DOLE issues guidelines on workers’ movement in and out of Metro Manila amid community quarantine

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Saturday released its guidelines for the movement of workers in and out of Metro Manila as the national capital is placed under community quarantine to contain the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

In its Labor Advisory No. 11 series of 2020, the DOLE detailed how workers can enter or exit the National Capital Region (NCR).

Residents of nearby cities and/or municipalities outside NCR who work in Metro Manila shall be allowed to report for work provided that they present proof of employment and residency in checkpoints such as:

• Identification card (ID) containing the company address/place of work and employee’s place of residence
• Certificate of employment issued by the company which shall state the place of work

“The same shall apply to residents in Metro Manila who work in nearby cities and/or municipalities outside the NCR,” the DOLE advisory read.

Meanwhile, self-employed workers shall be allowed to travel to and from Metro Manila provided that proof of business or economic activity must be presented at border checkpoints.

Likewise, those who are delivering goods such as food, raw materials, et cetera may have access to Metro Manila provided they present “proof of delivery receipt stating the address of establishment to receive the goods.”

All healthcare facilities are also mandated to be fully operational and their employees shall be allowed to move in and out of Metro Manila.

Apart from the guidelines on movement, the DOLE also reiterated its call for employers to adopt flexible work arrangements such as telecommuting, work from home, reduction of workdays/hours, rotation of workers and forced leaves.

The leaves of absence during the community quarantine period—March 15 to April 14—shall be charged against the workers’ existing leave credits, if any.

“All manufacturing, retail and service establishments are advised to remain in operation during the community quarantine period, provided that social distancing and other safety and health measures are strictly observed,” the DOLE said.

The government raised the Code Red Sub-Level 2 alert on Thursday due to the rising number of COVID-19 infections in the country.

President Rodrigo Duterte announced tougher measures to combat the spread of COVID-19, including work and class suspensions as well as travel restrictions, as part of a "community quarantine" in Metro Manila.

The Palace released on Saturday the guidelines on social distancing and community quarantine in Metro Manila covering class cancellations, travel restrictions, transportation guidelines, among others. —KG, GMA News