- School premises are closed.
- Having a skeletal workforce is imposed.
- Other government employees should work from home.
ECQ Guidelines
for businesses
What is ECQ?
The Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) means that there is a restriction of movement of people unless it is out of necessity such as buying food. Frontliners such as the health sector are also exempted from this rule. Here is a summary of the guidelines released by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) for your information.
General Guidelines
- All people should stay at home.
- Outdoor exercise is not allowed.
- Gatherings are not allowed.
- No public transportations allowed.
- There are no domestic flights, and international flights are limited.
- There will be a public shuttle service for frontliners.
- Company vehicles with a special permit from LTFRB for rented shuttles are allowed to travel.
- Personal vehicles of those exempted from the quarantine are allowed to travel.
Construction for emergency works, flood control, and other disaster risk reduction and rehabilitation works, sewerage projects, water service facilities projects, and digital works are allowed.
How does this affect my business?
- Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries
- Manufacturing of essential goods
- Hospitals and clinics
- Essential retail
- Laundry shops
- Food preparation and water-refilling: take out and delivery only
- Logistics service providers
- Delivery service
- Utilities
- Repair and installation of machinery and equipment
- Telecommunications companies
- Energy companies
- Gasoline stations
- Construction workers accredited by DPWH
- Manufacturing companies and suppliers of products necessary for construction
- Mining and quarrying
- Electronic commerce companies
- Postal, courier, and delivery services
- Export-oriented companies
- Repair of computers and personal and household goods
- Housing service activities
- Special purpose accommodation
- Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)
- Banks, money transfer services, microfinance institutions, pawnshops, and credit cooperatives
- Capital markets
- Rental and leasing other than real estate
- Employment activities
- Media establishments
- Cement and steel
- Real estate activities
- Accommodation for guests
- Funeral and embalming services
- Veterinary clinics
- Security and investigation activities
- Dining/Restaurants
- Essential construction activities
- Other manufacturing
- Office administrative and office support
- Other financial services
- Legal and accounting
- Management consultancy activities
- Architecture and engineering activities; technical testing and analysis
- Scientific and research development
- Advertising and market research
- Computer programming and information service activities
- Publishing and printing activities
- Film, music and TV production
- Wholesale and retail trade of motor vehicles
- Repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles
- Malls and commercial centers
- Barbershops and salons
- Hardware stores
- Clothing and accessories
- Mall-based government frontline services
- Hardware stores
- Bookstores and school and office supplies stores
- Baby care supplies stores
- Pet food and pet care supplies
- IT, communications, and electronic equipment
- Flower, jewelry, novelty, antique, perfume shops
- Toy store (with playgrounds and amusement area closed)
- Gyms/fitness studios and sports facilities
- Entertainment industries (e.g., cinemas, theaters, karaoke bars, etc.)
- Kid amusement industries (e.g., playrooms, rides)
- Libraries, archives, museums and cultural centers
- Tourist destinations (e.g., water parks, beaches, resorts)
- Travel agencies, tour operators, reservation service and related activities
- Personal care services (e.g., massage parlors, sauna, facial care, waxing, etc.)
Minimum Safety Guidelines
In compliance with safety protocols, a “no mask, no entry” rule should always be observed. Frequent sanitation and handwashing are encouraged and touching of surfaces and the face should be avoided. Stricter safety protocols are to be followed for higher-risk occupations, industries, and spaces.
For safe distancing, a 1 meter apart rule should always be observed — workspaces should be reconfigured to practice this. Workers who show symptoms are to discontinue work immediately. In addition, markers observing the 1 meter apart rule should be placed in public places.
Private companies should adhere to return-to-work protocols. Employees are to work from home as default with exceptions of on-site work. Private shuttles should be provided and PCR confirmatory testing should be performed on employees.
Guidelines for Partially Allowed Sectors and Value Chains
A minimum of 50% of your employees are required to work from home. Allowed onsite workers should not exceed 50% of the total population of your employees.