MEMORANDUM

FOR : All Quezon City Barangays

All Departments, Offices, and Task Forces of the Quezon City
Government

FROM : MA. JOSEFINA G. BELMONTE

City Mayor

SUBJECT: Guidelines for Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ)

DATE : May 14, 2020

BACKGROUND

On March 13, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City Council declared Quezon
City to be under a state of calamity. On March 16, 2020, the President declared an
Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) over the entire Luzon island.

On April 30, 2020, the President issued Executive Order No. 112, after the expiration of
ECQ over the National Capital Region (NCR), the City Mayor shall have the authority
to impose, lift or extend ECQ locally in the City’s barangays, upon the concurrence of
the Inter-Agency Task Force – National Capital Region (IATF-NCR). Also, the national
government may directly impose ECQ on certain barangays.

On May 12, 2020, the Presidential Spokeperson announced that the NCR would be
placed on modified ECQ (MECQ) from May 16, 2020 to May 31, 2020.

These Guidelines shall apply during the period of MECQ over NCR, as well as to any
localized or barangay-level MECQ that may be subsequently imposed.

GUIDELINES

1. Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ). The following

guidelines shall be observed:

a. No Mass Gatherings. Mass gatherings such as but not limited to movie

screenings, concerts, sporting events, and other entertainment activities, community
assemblies, religious gatherings, and non-essential work gatherings shall be prohibited.

b. No Physical Classes. Physical classes in all schools shall be suspended.

However, such schools may provide virtual learning classes whereby students can
attend remotely from their homes.

c. No Public Transportation except Tricycles. Public transportation shall be

suspended. However, permitted establishments may operate point-to-point private
transport services or shuttles for their employees, provided that passengers must
comply with safe distancing and other applicable guidelines.

Tricycles may operate provided that each tricycle shall observe the
following:

i. Have only one (1) passenger;

ii. Strictly implement no back-ride policy;

iii. Provide a transparent barrier between the motorcycle and the sidecar;
 iv. Observe other precautionary measures such as sanitizing, wearing of
face masks, gloves, etc.; and

v. Regularly disinfect and sanitize each unit.

The City may consider adjusting the current fare matrix and issuing
additional guidelines.

d. Home Quarantine. Home quarantine shall be observed in all households. The

movement of all residents shall be limited to accessing essential goods and services, and
going to work in (and returning home from) any permitted establishment.

For purposes of leaving home to buy essential goods or services, the

resident should bring a quarantine pass issued by his barangay. The quarantine
pass should be honored even if it is in the name of another person, as long as that
person belongs to the same household.

For purposes of going to work in a permitted establishment, the resident’s

company ID shall be deemed sufficient for passage through any checkpoints.
Those with no company ID, such as self-employed persons, may use the
quarantine pass instead.

e. Limited Outdoor Activities As an exception to home quarantine, limited

outdoor activities shall be allowed, including walking, jogging and bicycling, provided
that persons must continue to wear face masks and continue to observe social
distancing. No team sports or group exercises shall be allowed.

f. Strict Quarantine of High-Risk Persons. Any person (i) below twenty-one (21)
years old; (ii) sixty (60) years old and above; (iii) with immunodeficiency, comorbidities,
or other health risks; or (iv) pregnant women (collectively, “High-Risk Persons”) shall
be required to remain in their residences at all times. As an exception, such persons may
leave home when indispensable under the circumstances for obtaining essential goods
and services, or when their physical presence at work is indispensable in permitted
establishments.

g. QC Laban COVID-19 Team and Special Concern Lockdown Areas. The QC

Laban COVID-19 Team and the Special Concern Lockdown Areas provided in the
Memorandum of the Mayor dated May 12, 2020 will continue under MECQ, and the
health measures under the said initiatives shall continue to prevail, subject to the
conditions imposed by relevant IATF issuances.

h. Infectious Waste Disposal. Establishments should implement an additional

waste segregation category for infectious wastes, for which purpose the establishment
should provide a separate trash bin with labeled colored garbage bag. Corresponding
waste collection schemes shall be undertaken by the City Government and its
accredited haulers.

i. Single Use Plastics. Single-use plastics shall be allowed for the time being and
the deferment of the implementation of the single-use plastics Ordinance No. SP-2876,
S-2019, shall continue to be in effect.

j. Inter-LGU Movement.
i. Entry to Quezon City. A person travelling into Quezon City
should be able to present proof of a legitimate non-leisure reason for being
in the City, such as a company ID of a permitted establishment, or ID
showing a residence address in the City. Alternatively, national
government-issued passes such as the IATF-Authorized Person Outside
Residence pass shall be honored.
 ii. Exit from Quezon City. Generally, the City shall not require
persons leaving the City to obtain any pass (except for areas under
extreme quarantine/special concern lockdown). However, if the
destination LGU requires a certification from the City, the concerned
person may request the certification from the Office of the City
Administrator.

