FDCP releases Memorandum Order 3 in line with the Enhanced Community Quarantine and the Stringent Social Distancing Measures

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In line with the Memorandum from the Executive Secretary released March 16, 2020 directing agencies to coordinate, and implement guidelines on the imposition of an Enhanced Community Quarantine and the Stringent Social Distancing Measures over the entire Luzon, including NCR effective March 17, 2020, FDCP hereby adopts the following relative to the audio-visual industry and community:

1. All productions and activities on film, television programs, and other audio-visual contents are SUSPENDED in the entirety of Luzon, including NCR, for the duration of the quarantine.

2. As only those private establishments providing basic necessities related to food and medicine shall be open, companies, establishments, and organizations in the audio-visual industry, from pre to post-production and film exhibition must close their offices and adopt work from home arrangements for workers. This is with the exception of media outlets for the purposes of news coverage who must adopt stringent social distancing measures and skeletal work force as well.

3. Pursuant to the Civil Service Commission Announcement No. 13, S. 2020, the FDCP is adopting a work from home setup for all its employees. Hence, the FDCP Office will be closed and will not receive documents until further notice. All transactions and communication shall be taken online.
Failure to abide by these set guidelines and those announced by the national government shall be subjected to appropriate action, including criminal, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

For everyone’s guidance.

PHP 16 a day | Senior citizens vulnerable to COVID-19 with meager pension need more support - AKBAYAN

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"P16 a day for a month!"

This the amount indigent senior citizens have to survive on during the lockdown. Akbayan's Etta Rosales warned that our current social pension system of P500 a month for indigent senior citizens will starve them without immediate government support.

Rosales also lamented that there are more than 3 million senior citizens in the country who receive no pension at all amid COVID-19, leaving them with no financial capacity to prepare for the pandemic.

"Our senior citizens are dying in this battle with no support to prepare for the pandemic. 9 senior citizens have died due to COVID-19 from the 14 reported deaths as of Tuesday," Rosales said.

Rosales is citing data from the 2017 Coalition of Services for the Elderly (COSE) study that shows 40% of 8 million senior citizens have no pension.

"If our workers are laid off or forced to stop working and will receive no wages, where will our senior citizens get their money for food and medicine? These senior citizens rely on their working family member to give them support," Rosales added.

"Don't leave the senior citizens behind. They are retired and rely on pension. They have worked years on end supporting our economy, we need to support them too. Our community is only strong against sickness if our senior citizens are strong too," Rosales added.

"The government should increase the cash aid to P10,000 for the employed and informal workers affected by the lockdown and ensure that 4Ps payout continues for the month. Barangays should help provide their health care and other needs. We can't abandon our senior citizens with just scraps of the budget," Rosales said.

DOTr extends deadline for renewal of permits, licenses, franchises to April 2020

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Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade has ordered the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to extend the deadline for the renewal of permits, licenses, and franchises to April 2020.

“LTO and LTFRB will extend the deadline for renewal of permits, franchises, licenses until April 2020. We know and understand that our country is now in a difficult and trying situation. We have to step up and extend our help to the Filipino people the best way we can," Secretary Tugade expressed.

The move came after Secretary Tugade's dialogue with Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

In a message sent to the media today, 18 March 2020, Senator Sotto expressed his gratitude to Secretary Tugade, for agreeing to extend the renewal of licenses, franchises, and permits, until the end of April.

“Just talked to DOTr Secretary Tugade, he will issue extension of renewal of licenses for LTO and LTFRB till end of April. Thank you, Sec. Art!" Sen. Sotto shared.

Secretary Tugade has instructed LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante to reiterate and update the memorandum that the latter issued earlier this month directing LTO Regional Directors not to collect penalties for late registration of motor vehicles, and for the renewal of driver's licenses that will expire during the enhanced community quarantine period. The validity of all student permits will also be extended.

Meanwhile, based on the guidelines issued by the LTFRB, all PUVs with plate numbers ending in 3 and 4 will be allowed to confirm their units until 15 May 2020 with all penalties being waived.

In this regard, the insurance policy under the Personal Passenger Accident Insurance Program (PPAIP) will also be automatically extended until 15 May 2020 without any additional fees on the part of the operators.

Applications for Extension of Validity for Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) that will expire from 17 March 2020 to 15 April 2020 can be filed until 15 May 2020 also with waiver of penalties.

Provisional Authorities (PA) and Special Permits (SP) issued to TNVS, PUBs, TH, Taxi, and UV Express, with expiry dates covering the period of 17 March 2020 to 15 April 2020, will also be extended until 15 June 2020 with waiver of fees.

Meanwhile, the Compliance Orders, Resolutions, and Decisions which direct operators to comply within a certain period and that fall between 17 March 2020 until 15 April 2020, will be allowed to comply until 15 May 2020 with waiver of penalties, if there is any.

The guidelines will apply to the Central Office and the National Capital Region-Regional Franchising and Regulatory Office, and all Regional Franchising and Regulatory Offices in Luzon.