THE deadline for business process outsourcing (BPO) companies and other export-oriented establishments, including those operating inside economic zones, to finalize alternative work arrangements for their employees has been extended to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, March 22, 2020.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, spokesperson of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), said alternative arrangements may include providing accommodation or shuttle services for employees and the transfer of the necessary equipment to facilitate work-from-home arrangements.
This was contained in Resolution No. 14-2020 which Nograles announced Sunday afternoon in line with the implementation of an enhanced community quarantine in Luzon and localized quarantine in several areas across the country.
The task force also approved the following:
> Distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) may now be accommodated in hotels and similar establishments.
> Issuance of visas to all foreigners is suspended effective immediately.
> Visa-free privileges of holders of Hong Kong, Macau and British national overseas passports, except foreign spouses and children of Filipino nationals, are also suspended effective March 22, 2020.
> Foreign nationals with visa issued by foreign service posts will not be allowed entry into the Philippines beginning March 22.
> Issuance of IATF accreditation identification cards is extended until March 26, 2020.
> The number of media workers who may be exempted from the quarantine rules shall not exceed 50 percent of a media establishment’s total number of permanent employees as registered under the Department of Labor and Employment.
> Organization of Response Cluster and Incident Management Team at the national, regional and local levels, with the Department of Health heading the response clusters and the Department of the Interior and Local Government leading the IMTs.
> All local government units are required to coordinate with the DOH prior to acquiring, purchasing or utilizing testing kits.
> Exemptions from the quarantine rules are granted to members of Congress and their chiefs-of-staff; heads of government agencies from Secretaries to bureau directors; Ombudsman and deputy ombudsmen; justices, trial court judges, prosecutors and those required to work in the judiciary; local chief executives; and the close-in staff of these officials.
> Also exempted from the quarantine rules are employees of food manufacturing plants and other factories producing essential items, essential retail establishments, logistics service providers, hospitals and medical clinics, food preparation and water refilling stations, delivery services, banks and capital markets, utilities (power, water, telecommunications), export and BPO companies, airlines and aircraft maintenance, media, hotels with bookings.
> Pastors, priests, imams and other religious ministers who provide necrological or funeral rites are also exempted.
> Heads of Mission or designated Foreign Mission representatives as well as a limited number of their staff may also seek exemption.
Nograles said the task force will grant exemptions until March 23, 2020. (MVI/SunStar Philippines)