Amended Guidelines on the Operations of Hotels and Other Accommodation Establishments under a Community Quarantine

June 6, 2020

DOT ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 002-A-20

AMENDED GUIDELINES ON THE OPERATIONS OF HOTELS AND OTHER ACCOMMODATION ESTABLISHMENTS UNDER A COMMUNITY QUARANTINE

WHEREAS, on 22 May 2020, the Department of Tourism (DOT) issued Administrative Order (AO) No. 2020-002 or the Guidelines on the Operation of Hotels and Other Accommodation Establishments under a Community Quarantine;

WHEREAS, AO No. 2020-002 provided that Accommodation Establishments that intend to operate under a Community Quarantine shall first secure a Certificate of Authority to Operate from the DOT;

WHEREAS, to facilitate the applications of Accommodation Establishments and ensure sufficient lodging for guests and persons mandated to undergo quarantine, there is a need to issue provisional authority to allow Accommodation Establishments to operate while other requirements are pending submission;

WHEREAS, there is also a need to ensure that ancillary establishments within hotels such as restaurants operate in accordance with Minimum Public Health Standards;

NOW, THEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, AO No. 2020-002 is hereby amended as follows:

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Order shall be known as the "Amended Community Quarantine Guidelines for Hotel Operations."

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of these Guidelines, the term:

(a) "Accommodation Establishments" shall refer to establishments operating primarily for accommodation purposes including, but not limited to, hotels, resorts, apartment hotels, tourist inns, motels, pension houses, private homes used for homestay, ecolodges, serviced apartments, condotels, and bed and breakfast facilities.

(b) "Certificate of Authority to Operate" refers to a certification issued by the DOT that an Accommodation Establishment in an area placed under a Community Quarantine has fulfilled all requirements for accreditation may commence operations subject to these Guidelines.

(c) "Community Quarantine" refers to the restriction of movement within, into, or out of the area of quarantine of individuals, large groups of people, or communities designed to reduce the likelihood of transmission of COVID-19 among persons in and to persons outside the affected area.

(d) "Distressed OFW" shall refer to an OFW eligible to avail of accommodation assistance from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) pursuant to relevant OWWA guidelines and issuances.

(e) "DOT Accreditation" shall refer to a certification issued by the DOT to an Accommodation Establishment that officially recognizes it as having complied with the minimum standards for the operation of tourism facilities and services.

(f) "Enhanced Community Quarantine" or ECQ refers to the implementation of temporary measures imposing stringent limitations on movement and transportation of people, strict regulation of operating industries, provision of food and essential services, and heightened presence of uniformed personnel to enforce community quarantine protocols.

(g) "Foreign Guests" and "Foreigners" shall refer to persons holding passports issued in a foreign country.

(h) "General Community Quarantine" or GCQ refers to the implementation of temporary measures limiting movement and transportation, regulation of operating industries, and presence of uniformed personnel to enforce community quarantine protocols.

(i) "Health Workers" shall refer to all persons who are engaged in health and health-related work, and all persons employed in hospitals, sanitaria, health infirmaries, health centers, clinics, other health-related establishments (Republic Act No. 7305), and quarantine facilities.

(j) "In House Staff" shall refer to personnel of Accommodation Establishments who are provided house use or free room stays within the premises for the purpose of rendering services to guests.

(k) "Long Staying Guests" shall refer to guests who have existing long-term leases.

(l) "Minimum Public Health Standards" refers to guidelines set by the Department of Health (DOH), as well as sector-relevant guidelines to aid all sectors in all settings to implement non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI), which refer to public health measures that do not involve vaccines, medications, or other pharmaceutical interventions, which individuals and communities can carry out in order to reduce transmission rates, contact rates, and the duration of infectiousness of individuals in the population to mitigate COVID-19.

(m) "Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine" or MECQ refers to the transition phase between ECQ and GCQ, when these temporary measures are relaxed: stringent limiting movement and transportation of people, strict regulation of operating industries, provision of food and essential services, and heightened presence of uniformed personnel to enforce community quarantine protocols become less necessary.

