The following updates were covered by SyCipLaw’s bulletin to its clients:
A. The National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) released NLRC COVID-19 Advisory No. 5 dated March 17, 2020 which temporarily suspends work at the Commission proper and at all units and Offices of the Labor Arbiters. Filing of Motions for Reconsideration, Petitions for Extraordinary Remedies, and appeals is suspended until the NLRC resumes regular operations. All other hearings are reset one month from the date of the scheduled conference
B. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued Foreign Service Circular No. 29-2020 dated March 19, 2020 which temporarily suspends visa issuance and visa-free privileges in its foreign service posts except for visas of foreign spouses and foreign children of Filipino nationals. All foreign nationals may still leave the country any time during the ECQ.
C. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) temporarily suspends transactions in Luzon. In its Advisory to the Public dated March 19, 2020, the BI provides that during the effectivity of the ECQ, the following transactions at the BI offices in Luzon, including the National Capital Region, are temporarily suspended except for outbound passengers intending to depart the Philippines from any of the international airports in Luzon.
D. The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) issued PPA Memorandum Circular No. 10-2020 dated March 17, 2020 that suspends cargo entry withdrawal permit requirement. Trucks carrying cargoes to and from ports in Luzon are no longer required to secure CEWPs from the PPA or Port Terminal Operators.
The full text of the bulletin can be found at (https://mailchi.mp/624b5de43af9/labor-immigration-ports-authority-issuances-developments-in-the-philippines-relating-to-the-covid-19-pandemic)
The bulletin was prepared by SyCipLaw partners Russel R. Rodriguez, with the assistance of associate, Joachim Alfonso P. Dompor.
Please go to syciplawresources.com to see our latest COVID-19 related bulletins and briefings, and for a list of Philippine government issuances covered by our bulletins and briefings.