng 1 week lang ang home quarantine.

Answer: (April 15, 2020)

The guidelines on the repatriation of Filipino workers in cruise ships have not been changed. OFWs are still mandated to undergo a 14-day quarantine, based on the IATF Resolution No. 18 issued on April 1. But the question of where they will be isolated depends on the Bureau of Quarantine staff upon the OFW’s entry at the airport. Local government units are advised to ensure the unhampered transit of OFWs who are required to undergo home quarantine.

Sources: https://globalnation.inquirer.net/186504/diplomat-dies-of-covid-19-guidelines-underway-for-returning-ofws and https://www.covid19.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IATF-Reso-No-18.pdf

Question from Email: What will happen if you are caught outside without a quarantine pass and you are still underage? For example, your age is still 14. What will they do to you?

Answer: (April 8, 2020)

Minors are urged to stay home during the enhanced community quarantine, especially since most barangays and local government units do not authorize minors to be holders of quarantine passes. Philippine National Police Chief Archie Gamboa had said that minors caught violating quarantine rules would be sent back to their parents or guardian. If there are no parents or guardians to pick them up, they will be turned over to the local social welfare officer. But there have also been reports of arrests of minors in certain cities. In Navotas, 259 minors have been arrested from March 20 to April 8. The Commission on Human Rights spokesperson Atty. Jacqueline de Guia had said that their office received complaints of arrests of minors, homeless and seniors.

Sources: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1245735/chr-covid-story and https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1246830/be-mindful-of-your-rights-vigilant-vs-possible-abuses-chr-tells-public-amid-luzon-wide-quarantine

Question from Email: My husband is arriving in Manila from US with stopover in korea on friday 1030 pm or nightime. His driver will pick him up and bring him to quezon city. As there is curfew, will he be exempted from this rule and just present arrival travel docs to any chechkpoint?

Answer: (April 1, 2020)

Yes, your husband will be allowed to travel from NAIA to Quezon City. Your husband and his driver must bring their identification cards and proof of travel which they will present at checkpoints. Returning Filipinos from the United States shall comply with a mandatory home quarantine.

Sources: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1241790/palace-releases-temporary-guidelines-on-metro-manila-community-quarantine and https://pcoo.gov.ph/press-briefing/laging-handa-public-briefing-hosted-by-pcoo-secretary-martin-andanar-undersecretary-rocky-ignacio-with-cabinet-secretary-karlo-alexei-nograles-department-of-agriculture-secretary-william-dar-depa/

Question from Viber: After the community quarantine is lifted by April 15, will masses and confession resume immediately?

Answer: (April 1, 2020)

Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines permanent community on public affairs, said on Wednesday that the public celebration of Masses in churches will most likely resume once the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine ends.

Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1252266/public-celebration-of-masses-to-resume-after-luzon-quarantine-ends-cbcp/

Questions from Email: Would like to ask for guidelines for the burial of my mother. She died yesterday due to NON-covid related disease. Are we allowed to hold a wake? If yes, what are the guidelines that need to be observed?

Good Morning! If there is someone who died in Pasay, can family members from Quezon City see the body noting that the cause of death is not COVID19 related? If yes, what are the protocols? What are the requirements needed to for travel?

Answer: (April 1, 2020)

Yes, you may visit the body. The national government had said that funeral parlors are among the establishments allowed to open as these offer “critical services.” But visitors in wakes are only limited to the immediate family of the deceased as well as the priests and ministers, according to Philippine National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac. But visitors must still observe social distancing, proper hand hygiene and cough etiquette at all times. You may travel via a private vehicle, but must strictly observe social distancing (or one seat apart).

Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1246454/pnp-wakes-in-luzon-limited-to-immediate-kin-during-quarantine-period

Question from Facebook: I am a business owner of a convenience store. What are the requirements for a quarantine pass?

Answer: (April 1, 2020)

A quarantine pass is used only within the barangay by ther person designated to go outside the home to buy food and necessities under the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine. A convenience store owner does not need a quarantine pass. But for him to go out to his home he has to carry his ID of employment in case he has to go through checkpoints. Those working in convenience stores are exempted from the lockdown.

Sources: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1249392/ncrpo-barangay-quarantine-pass-not-a-national-policy-not-honored-at-checkpoints/ and https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1244515/list-persons-authorized-to-go-out-during-luzon-lockdown/

Question from Email: What are the guidelines for funeral and burial during this ECQ in provinces like Bulacan? If the deceased is not a Covid patient.