(n) "Modified General Community Quarantine" or MGCQ refers to the transition phase between GCQ and New Normal, when these temporary measures are relaxed: limiting movement and transportation, the regulation of operating industries, and the presence of uniformed personnel to enforce community quarantine become less necessary.

(o) "New Normal" refers to the emerging behaviors, situations, and minimum public health standards that will be institutionalized in common or routine practices and remain even after the pandemic while the disease is not totally eradicated through means such as widespread immunization. These include actions that will become second nature to the general public as well as policies such as bans on large gatherings that will continue to remain in force.

(p) "Non-Accredited Establishments" shall refer to Accommodation Establishments that have not applied for, or have failed to secure DOT accreditation as required under RA No. 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009.

(q) "Operational Capacity" refers to such a maximum number of employees or workers who can be permitted or required to physically report to work on-site in a particular office or establishment.

(r) "Overseas Filipino Worker" or "OFW" shall refer to a person who is to be engaged, is engaged, or has been engaged in a remunerated activity in a State or country of which the worker is not a citizen (RA No. 10801).

(s) "Physical Inspection" refers to the ocular inspection of the premises of a Tourism Enterprise conducted by the DOT Regional Office who are physically present on site.

(t) "Provisional Accreditation" refers to a certification issued by the DOT that a Tourism Enterprise has satisfactorily applied for and has not yet fulfilled all requirements for accreditation, but may be deemed accredited by the DOT subject to the execution of a Statement of Undertaking.

(u) "Provisional Certificate of Authority to Operate" refers to a certification issued by the DOT that an Accommodation Establishment in an area placed under a Community Quarantine has satisfactorily applied for and has not yet fulfilled all requirements for a Certificate of Authority to Operate, but may commence operations subject to the execution of a Statement of Undertaking.

(v) "Skeleton Workforce" refers to the operational capacity which utilizes the smallest number of people needed for a business or organization to maintain its basic function.

(w) "Stranded Passengers" shall refer to passengers whose domestic or foreign flights or rides have been cancelled and are prevented from leaving a city or place where they do not permanently reside, or have difficulty availing of transportation to their home city or province, due to the implementation of a community quarantine.

(x) "Sworn Statement of Undertaking" refers to sworn statement executed by the authorized representative of an Accommodation Establishment or Tourism Enterprise stating that it undertakes to complete the requirements for a DOT Accreditation or Certificate of Authority to Operate, and comply with relevant DOT standards, rules, and regulations.

(y) "Tourism Enterprises" shall refer to facilities, services, and attractions involved in tourism, such as, but not limited to: travel and tour services; tourist transport services, whether for land, sea or air transportation; tour guides; adventure sports services involving such sports as mountaineering, spelunking, scuba diving, and other sports activities of significant tourism potential; convention organizers; Accommodation Establishments, including, but not limited to, hotels, resorts, apartelles, tourist inns, motels, pension houses, and home stay operators; tourism estate management services, restaurants, shops and department stores, sports and recreational centers, spas, museums and galleries, theme parks, convention centers, and zoos.

(z) "Virtual Inspection" refers to the ocular inspection of the premises of a Tourism Enterprise conducted remotely by the DOT Regional Office remotely with the aid of a video conferencing online platform.

SECTION 3. Coverage. — This Order shall apply to all Accommodation Establishments in the Philippines in areas covered by a Community Quarantine.

II. PREREQUISITES FOR OPERATION

SECTION 4. Certificate of Authority to Operate. — All Accommodation Establishments that intend to commence commercial operations in Community Quarantine Zones, whether for the accommodation of guests or operation of in-house food facilities for take-out or delivery services, shall secure a DOT Certificate of Authority to Operate or Provisional Certificate of Authority to Operate prior to any operations.

SECTION 5. Requirements for a Certificate of Authority to Operate. — Applicants for a Certificate of Authority to Operate shall submit documentary requirements and allow the inspection of their premises.

