Reviewing the Omnibus Guidelines on the

Implementation of Community Quarantine

One of the most common concerns this month is the change from the normal
Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) to either Modified Enhanced Community
Quarantine (MECQ), General Community Quarantine (GCQ), or Modified General
Community Quarantine. This week, the government released their official guidelines
for the different forms of quarantine, to give proper definitions to each of the varied
statuses.

ECQ - Refers to the implementation of temporary measures imposing stringent

limitations on movement and transportation of people, strict regulation of operating
industries, provision of goods and essential services, and heightened presence of
uniformed personnel to enforce community quarantine protocols.

Places under ECQ until May 31: Cebu City and Mandaue City

MECQ - Refers to the transition phase between ECQ and GCQ, when these
temporary measures are relaxed: stringent limiting of movement and transportation
of people, strict regulation of operating industries, provision of food and essential
services, and heightened presence of uniformed personnel to enforce community
quarantine protocols become less necessary.

Places under MECQ until May 31: Metro Manila, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija,
Pampanga, Zambales, Angeles City, and Laguna

GCQ - Refers to the implementation of temporary measures limiting movement and

transportation, regulation of operating industries, and presence of uniformed
personnel to enforce community quarantine protocols.

Placed under GCQ until May 31: The rest of the country.

MGCQ - Refers to the transition phase between GCQ and New Normal, when these
temporary measures are relaxed: limiting movement and transportation, the
regulation of operating industries, and the presence of uniformed personnel to
enforce community quarantine protocols become less necessary.

(No places are currently under MGCQ)

New Guidelines

The “Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the

Philippines” are the rules and regulations in details about the transport, industry,
and establishments allowed to operate during the various stages of the community
quarantine, up to the time when all of the country is on to what is being termed as
the “New Normal”.
The changes to the country's strictest form of quarantine, ECQ, allows more
industries to resume operations, while simultaneously giving local governments the
power to declare hard lockdowns in barangays with COVID-19 cases.

Under the new guidelines. The following general rules will apply.

Going out:

Modified ECQ: Strict stay-at-home measures but people will be allowed to leave
their homes only to obtain essential goods and go to work in industries allowed to
resume by the government. High-risk persons (persons aged 0-20 and 60 or older,
pregnant women, people with health risks) can go out only to obtain essential goods
that no one can get for them, or for work in permitted industries. Exercising
outdoors, such as jogging and biking, are now allowed if people wear masks and
stay two meters apart.

GCQ: People will be allowed to move around for work and essential services in
barangays without coronavirus cases.

Modified GCQ: Movement goes back to normal but mask-wearing, physical

distancing, and other health protocols will be enforced.

Opening of Industry

Modified ECQ: Essential industries like health care, pharmacies, veterinary clinics,
food manufacturing and supply chains, and groceries can operate at full capacity.

Media establishments, producers of cement and steel, BPO and export-oriented

establishments that can operate off-site, mining and quarrying, e-commerce, postal
and delivery services, rental and leasing of vehicles and equipment for permitted
sectors, recruitment for permitted sectors, repair of computers, personal and
household goods, and housing services can operate at full capacity.

Certain other industries and establishments can operate at 50% capacity, like
beverage makers, real estate, advertising, film and music production, clothing
stores, bookstores, baby supplies, flowers and jewellery shops.

GCQ: More industries and establishments can operate at full capacity.

Modified GCQ: All work resumes in private and public sector at full capacity but
with enforcement of mask-wearing, physical distancing, and other health protocols.

Transportation

Modified ECQ: Transportation, like private shuttles, will be allowed but only for
essential work and services. There will still be no public transportation like trains,
buses, jeeps, taxis, or transport network vehicle services (like Grab). Private cars are
allowed, as long as only two people sit per row in larger vehicles, and only two
people per vehicle in standard cars with four seats. Motorcycles, bicycles, and e-
scooters allowed with only one rider.

GCQ: Public transportation now allowed but with enforcement of health protocols.
Private vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, allowed.

Modified GCQ: Same as GCQ.

How about flights?

Modified ECQ: No domestic flights, no inter-island travel, limited international

flights (outbound for foreigners only), Filipinos from abroad will be allowed to fly
home.

GCQ: Inter-island travel is allowed between two GCQ areas, with safety protocols
enforced.

Modified GCQ: All flights resume but with health protocols enforced.

Opening of government offices?

Modified ECQ: Skeletal workforce in office premises while the rest work from
home.

GCQ: Alternative work arrangements like 4-day work week.

Modified GCQ: Operations resume but with health protocols.

Will schools be open?

Modified ECQ: Physical classes cannot resume yet.

GCQ: School premises open to allow skeletal workforce to process requirements

from students and prepare for next semester or graduation.

Modified GCQ: Normal physical classes may resume with health protocols enforced,
pending approval from DepEd and CHED. August 24 is the provisional date for
classes to open as long as the area is already under MGCQ.

How about social gatherings?

Modified ECQ: Only gatherings (including religious gatherings) of up to 5 people

are allowed, with health protocols observed. Leisure and entertainment-related
gatherings like movie screenings, concerts, and sporting events are still prohibited.
GCQ: Gatherings (including religious gatherings) of up to 10 people are allowed,
with health protocols observed.

Modified GCQ: No information yet.

Zoning scheme under modified ECQ

The government also introduced a zoning scheme that will be implemented by local
government chiefs in MECQ or GCQ areas.

In this scheme, barangays with coronavirus cases will be placed under stricter
quarantine measures. Those with 20 or more cases are considered "critical zones"
and will be under ECQ or hard lockdowns.

Those with fewer cases are considered "containment zones" and will be under
MECQ.

Barangays or clusters of barangays adjacent to any area with COVID-19 cases are
"buffer zones" where GCQ will be enforced. Barangays outside a buffer zone will be
on modified GCQ.

The task force left it up to provincial governors and mayors to decide on the zoning
classification of their barangays.