2. Permitted Establishments and Businesses Under MECQ.

a. Full Operations. The following businesses may engage in full operations subject
to compliance with social distancing, hand washing, use of face masks and other
applicable health measures:

i. Food, water, and non-alcoholic beverage manufacture, distribution or

preparation (take-out and delivery only); hawkers or ambulant vendors should sell in
designated vending sites;

ii. Medical and hygiene product manufacture or distribution, including

medicines, masks, vitamins, soap, detergent and disinfectant;

iii. Hospitals and clinics (providing non-aesthetic services such as

dermatological, dental, optometric, and EENT); it is highly encouraged that all
workforce who will physically report to work be provided with on-site or near-site
accommodation.

iv. Essential retailers such supermarkets, grocery stores, markets, water

refilling stations, drugstores;

v. Agricultural and veterinary products including pet food, feed and

fertilizers;

vi. Laundry shops including self-service laundry;

vii. Logistics and delivery services including cargo handling, warehousing,

trucking, shipping, postal and courier;

viii. Utilities including power, energy, water, telecommunications, refineries

and depots, gasoline stations, LPG suppliers, internet service providers, cable
providers, and 3rd party contractors of the foregoing;

ix. Maintenance, repair and security services including aircon, waste

management, sewerage, pest control, private security services, property management
and building utility services;

x. Repair and installation of machinery and equipment, including repair of

computers and personal and household goods;

xi. Construction of healthcare or risk reduction facilities;

xii. Construction materials manufacturing and supply, including cement,

steel and hardware stores;

xiii. Media;

xiv. E-commerce companies, business process outsourcing (BPOs) and

export-oriented business with work-from-home, on-site or near site accommodation, or
point-to-point shuttling arrangements;
 xv. Banks, money transfer services, microfinance institutions, credit
cooperatives, and their armored vehicle services and other related services;

xvi. Housing service activities;

xvii. Rental and leasing of vehicles or equipment for permitted businesses; and

xviii. Employment services, including recruitment and placement, for

permitted businesses.

b. Limited Operations. The following businesses may operate with up to 50% of

the workforce on-site only, with the rest of the workforce on work-from-home or
remote working arrangements;

i. General manufacturing;

ii. Real estate activities;

iii. Construction of essential or priority facilities (e.g., sewerage, water,

digital works, food production, agriculture, energy, housing, communication, water
utilities, manufacturing, and BPO)

iv. Office administrative and support services;

v. Hotels, motels and similar establishments, but only for (a) special
purpose accommodation for healthcare workers, OFWs, workers in permitted sectors,
and non-OFWs with mandated quarantine, or (b) guests who have existing long-term
bookings;

vi. Funeral services and crematoriums; provided that wakes are highly
discouraged, and if conducted, shall be limited to immediate family;

vii. Veterinary clinics;

viii. Financial services (other than those listed under full operations) including
money exchange, insurance, reinsurance and non-compulsory pension funding;

ix. Professional, consulting and technical services including legal,

accounting, architecture, engineering, technical testing and analysis, scientific research
and development; advertising and market research; IT services such as computer
programming and data processing, photography, fashion, design; film, music and TV
production;

x. Wholesale and retail trade or repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles, and

bicycles, including their parts and components; vulcanizing shops, battery repair shops,
and auto repair shops;

xi. Malls and shopping centers, only for non-leisure establishments within
such malls/shopping centers, including any businesses previously mentioned, such as
dining (only for take-out and delivery), clothing and accessories (strictly no trying-
on/fitting of clothes or accessories), mall-based government services, hardware stores,
bookstores, school and office supply; baby care supply; IT and electronics; flower,
jewelry, novelty, antique, perfume shops; toy store (with playgrounds and amusement
area closed).

