MANILA (UPDATE) - The entire northern Philippine island of Luzon was placed on an

“enhanced community quarantine” Tuesday to arrest the spread of the new coronavirus disease
(COVID-19) that has infected a total of 142 people and claimed the lives of 12 others in the
country.

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions on the implementation of the quarantine:

1. When is the enhanced community quarantine effective?

- The enhanced community quarantine for Luzon is effective starting midnight on Tuesday,
March 17 until midnight on Monday, April 13.

2. How is the enhanced community quarantine different from the general community
quarantine?

- The enhanced community quarantine is an expanded and firmer version of the earlier imposed
general community quarantine in Metro Manila.

- Under the tougher quarantine, the government mandates strict home confinement in all
households, suspension of transportation lines, regulation of provision for food and essential
health services, and heightened presence of uniformed personnel to enforce isolation procedures.
This is stricter than the general community quarantine which only limits the movement of people
to accessing basic necessities and work, and the presence of uniformed personnel and quarantine
officers.

- Mass gatherings during the enhanced community quarantine period remain prohibited.

 
3. What are the travel, and transportation guidelines during the quarantine period?

- All mass public transport facilities shall suspend its operations including train lines (MRT,
LRT-1, LRT-2, PNR), as well as public utility vehicles such as buses, jeepneys, ride-hailing
services, FX, UV Express, Point-to-Point (P2P) buses, and motorcycle taxis.

- Land, air and sea travel shall be restricted. Travels of uniformed personnel for official business,
especially those transporting medical supplies, laboratory specimens related to the COVID-19,
and other humanitarian assistance however are exempted from restrictions.

- Outbound passengers, including foreigners intending to depart the Philippines from Luzon are
allowed to leave only until March 19 or 72 hours since the implementation of the enhanced
community quarantine.

- Inbound international passengers meanwhile who are already in transit upon the effectivity of
the enhanced community quarantine will be allowed entry subject to the quarantine procedures
of health authorities.

- Inbound flights throughout the quarantine period will be limited for the repatriation efforts of
Filipinos overseas.
- Movement of cargoes within, to and from the entire Luzon shall remain unhampered.

- Only 1 person per household is allowed to go outside their homes to buy basic necessities. Use
of private vehicles for this purpose shall be allowed.

- Farmers and other food producers are also exempted to travel restrictions but are subject to
quarantine checkpoints

- Media vehicles and reporters shall be allowed to travel within the community quarantine area,
provided that they secure a special media pass from the Presidential Communications Operations
Office.

- Security personnel of businesses allowed to operate during the enhanced community quarantine
period are allowed to travel within the area.

4. Is there class suspension and what are the areas covered?

- Classes and all school activities in all levels in Luzon shall be suspended until April 14, 2020
and would resume on April 15, 2020.

5. Is there work suspension?

- For the executive branch of government, a “work from home” arrangement will be
implemented with the exemption of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the
Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, health and emergency frontline services, and border control
which should ensure a skeletal workforce.

- President Rodrigo Duterte also urged private companies to adopt “work from home”
arrangements in the meantime to control the spread of COVID-19.

6. What companies or businesses are allowed to operate?

- Private establishments providing basic necessities such as those related to food and medicine
production shall be allowed to operate or remain open.

- Among businesses that are allowed to operate are:

· public markets

· supermarkets

· groceries

· convenience stores

· hospitals

· medical clinics
· pharmacies and drug stores

· food preparation and delivery services

· water-refilling stations

· manufacturing and processing plants of basic food products and medicines

- Banks, money transfer services, power, energy, water, and telecommunications supplies and
facilities shall also remain open.

- Business Process Outsourcing establishments or call centers and export-oriented industries

shall remain operational but must observed strict “social distancing measure,” and provide
temporary accommodation arrangements to their workers by Wednesday, March 18,2020. Such
firms are also required to maintain a skeletal workforce.

7. What if I have to go to work but I don’t have a private car?

- Some individuals who still have to report for work might have to walk to their offices during
the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon since public transportation is suspended,
Paranaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, the head of the Metro Manila Mayors Council (MMMC) said
Tuesday.

- Malacañang also urged businesses to provide temporary accommodations to their workers who
still have to report for work during the quarantine period.

8. What help can the government offer to workers who might lose income during the
quarantine period?

- President Rodrigo Duterte has appealed to employers to advance the 13th-month pay of
workers, even if it’s pro-rated or pay at least half of their monthly salaries to sustain the possible
income loss during the quarantine period. Under the law, 13th-month pay should be paid before
Christmas Day.

- The government has also instructed certain agencies to study measures that could help workers
financially that could include a moratorium on lease rentals, reprieve in utility bills and
assistance to MSMEs.

What happens if I violate guidelines of the enhanced community quarantine period?

- Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, in a Palace memo, said failure to abide by the
enhanced community quarantine guidelines will be subjected to both criminal and appropriate
action in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations.

- Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra meanwhile assured the public that law enforcers cannot
arrest those who violate the movement protocols such as entry and exit into quarantined areas but
they could physically prevent the “actual movements” of the people.
- Warrantless arrests, however, can be made if a person assaults, bribes, or slanders the law
enforcer.

Government officials shall conduct a day-to-day review of the enhanced community quarantine
period in Luzon and may impose changes on measures adopted to control the spread of COVID-
19.

-news.abs-cbn.com