(a) Documentary Requirements. The Accommodation Establishment shall submit to the DOT Regional Office with jurisdiction over their area the following:

1. Letter of Intent to Operate (ANNEX A), indicating whether operations shall be for accommodation, food services, or both;

2. Sworn Statement of Undertaking (ANNEX B); and

3. If the Accommodation Establishment is Non-DOT Accredited or has not yet renewed its DOT Accreditation:

i. a duly accomplished Application for DOT Accreditation or renewal of accreditation with complete supporting documents;

ii. a duly accomplished Self-Assessment Form; and

iii. a Valid Mayor's or Business Permit.

(b) Physical and Virtual Inspection of Premises. The Accommodation Establishment shall likewise allow the physical inspection of its premises to ensure that it complies with Minimum Public Health Standards. If physical inspection is impracticable, Virtual Inspection of premises shall be conducted, in which case, the Accommodation Establishment shall be issued a Provisional Certificate of Authority to Operate.

The above forms may be requested from, and all applications and supporting documents shall be submitted to, the e-mail addresses of the Regional Offices listed in ANNEX C.

SECTION 6. Provisional Certificate of Authority to Operate. —An Accommodation Establishment that has submitted the requirements under Section 5 (a) and has not undergone physical, but only Virtual Inspection of its premises may be issued a Provisional Certificate of Authority to Operate.

The Provisional Certificate of Authority to Operate shall be valid for six (6) months, and may be extended for another six (6) months.

An Accommodation Establishment that has been granted a Certificate of Provisional Accreditation pursuant to DOT Memorandum Circular No. 2020-005 or the Interim Guidelines for Applications for Accreditation shall automatically be granted a Provisional Certificate of Authority to Operate.

SECTION 7. Operations without DOT Certificate of Authority to Operate or Provisional Certificate of Authority to Operate. — Commencement of operations without a DOT Certificate of Authority to Operate or Provisional Certificate of Authority to Operate may subject the Accommodation Establishment to the relevant penalties under applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

III. GUIDELINES FOR ACCOMMODATION ESTABLISHMENTS IN AREAS UNDER ENHANCED COMMUNITY QUARANTINE (ECQ)

SECTION 8. Permitted Guests under ECQ. — Accommodation Establishments in areas declared to be under ECQ are allowed to accommodate only the following:

(a) Guests who had existing bookings or reservations under any Accommodation Establishment within Luzon as of 17 March 2020, and outside Luzon as of 01 May 2020;

(b) Foreign Guests who are transiting through, or are otherwise temporarily staying in the Philippines for a short period and will leave the country;

(c) Long Staying Guests;

(d) Distressed OFWs;

(e) Repatriated OFWs in compliance with approved quarantine protocols;

(f) Non-OFWs who may be required to undergo mandatory facility-based quarantine;

(g) Stranded Passengers;

(h) Employees of agencies and instrumentalities of the Government, including Government-Owned and -Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) and Local Government Units (LGUs), especially health and emergency frontline, border control, and other critical services workers; and

(i) Health care workers and other employees from establishments that are allowed to operate during the ECQ pursuant to the IATF Omnibus Guidelines; provided, that their place of work is located within the same ECQ zone.

SECTION 9. New Bookings under ECQ. — Except for Long Staying Guests, new bookings of guests falling under Section 8 shall be allowed.

SECTION 10. Prohibited Bookings under ECQ. — No Accommodation Establishment in an ECQ zone shall provide accommodation for persons undertaking leisure travel.

SECTION 11. Limited Operations under ECQ. — Accommodation Establishments in ECQ zones shall operate only to provide basic accommodation services to guests and food preparation services for take-out and delivery to the public. For this purpose:

(a) Room service shall not be allowed;

(b) Daily housekeeping shall not be implemented. Cleaning and sanitation of rooms shall be conducted only as may be necessary;

(c) Only a Skeleton Workforce which shall be composed of In House Staff shall be retained; and

(d) Ancillary establishments within the premises, such as restaurants, cafés, bars, gyms, spas, and the like, shall not be allowed to operate or to provide room service; provided, that Accommodation Establishments may prepare (i) packed meals for distribution to guests who opt for the same; and (ii) food orders for take-out and delivery only.

SECTION 12. Conditions for Room Occupancy under ECQ. — Accommodation Establishments in ECQ zones shall ensure that the following conditions for room occupancy, as required by the DOH, are met:

(a) OFWs and Health Workers shall be accommodated in single occupancy rooms. For avoidance of doubt, single occupancy shall mean only one person shall be accommodated in each room.