High-Risk Persons (children, elderly, pregnant women) may not enter

malls and shopping centers except when indispensable under the
circumstances for obtaining essential goods and services, or for work in
establishments located therein.
c. No Operations Allowed. Leisure, entertainment, sports and personal care
establishments shall remain closed, including gyms, fitness studios, basketball,
badminton and tennis courts; cinemas, theaters, karaoke bars, kids playhouses,
amusement parks or rides; libraries, day care centers, archives, museums and cultural
centers; outdoor parks, water parks, beaches, resorts; travel agencies, tour operators,
reservation service and related activities; barbershops, salons, massage parlors, sauna,
facial care, waxing; and other similar activities. Memorial parks and cemeteries shall
remain closed to the public except for burial rites.

d. City Government. The City Government shall remain on a skeletal workforce

arrangement except for frontline services, subject to CSC and DILG guidelines.

3. Transitional Steps and Modifications. The City acknowledges that the national
government is in the process of finalizing guidelines for the phased or partial lifting of
restrictions. These Guidelines may be updated from time to time to reflect any
applicable modifications under relevant guidelines.

4. Minimum Health Standards. All establishments in Quezon City shall observe

the following arrangements:

a. Health and Safety Officer. All establishments must assign a Health and Safety
Officer accountable to ensure that these guidelines are strictly implemented in addition
to compliance with the usual occupational health and safety standards and regulations.

b. Social Distancing. All workplaces shall, to the extent feasible, adopt

arrangements to enable both workers and customers to maintain at least a one-meter
distance from one another in the course of their public interactions, including but not
limited to the following: (i) places where persons may naturally congregate, such as
queues, elevators, escalators, walkways, and other transit points, should have floor
markers, barriers or other means of encouraging people to socially distance; (ii) dividers
shall be placed between workstations prevent physical contact; (iii) signs shall be posted
in prominent places reminding people to observe social distancing and other basic
safety precautions; (iv) marshals should be deployed to manage personal movement
accordingly; (v) furniture should be rearranged to minimize face-to-face interaction (e.g.
workstations with back-to-back seating arrangements).

Retail establishments should impose crowd control measures to ensure that their
customers maintain social distancing inside their premises. Businesses should
provide proper waiting or queueing areas where floor markings, sitting
arrangements and other forms of social distancing measures can be applied.

c. Thermal Scanning and Hand Sanitizing. All establishments shall have one (1)
ingress and one (1) egress point with hand sanitizing or washing station.
Establishments shall subject all individuals entering to thermal scanning, to the
extent feasible. Individuals with temperature exceeding 37.5° C shall not be
allowed to enter the establishment and be subjected to isolation. In-house
medical staff, if any, shall perform initial investigation and coordinate with the
concerned Barangay Health Center.

d. Face Masks or Face Coverings. All persons in public places and workplaces
shall wear face masks, earloop masks, indigenous, reusable, do-it-yourself
masks, or face shields, handkerchiefs, bandanas, towels, cloth masks or any other
kind of covering for the nose and mouth, to mitigate the transmission of COVID-
19.

e. Hand Washing. All employees shall be encouraged to engage in frequent

 handwashing or disinfection of hands. Management shall ensure that employees
have sufficient provisions of soap, alcohol and other appropriate hygiene
products.

f. Disinfection of High-Touch Objects. Regular disinfection must be conducted

for all high-touch objects including but not limited to door handles, elevator
buttons, fingerprint scanners, railings, keypads, counters, tables and chairs. To
the extent feasible, establishments should conduct thorough disinfectant
spraying and misting of all facilities.

g. Disinfection Day. All establishments should designate one day per week for
thorough disinfection.

h. Designated Lanes. All business establishments, to the extent feasible, must have
dedicated lanes and ensure social distancing at all times for (i) senior citizens,
PWDs, pregnant women, and healthcare workers; and (ii) delivery services.

i. Extended Hours. Supermarkets, public and private wet markets, grocery stores,
agri-fishery supply stores, veterinary supply stores, pharmacies, drug stores, and
other retail establishments shall extend their store operations to a maximum of
twelve (12) hours to mitigate overcrowding of customers in a particular time
frame. The practice of rotating schedules for shoppers vis-à-vis their place of
residence is encouraged, in coordination with the concerned Barangay/s or the
City Government.

j. Health Checks. The management of each establishment shall, to the extent

feasible, undertake regular health checks for employees. Persons exhibiting
elevated temperature, or who are otherwise exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms
such as a fever, cough, difficulty breathing or body aches, shall not be allowed to
remain in close contact with other persons and shall be referred to immediate
medical attention. No worker shall be required to report for or remain at work if
he or she exhibits COVID-19 symptoms.

k. Testing Program. Within the first week of operations, an establishment with 10

or more employees shall be required to submit to the City Health Department its
program for COVID-19 employee testing, in accordance with applicable DOH
and DOLE guidelines, at the cost of the establishment. Establishments are
strongly encouraged to test all employees, provided that at the minimum,
persons exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms should be tested.

