New ECQ Guidelines This August 2021

2 min read By Kevin Joshua Ng on August 6, 2021

As COVID-19 cases continue to surge Metro Manila and other provinces in the Philippines will be subjected to another round of ECQ lockdown, starting at August 6 until the 20th.

So to keep us all prepared and not be blindsided, here are some much-needed answers and guidelines for the new edition of ECQ.

Where are people allowed to go?

A lot of the rules from the previous ECQ is in play in this current iteration. Venues like:

• amusement parks
• playgrounds
• cockpit arenas
• lottery centers
• indoor sports courts
• tourist attractions

are prohibited from opening. Personal care services like some clinics, spas & gyms, and venues for meetings, conferences, and exhibitions must likewise close down under ECQ.

Who are allowed to go outside?

There are three main classifications of APORs (authorized person outside of residence) that are allowed to go outside:

1. workers in essential establishments or activities
2. residents buying essential goods or services
3. and individuals scheduled for COVID-19 vaccination

APORs need to present documents proving their status: company IDs or certificates of employment for workers, quarantine passes for those out to buy essential goods, and vaccine cards for those who are scheduled to have their COVID-19 shots.

At the moment, vaccination is not required for APORs to be allowed outside their homes.

What kinds of public transportation are available?

All public transport will remain operational under ECQ, but with special conditions. For one, only APORs will be allowed. Second, PUVs like buses and jeepneys will be allowed to operate at only 50% of maximum capacity. Trains will also be allowed to operate.

Air and sea travel are also going to be permitted under ECQ, of course still subject to the travel restrictions imposed by the receiving local government unit or the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

Will vaccination still continue under ECQ?

Vaccinations will not be suspended under ECQ, with authorities confirming that the two-week period will even be used to ramp up vaccinations against COVID-19.

Senior citizens and people with comorbidities are allowed to receive their shots without prior appointments in areas under ECQ, according to the National Vaccination Operations Center. But this still depends on the availability within LGUs. So we advise to get a word from your local officials first.

Will there be financial aid or “ayuda” provided by Metro Manila LGUs to their residents?

Displaced workers shall also be receiving assistance from the Labor Department through its Tulong Panghanap-Buhay Para sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.

Residents in areas under ECQ will receive ₱1,000 each in cash assistance, or a maximum of ₱4,000 per household during the period as declared by the Palace, regardless of vaccination status.