Under Modified GCQ: Hotels Can Open at 50% Capacity for Work & Leisure Purposes. Apply for Your DOT Certificate of Authority to Operate.

The Philippines’ Tourism Department released on May 22, 2020 Administrative Order (AO) No. 2020-002 entitled “Guidelines on the Operations of Hotels and Other Accommodation Establishments Under a Community Quarantine.” Complete AO details signed by Sec. Puyat can be read at the end of this.

This latest AO provides general guidelines on what accommodation establishments need to do to resume operations under the various Community Quarantine classifications, as well as the activities allowed under each. This includes getting a DOT Certificate and submitting weekly reports.

The Gist

1. Choose your CQ. When will you operate?

Accommodation establishments which the AO refers to as “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,” can operate only within the specified limits and protocols under each Community Quarantine:

Under ECQ – establishments can’t accommodate clients for leisure. Only stranded guests, long staying guests, transiting foreign guests, repatriated and distressed OFWs, select government and health workers. You need to follow the health and safety protocols enforced by DTI/DOLE/DOH. Checkout Section 7 of the order for more details.

Under MECQ – same as ECQ. Leisure purposes are not allowed.

Under GCQ – same as ECQ. Leisure purposes are not allowed.

Under MGCQ – All guests can be booked whether for work or leisure. Normal operations can resume. BUT operations only to be at 50% operational capacity. Skeleton workforce will be maintained. Ancillary in-house (within premises) services like restaurants, cafes, bars, gyms, spas, etc. shall be allowed but also at 50% operational capacity. You need to follow the health and safety protocols enforced by DTI/DOLE/DOH.

2. Do the requirements. Accomplish the pre-requisites and do the reporting.

All establishments that wish to operate under any -CQ must do the following:

1. Secure a DOT Certificate of Authority to Operate. This is needed before operations begin. See the how-to procedures below.
2. Submit weekly reports — every Friday. See the full details below.

We would suggest you get your documents ready as soon as possible, and coordinate with your DOT Regional Offices of Municipal Tourism officers. We all know how hectic it gets for everyone with the surge of applicants and any last-minute changes 🙂

How to Get a Department of Tourism (DOT) Certificate of Authority to Operate?

1. Fill-up the Letter of Intent to Operate, sign, and e-mail as attachment. Below is a transposed, editable Word Doc for your convenience we prepared for you.
2. If you are an establishment that is NOT DTI Accredited, you will need to start your process for accreditation. Note*: The DOT Accreditation process is online. So its assumed that you start your accreditation registration through the online facility and submit the required accompanying docs there. Screenshot your account registration details and submit these in addition with the Letter of Intent to Operate, as attachment. Get accredited at the DOT website here: http://accreditationonline.tourism.gov.ph/
3. Submit this via e-mail to your DOT Regional Office. See the list of Branches from the DOT website here or scroll down below. Be prepared to email additional docs if necessary.
4. Wait for their response and follow-up if necessary.

*These instructions may change if DOT has new procedures.

Download the Letter of Intent to Operate Word File here:

Check-out this workflow image on the DOT Accreditation processes:

What are the weekly reports to submit?

According to the AO, these have to be submitted to the DOT Regional Office of jurisdiction every Friday of the week.

For accommodation establishments (Section 26):

1. Number of staff in Skeletal Workforce for the duration of the Community Quarantine.
2. Number (how many), nationality, classification, and length of stay of guests permitted under these Guidelines
3. The companies or business enterprises whose employees are booked with the accommodation establishment, if applicable, and;
4. Such other information as may be required by the DOT, provided that it follows the Data Privacy Act.

For accommodation establishments that accept food orders for take-out and delivery (Section 27):

1. Commencement date of take-out and delivery services
2. Procedure for the acceptance of orders, food preparations, and take-out or delivery services
3. Platform used for delivery of food services, if applicable
4. Safety protocols in the kitchen and in interaction with customers
5. Number, positions, and assignment of employees comprising the manpower dedicated to food preparation operations
6. Number and classification of checked-in guests, if applicable
7. Such other information as may be required by the DOT, provided that it follows the Data Privacy Act.

DOT Regional Officers and Offices Email and Contact Info

Below has been sourced from the DOT website. Proceed directly there through this link.

Read the DOT Administrative Order in Full Detail

Sources:

DOT Davao Facebook Page

Philippines Department of Tourism – http://www.tourism.gov.ph