Answer: (April 1, 2020)

Philippine National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said last week that wakes are among the banned public gatherings during the month-long Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine aimed to stop the spread of Covid-19. Banac said only the immediate family of the deceased as well as priest and other ministers will be allowed in wakes in Luzon. The Department of Health has not issued any specific guidelines for the burial of persons who died of other causes than those due to Covid-19. But funeral parlors are among the establishments offering critical services during the Luzon lockdown so it is safe to assume the burial procedure will be the same.

Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1246454/pnp-wakes-in-luzon-limited-to-immediate-kin-during-quarantine-period/

Question from Email: Kung magcacarpool ako ng officemates, ilan ang pwedeng sakay sa kotse?

Answer: (April 1, 2020)

While the government wants companies doing essential work to have transport arrangements for their employees, the government has insisted the implementation of skeleton work force and strict social distancing in every aspect of its operations so it follows that there should be less people inside a vehicle.

Source: https://pcoo.gov.ph/press-briefing/press-conference-of-cabinet-secretary-karlo-nograles-pcoo-secretary-martin-andanar-doh-secretary-francisco-duque-iii-doj-secretary-menardo-guevarra-dilg-secretary-eduardo-ano/

Question from Facebook: Matutuloy po ba ang 2 weeks total lockdown and kailan po magsastart?

Answer: (March 31, 2020)

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles last week denied as “idle and wild talk” rumors of a total lockdown in Luzon, Nograles maintained that groceries, drugstores and wet markets will remain open as they are now under the current Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

Source:

Question from Viber: Is BGC part of the Taguig lockdown declared by Mayor Lino? There are still a lot of people roaming around here.

Answer: (March 31, 2020)

Since the Court of Appeals ruled in 2016 that Bonifacio Global City (BGC) belongs to Taguig City in its land dispute with Makati City, it follows that the lockdown ordered by Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano midnight of March 17 in his city, also includes BGC.

Sources: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/943180/ca-taguig-owns-bgc-not-makati/ and https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1243629/taguig-city-goes-on-lockdown-due-to-covid-19/

Question from Viber: Is running alone around the neighborhood/ barangay/ subdivision not allowed? I was stopped by our barangay volunteers while jogging by myself one morning.

Answer: (March 30, 2020)

Yes, running or jogging in your barangay is prohibited. Under the enhanced community quarantine “strict home quarantine’ is being implemented in all households. Only one person per household will be allowed to leave to purchase necessities during lockdown.

Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1243217/duterte-on-luzon-wide-enhanced-community-quarantine-this-is-not-martial-law-covid19phsafeathome-total-lockdown-covid19-mmlockdown

Question from Email: I have a friend who has a mother, currently in Zamboanga, who has cancer. Will she be allowed to travel to Manila for treatment? Where can she get a permit so her mom can travel?

Answer: (March 30, 2020)

Your friend’s mother who has cancer may be exempted from the Luzon-wide lockdown and allowed to get inside Manila for humanitarian reasons. But there are no available commercial domestic flights bound for Manila from Zamboanga for the duration of the enhanced community quarantine until April 13. Commercial airlines that fly the Zamboanga-Manila routes are Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air, both of which have suspended all its domestic and international flights and are set to resume operations on April 15. The other option is to seek medical treatment in Zamboanga or nearby accessible provinces for the meantime.

Question from Viber: What is the DOTR social distancing guideline for travels using private cars?

Answer: (March 30, 2020)

Social distancing in private cars (that is one seat apart) must be observed by having only a limited number of passengers inside the vehicles. Private cars can be used when one has to travel to buy basic necessities and transport passengers who have scheduled departing or arriving flights. Use of private vehicles is allowed to buy basic necessities provided only one person is allowed to leave home. Filipinos may also use a private vehicle to transport or fetch their relatives at the airport but they should show proof of travel or flight itinerary and only one companion is allowed per passenger.

Sources: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1243868/dotr-on-private-vehicles-in-airports#ixzz6I8pn9SK7; https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1243775/luzon-community-quarantine-its-not-just-wider-in-coverage#ixzz6I8pI8a6e and https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1242176/dotr-to-implement-one-seat-apart-social-distancing-in-all-public-transpo#ixzz6I9GXnaH5

Question from Viber: What is the difference between total lockdown and enhanced community quarantine?

Answer: (March 30, 2020)

Under an “enhanced community quarantine,” also described as partial lockdown by government officials, business establishments that provide basic necessities such as food, water, medicine and medical supplies; and those that provide services such as banks, hotels and food deliveries, are allowed to operate. The delivery of agricultural products and the flow of cargoes (food and nonfood) shall remain unhampered and must not be flagged down at checkpoints during the enhanced community quarantine, which has been imposed in the whole of Luzon until April 13.