(b) Other guests may be accommodated in double occupancy rooms, provided the following are observed:

1. Distance between the beds should be at least two (2) meters;

2. A divider should be placed between the beds;

3. A bathroom schedule must be observed. Only one person shall be permitted to use the bathroom at any given time;

4. Guests shall disinfect the bathroom after every use using the provided sanitation kit;

5. There shall be no sharing of food or any personal or non-personal belongings;

6. All trash, food and non-food, shall be separated.

(c) Each room shall be provided with a sanitation kit which guests shall use to regularly disinfect commonly accessed surfaces and items such as door knobs, light switches, the bathroom sink, etc.

(d) When in the Accommodation Establishment, guests shall be confined to their rooms. Mingling with occupants of other rooms shall not be allowed.

(e) Guests shall use the same bed and the same room they are billeted in throughout the entire period of their stay.

Accommodation Establishments shall likewise comply with other issuances and guidelines on Minimum Public Health Standards.

IV. GUIDELINES FOR ACCOMMODATION ESTABLISHMENTS IN AREAS UNDER MODIFIED ENHANCED COMMUNITY QUARANTINE (MECQ)

SECTION 13. Permitted Guests under MECQ. — Accommodation Establishments in areas declared to be under MECQ are allowed to accommodate only the following:

(a) Guests who had existing bookings or reservations under any Accommodation Establishment within Luzon as of 17 March 2020, and outside Luzon as of 01 May 2020;

(b) Foreign Guests who are transiting through, or are otherwise temporarily staying in the Philippines for a short period and will leave the country;

(c) Long Staying Guests;

(d) Distressed OFWs;

(e) Repatriated OFWs in compliance with approved quarantine protocols;

(f) Non-OFWs who may be required to undergo mandatory facility-based quarantine;

(g) Stranded Passengers;

(h) Employees of agencies and instrumentalities of the Government, including GOCCs and LGUs, especially health and emergency frontline, border control, and other critical services workers; and

(i) Health care workers and other employees from establishments that are allowed to operate during the MECQ pursuant to the IATF Omnibus Guidelines; provided, that their place of work is located within the same MECQ zone.

SECTION 14. New Bookings under MECQ. — Except for Long Staying Guests, new bookings of guests falling under Section 13 shall be allowed.

SECTION 15. Prohibited Bookings under MECQ. — No Accommodation Establishment in an MECQ zone shall provide accommodation for persons undertaking leisure travel.

SECTION 16. Limited Operations under MECQ. — Accommodation Establishments in MECQ zones shall operate only to provide basic accommodation services to guests and food preparation services for take-out and delivery to the public. For this purpose, Section 11 of these Guidelines shall apply.

SECTION 17. Conditions for Room Occupancy under MECQ. — Accommodation Establishments in MECQ zones shall ensure that the conditions for room occupancy under Section 12 of these Guidelines are met.

V. GUIDELINES FOR ACCOMMODATION ESTABLISHMENTS IN AREAS UNDER GENERAL COMMUNITY QUARANTINE (GCQ)

SECTION 18. Permitted Guests under GCQ. — Accommodation Establishments in areas declared to be under GCQ are allowed to accommodate only the following:

(a) Guests who had existing bookings or reservations under any Accommodation Establishment within Luzon as of 17 March 2020, and outside Luzon as of 01 May 2020;

(b) Foreign Guests who are transiting through, or are otherwise temporarily staying in the Philippines for a short period and will leave the country;

(c) Long Staying Guests;

(d) Distressed OFWs;

(e) Repatriated OFWs in compliance with approved quarantine protocols;

(f) Non-OFWs who may be required to undergo mandatory facility-based quarantine;

(g) Stranded Passengers;

(h) Employees of agencies and instrumentalities of the Government, including GOCCs and LGUs, especially health and emergency frontline, border control, and other critical services workers; and

(i) Health care workers and other employees from establishments that are allowed to operate during the GCQ pursuant to the IATF Omnibus Guidelines; provided, that their place of work is located in a GCQ zone, which may or may not be in the same area.

