QC LGU issues MECQ guidelines for residents, non-residents


The local government of Quezon City has issued guidelines for residents and non-residents as Metro Manila returns to modified enhanced community (MECQ) quarantine.

In a memorandum dated Aug. 3,  Mayor Joy Belmonte said quarantine passes will once again take effect while the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages, as well as community assemblies and non-essential work gatherings, shall be prohibited.

A 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew hour will also be implemented, although essential activities such as food take-out and delivery, pharmacies, hospitals, convenience stores, and market operations may operate on a 24-hour basis.

The operations of dine-in services, entertainment, sports, and personal care establishments will also not be allowed.

For people traveling into the city, the memo states that they must be able to show 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, before being allowed entry.

Meanwhile, the businesses allowed to operate at full capacity are:

• Food, water, and non-alcoholic beverage manufacture, distribution, or preparation (take-out and delivery only)

• Medical and hygiene product manufacture or distribution

• Hospitals and clinics (providing non-aesthetic services such as dermatological, dental, optometric, and EENT)

• Essential retailers such as supermarkets, grocery stores, markets, water refilling stations, drugstores

• Agricultural and veterinary products including pet food, feed, and fertilizers

• Laundry shops including self-service laundry

• Logistics and delivery services

• Utilities

• Maintenance, building repair, and security services

• Repair and installation of machinery and equipment

• Construction of healthcare or risk reduction facilities

• Construction materials manufacturing and supply

• Media

• E-commerce companies, business process outsourcing (BPOs), and export-oriented businesses with work-from-home, on-site or near-site accommodations, or point-to-point shuttling arrangements

• Banks, money transfer services, microfinance institutions, credit cooperatives, and their armored vehicle services and other related services

• Housing service activities

• Rental and leasing of vehicles or equipment for permitted businesses

• Employment services, including recruitment and placement, for permitted businesses

The businesses allowed to operate at up to 50 percent capacity are:

• General manufacturing and production

• Real estate, with respect to leasing only

• Construction of essential or priority facilities

• Office administrative, and support services

• Hotels, motels, and similar establishments, but only for special purpose accommodations for healthcare workers, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), workers in permitted sectors, and non-OFWs with mandated quarantine, or guests who have existing long-term bookings

• Funeral services and crematoriums

• Veterinary clinics

• Financial services (other than those listed under full operations)

 • Professional, consulting, and technical services

• Wholesale and retail trade or repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles

 • Malls and shopping centers, only for non-leisure establishments within such malls/shopping centers.