In a total lockdown, all establishments, including supermarkets, convenience stores, wet markets, drug stores, banks and restaurants would be closed. Delivery of food supply and agricultural products would also be prohibited.

Source: https://pcoo.gov.ph/OPS-content/on-the-rumor-of-a-total-lockdown-in-the-entire-country-in-the-next-two-weeks/

Question from Email: Do you know how Paranaque have set up to assist for PWD? For basic services like ID renewal during this time of COVID, and for special services like doing our groceries for us.

Answer: (March 28, 2020)

According to the Paranaque’s CSWD office, their office is open to you to renew your ID and they are giving food packs to all barangays in the city. For questions you may call the CSWD hotline at 88293324.

Question from Viber: There are barangays, such as ours here in Cubao (Brgy E. Rodriguez Sr), that are imposing windows of time for going out for important errands. The schedule is 5-8am, 10am-2pm, and 5-8pm. Is this official? It seems to go against the concept of social distancing because it squeezes everyone to be at the marketplace and supermarkets at particular times only.

Answer: (March 27 2020)

Yes, it is official because the schedule of curfew with window hours is imposed by local government units. However, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año already advised local government units last March 25 to lift window hours because cramming market runs into a few hours would only gather more crowds where social distancing would not be observed.

Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1248332/lift-window-hours-for-market-grocery-runs-lgus-told

Question from Email: Is this article true? It was published by Inq.net. “Home rental fees frozen while Luzon quarantine is in effect”.

Answer: (March 27 2020)

Yes, it is true. Under Republic Act No. 11469, or more known as “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act,” a 30-day moratorium shall be imposed on home rental fees within the duration of the enhanced community quarantine. No further charges, interests, penalties and fees shall also be incurred following the 30-day grace period.

Sources: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1248088/rental-fees-frozen-while-quarantine-in-place-poe and https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2020/03mar/20200324-RA-11469-RRD.pdf

Question from Email: I am due to vacate my current condominium unit next April here in Pasig as my contract expires and will move back to Muntinlupa (my domicile). Will I be allowed to move?

Answer: (March 26, 2020)

You will not be allowed to travel to Muntinlupa from Pasig because under the guidelines of the Enhanced Community Quarantine for Luzon, which will last until April 14, only authorized individuals from exempted industries and medical reasons are allowed to travel as long as they show proof of their business outside. No ‘non-essential’ travel is allowed because the intention of the quarantine is to restrict the movement of people and keep them in their homes.

Sources: https://pnp.gov.ph/images/Module/3192020.pdf and https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2020/03mar/20200316-MEMORANDUM-FROM-ES-RRD.pdf

Question from Disqus: How likely is it that the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon will be extended?

Answer: (March 26, 2020)

During the March 25,2020 Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases briefing in the Palace, Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano said while they have to make an assessment if the government can lift the lockdown on April 12, he was “confident that we can, but of course, it doesn’t mean that’s the end of the spread (of Covid-19).”

Source: https://pcoo.gov.ph/transcripts

Question from Viber: Are seniors prohibited to go to supermarkets?

Answer: (March 26, 2020)

Yes, but a senior citizen may be exempted if she/he lives alone. Under the enhanced community quarantine for Luzon, senior citizens cannot leave their houses to go to supermarkets. Quarantine passes issued by the local governments do not allow senior citizens to go out. However, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said senior citizens who live alone should be exempted. He said they should be given a quarantine pass to buy their basic needs. Senior citizens and those with underlying health conditions are at high risk of the coronavirus disease so they should take extra care when going to public places.

Sources: https://pcoo.gov.ph/press-briefing/inter-agency-task-force-for-the-management-of-emerging-infectious-diseases-virtual-presser-with-cabinet-secretary-karlo-alexei-nograles-department-of-agriculture-secretary-william-dar-department-of/ and https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1248697/senior-citizens-living-alone-should-also-get-quarantine-pass-says-ano

Question from Viber: I’m a single mom with one kid. According to the ECQ regulations, only 1 per household can go out to buy necessities. My son is a special child and cannot be left alone. Can this be exempted?

Answer: (March 26, 2020)

Yes, your case can be exempted. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo had said that among those exempted from the enhanced community quarantine are those leaving their homes for medical and humanitarian reasons. You may ask a barangay officer to exempt you or give you an additional quarantine pass on medical and humanitarian grounds.

Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1243036/luzon-island-now-under-enhanced-community-quarantine-palace