SECTION 19. New Bookings under GCQ. — Except for Long Staying Guests, new bookings of guests falling under Section 18 shall be allowed.

SECTION 20. Prohibited Bookings under GCQ. — No Accommodation Establishment in a GCQ zone shall provide accommodation for persons undertaking leisure travel.

SECTION 21. Limited Operations under GCQ. — Accommodation Establishments in GCQ zones shall operate only to provide basic accommodation services to guests and food preparation services for take-out and delivery to the public. For this purpose, Section 11 of these Guidelines shall apply; provided, that the skeleton workforce may or may not comprise of In House Staff; provided, further, that the Accommodation Establishment shall provide shuttle services to ferry non-In House Staff.

SECTION 22. Conditions for Room Occupancy under GCQ. — Accommodation Establishments in GCQ zones shall ensure that the conditions for room occupancy under Section 12 of these Guidelines are met.

VI. GUIDELINES FOR ACCOMMODATION ESTABLISHMENTS IN AREAS UNDER MODIFIED GENERAL COMMUNITY QUARANTINE (MGCQ)

SECTION 23. Limited Operations under MGCQ. — Accommodation Establishments may undertake normal operations under MGCQ and may accommodate bookings of all guests, whether for work or leisure; provided, that operations shall be at 50% Operational Capacity only.

SECTION 24. Operations of Ancillary Establishments under MGCQ. — Ancillary establishments within the premises, such as restaurants, cafés, bars, gyms, spas, and the like, shall be allowed to operate at 50% Operational Capacity only; provided, that for restaurants and other food preparation establishments, operations shall be in accordance with DOT Memorandum Circular No. 2020-004.

SECTION 25. Workforce Requirements. — Accommodation Establishments under MGCQ zones shall retain a Skeleton Workforce which may or may not comprise of In House Staff.

SECTION 26. Observance of Minimum Public Health Standards. — In its operations, Accommodation Establishments under MGCQ shall ensure compliance with issuances and guidelines on Minimum Public Health Standards.

VII. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

SECTION 27. Reporting Requirement for Accommodation Establishments with Checked-in Guests. — Immediately upon the commencement of operations, and every Friday thereafter, all Accommodation Establishments authorized to operate in Community Quarantine zones shall report to DOT the following:

(a) Number of staff comprising its Skeleton Workforce for the duration of the Community Quarantine;

(b) Number, nationality, classification, and length of stay of guests permitted under these Guidelines;

(c) The companies or business enterprises whose employees are booked with the Accommodation Establishment, if applicable; and

(d) Such other information as may be required by the DOT; provided, that in the reporting of all information, compliance with the Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act shall be ensured.

SECTION 28. Reporting Requirement for Accommodation Establishments that Accept Food Orders for Take-out and Delivery. — Immediately upon the commencement of operations, all Accommodation Establishments that accept food orders for take-out and delivery shall report to DOT the following:

(a) Commencement date of take-out and delivery services;

(b) Procedure for the acceptance of orders, food preparations, and take-out or delivery services;

(c) Platform used for delivery of food orders, if applicable;

(d) Safety protocols in the kitchen and in interaction with customers;

(e) Number, positions, and assignment of employees comprising the manpower dedicated to food preparation operations;

(f) Number and classification of checked-in guests, if applicable; and

(g) Such other information as may be required by the DOT; provided, that in the reporting of all information, compliance with the Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act shall be ensured.

SECTION 29. Where to Submit Reports. — Reports shall be submitted to the DOT Regional Offices with jurisdiction over the area where the Accommodation Establishments is located, through the e-mail addresses in ANNEX C.

VIII. OTHER GUIDELINES

SECTION 30. Suppletory Application of Other Issuances. — The following Memorandum Circulars shall apply by analogy or in suppletory character, and insofar as they are not inconsistent with any provision herein:

(a) DOT Memorandum Circular No. 2020-002 or the Health and Safety Guidelines Governing the Operations of Accommodation Establishments under the New Normal;

(b) DOT Memorandum Circular No. 2020-004 or the Guidelines Governing the Operations of DOT-Accredited Restaurants under the New Normal; and

(c) DOT Memorandum Circular No. 2020-005 or the Interim Guidelines for Applications for Accreditation.