On the other hand, establishments with less than 10 employees are welcome to
request testing of their employees at City community-based testing centers. In
any case, employees testing positive or showing COVID-19 symptoms must be
promptly isolated and treated in accordance with DOH guidelines.

l. Capacity Restrictions. Within the first week of operations, all establishments

must report to the Business Permits and Licensing Department (BPLD) and the
Department of the Building Official (DBO) the actual number of their employees
and the dimensions of their premises, for purposes of computing accurately any
applicable capacity and workforce limitations. Establishments that physically
receive customers should post signs indicating their maximum customer
capacity as may be prescribed by the BPLD and/or DBO.

m. Mandatory Reporting of COVID-19 Cases. In case any establishment becomes

aware of any suspect, probable or confirmed COVID-19 case among their staff,
 the establishment should immediately report the same to the City Health
Department.

n. PPEs. The private medical staff, if any, of each establishment should have the
appropriate personal protective equipment in accordance with Department of
Health and other applicable guidelines.

o. Plan for the New Normal. To the extent feasible, establishments shall adopt
work arrangements that lessen face to face contact and physical interaction,
including work from home, telecommuting, virtual meetings, and compressed
workweek. To the extent feasible, High-Risk Persons should be allowed to work
from home, and required to physically report for work only when their presence
is indispensable. The City Government may require submission of these
arrangements as part of a New Normal Plan that may be required from each
establishment.

p. No Contact Facilities. Establishments shall, to the extent feasible, provide no

contact facilities for their customers or clients, such as using online interfaces,
electronic menus, pre-arranged services, and the like.

q. Enforcement Monitoring. All of the above measures shall be strictly monitored

and enforced by the City Government. Any violation thereof will be dealt with
accordingly, consistent with existing laws and issuances.

r. Information Dissemination. Establishments shall post within their premises

information on minimum health standards mandated by DOH and the City
Health Department, for strict compliance of all workers, customers, and other
individuals entering the establishment.

5. Quarantine Facilities for Individual Cases. To support disease prevention and

control, the City may isolate and quarantine individual suspect, probable and
confirmed COVID-19 cases in accordance with the recommendations of the City Health
Department (CHD). The City may acquire additional quarantine facilities, aside from
the existing facilities designated as Hope-1, Hope-2 and Hope-3, in so far as necessary.

6. Community Testing in ECQ and GCQ Areas. The City shall continue to conduct
community-based testing for COVID-19 as the CHD may recommend, using DOH-
accredited testing providers. Existing testing arrangements may be expanded in so far
as necessary.

7. Responsibility of the Barangays. Under the principle of local autonomy, and

pursuant to their duty and power to protect general welfare, each barangay may
implement localized measures to protect the health and safety of their residents,
including but not limited to;
a. Issuing quarantine passes per family to limit movement;

b. Regulate ingress and egress in their respective areas of jurisdiction,

especially in enforcing Extreme Enhanced Quarantine Zones and/or Special
Concern Lockdowns as provided under the Memorandums of the Mayor
dated March 19, 2020 and May 12, 2020;

c. Enforce wearing of face masks, physical distancing, and other public health
and safety measures;

d. Ensure that markets and other establishments allowed to operate inside

their barangays should have physical distancing floor markers;
 e. Regulate sale of alcoholic beverages and liquor upon lifting of the liquor
ban, and prohibit drinking in public spaces;

f. Conduct enhanced foot patrols and information and education campaigns;

g. Strictly enforce public safety hours under Executive Order No. 20, dated
March 15, 2020.

Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) are reminded to

continue performing their responsibilities, especially in enforcement of home
quarantine in areas under Extreme Enhanced Quarantine and/or Special Concern
Lockdown.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the City may review and modify any barangay
health or safety measures to make the same consistent with applicable City or national
guidelines, and to ensure unhampered essential movement.
8. Violation of Quarantine. Persons that violate these guidelines may be charged
under (i) Sec. 9 of Republic Act No. 11332, which penalizes non-cooperation of person
or entities affected by a health event of public concern; and/or (ii) Article 151 of the
Revised Penal Code (Resistance and Disobedience to a Person In Authority).
9. Duration. These Guidelines shall remain effective until the City Mayor, on
recommendation of the City Health Department, determines that the emergency public
health measures contained herein may be lifted. Also, these Guidelines are subject to
any applicable national government issuance or regulation.

MA. JOSEFINA G. BELMONTE

City Mayor