SECTION 31. Lowest Possible Rates. — All Accommodation Establishments are strongly encouraged to provide the lowest possible rates to guests, especially to OFWs and employees of establishments that are allowed to operate during the ECQ, MECQ, and GCQ. Those reported to be engaging in opportunistic pricing may be subject to the relevant penalties under applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

SECTION 32. Effectivity. — This Order shall take effect immediately and shall remain effective until a Community Quarantine is no longer in effect, or until otherwise superseded, amended, or repealed accordingly.

SECTION 33. Repealing Clause. — This Order repeals or modifies Administrative Order Nos. 2020-001, 2020-001-B, and all other DOT issuances inconsistent herewith.

For guidance and strict compliance.

(SGD.) BERNADETTE ROMULO-PUYATSecretary

ANNEX A

Template Letter of Intent to Operate

ANNEX B

Sworn Statement of Undertaking

I, ___________________________ (name of authorized representative), __________ (position) of _______________________ (name of Tourism Enterprise), with primary business address at ____________________________, do hereby depose and say that:

1. ___________________ (Name of Tourism Enterprise) is a Tourism Enterprise as defined under Republic Act No. 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009;

2. ___________________ (Name of Tourism Enterprise) seeks to commence commercial operations and has submitted its application for a Department of Tourism (DOT) Accreditation or Certificate of Authority to Operate;

3. ___________________ (Name of Tourism Enterprise) understands that while it has not yet undergone physical inspection of its premises, it may be granted a Provisional Accreditation or Provisional Certificate of Authority to Operate upon the conduct of virtual inspection by the DOT Regional Office;

4. ___________________ (Name of Tourism Enterprise) undertakes to comply with all the requirements for a DOT Accreditation or DOT Certificate of Authority to Operate, as well as other DOT standards, rules, and regulations relevant to Tourism Enterprises;

5. ___________________ (Name of Tourism Enterprise) understands and agrees that the failure to comply with all the requirements for a DOT Accreditation or DOT Certificate of Authority to Operate, or failure to observe DOT standards, rules, and regulations relevant to Tourism Enterprise, may result in the revocation of its Provisional Accreditation or Provisional Certificate of Authority to Operate, or in its failure to be granted an Accreditation or Certificate of Authority to Operate.

I am executing this Sworn Statement to attest to the foregoing statements and to comply with the DOT requirements for the issuance of Accreditation and/or Certificate of Authority to Operate.

_____________________

_____________________

_____________________

ANNEX C

Directory of DOT Regional Accreditation Offices

 

REGION	EMAIL ADDRESS	CONTACT DETAILS
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION	[email protected]	8459-5200 loc. 108
CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION	[email protected]	(074) 442 7014
REGION I	[email protected]	0929-182-1225 0910-241-6174 0927-211-0293
REGION II	[email protected]	(078) 373-0785/304-1503; 0915-2750679; 0917-5177853
REGION III	[email protected]	(045) 458-2358/0999 670 4482/0921 951 4154
REGION IV-A	[email protected]	(049) 508-0741/62; (0917) 8710045; (0933) 3949792
REGION IV-B	[email protected] [email protected]	(8) 890-0945/(8) 890-1014/(8) 459-5200 Loc. 210
REGION V	[email protected]	(052) 472-5004 09175142851
REGION VI	[email protected] [email protected]	(033) 503-2705
REGION VII	[email protected] [email protected]	(032) 254-2811
REGION VIII	[email protected]	0998 888 9715 0917 132 5299 0917 562 6671 0956 194 4233 0905 760 0242
REGION IX	[email protected]	(062) 993-0030/955-2477 0915-331-1525 0935-966-2801
REGION X	[email protected]	0995-358-8515 09559140480
REGION XI	[email protected]	(082) 221-0070/225-1940 0917-7955459 0917-1783762 0917-7055516 0906-2581064
REGION XII	[email protected]	(083) 520-1274/228-8667
REGION XIII	[email protected]	(085) 815-6040/