Differences on ECQ, MECQ and GCQ

Tweet

MANILA - Metro Manila, Cebu City and Laguna will be under a modified enhanced community quarantine or MECQ until May 31.

Other areas were either placed under GCQ or general community quarantine while quarantines were lifted others, without sacrificing health measures. 

Modified ECQ Versus GCQ: Why ECQ in NCR, Laguna, Cebu City Cannot Be Lifted

The government has to consider recommendations to lift the enhanced community quarantine gradually or in a phased manner to avoid resurgence of the coronavirus disease 2019.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque had said that some parts of Metro Manila could be eased into a general community quarantine (GCQ) due to indications that the coronavirus disease 2019 curve was flattening, it was announced on Tuesday, May 12 that a modified enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) would be imposed over the National Capital Region, Laguna and Cebu City until May 31.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), the case doubling time for COVID-19 and the “critical care utilization” were among the health factors taken into consideration by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) sub-Technical Working Group on Data Analytics in making the recommendation.

In a virtual press briefing, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that aside from health, the IATF also looked into security, social and economic aspects when they made the decision concerning the ECQ.

The IATF also said it considered the recommendations of the World Health Organization to lift the ECQ gradually or in a phased manner to avoid resurgence of the disease.

Here are the differences between ECQ, MECQ and GCQ:

Enhanced Community Quarantine:

No movement regardless of age and health status

No economic activity except utility services, food, water and other essential sectors

No public transport

No physical classes

Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine:

Limited movement of people to get essential services and to go to work

Gradual reopening of the economy with select manufacturing and processing plants allowed to open up to a maximum of 50 percent capacity

Limited transportation services for essential goods and services

Limited transportation for those going to work and for essential services

Classes are still suspended in all levels

General Community Quarantine: 

Limited movements but government and almost all industries will be allowed to operate up to 75 percent except amusement and those with mass gatherings

Limited transport services with social distancing

Flexible learning will be allowed but without face-to-face learning

Shopee identifies 4 of the biggest e-commerce trends in 2020

Tweet

Consumers shop more often on weekdays and show an increased preference for cashless payments, while brands and sellers expand their online presence

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, identifies four major e-commerce trends in 2020. The retail landscape in the Philippines has been transformed due to increased social distancing efforts, such as the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine as the nation combats the spread of Covid-19. As a result, brands and sellers are venturing online in search of growth, while consumers turn to e-commerce to meet their shopping needs.

Ruoshan Tao, Head of Marketing at Shopee Philippines said, “The year 2020 has changed the way we live, work, and shop. Brands and sellers across the region are stepping up their digitization efforts, with e-commerce becoming a key channel for them to sustain and grow their businesses. At the same time, consumers are increasingly going online to fulfill their everyday needs, in areas ranging from groceries to home appliances. As e-commerce takes on greater importance in people’s lives, Shopee will continue to make shopping even more social, engaging, and easy for everyone.”

In the Philippines, Shopee has identified 4 key trends for e-commerce in recent months:

1. Brands and sellers are growing their e-commerce presence

Brands and sellers are venturing online to boost their online presence while exploring new strategies to reach and engage consumers.

• Robust growth for Filipino sellers: As people shop for their home and essential needs online, brands, and sellers in the Gaming and Pet Care categories are seeing strong growth. In addition, Brands and sellers offering pet essentials and home appliances & accessories saw 40 times and 15 times more orders respectively than the same period last year.
• Reaching customers with live streaming: Brands and sellers are actively exploring new ways to reach consumers. Shopee has observed that the number of Shopee Live streams from brands and sellers increased by 40 times. Homegrown SMEs have successfully boosted online visibility with Shopee Live. For example, Sirods Stuffed Toys has recorded a robust number of views for its streams by showcasing popular toys and collectibles to users in real-time, enabling it to engage customers more effectively.

2. Shoppers turn to e-commerce for everyday needs

At the same time, Filipinos are relying on e-commerce to meet their everyday needs as people live, work, and play from home.

• Consumers search and shop online for a wider variety of needs: Shopee has observed an increase in search and shopping activity in the past 3 months, especially for health and fashion products. This reflects an increasing reliance on e-commerce, which provides Filipinos with one-stop access to essentials, health products, and more.
• Top searched keywords: Face masks, Dresses, Power banks, Undergarments
• Top products: Mosquito incense, Vitamins, and supplements, cell phone cases

3. Shopping preferences evolve as consumers seek convenience on e-commerce

Shopping preferences are also changing in the Philippines as consumers look for convenience in e-commerce during this period.

• Increased shopping activity on weekdays: Online shopping activity has peaked on Tuesdays in recent months, showcasing the preference among Filipinos to shop earlier in the week. Shopping activity is also the highest at 12PM and 1PM as Filipinos shop more often during lunchtime.
• Preference for cashless payments: Adoption of cashless payments is growing as consumers value speed and reduce physical interactions. Shopee has observed that users are increasingly using cashless options such as ShopeePay to pay for purchases in recent months.

4. Increased social interaction and engagement among online shoppers

E-commerce has now evolved into something more than just a way to shop - it’s also become a place where people come together to interact, read content, and connect with others. Shopee has seen greater use of its in-app engagement features in the past three months as Filipinos seek to stay connected online:

• Shopee Live Chat: Shopee has seen an increase in social interactions on its platform. Over 1 million messages were sent daily on average as brands, sellers, and consumers interact with each other across the shopping journey.
• In-app games: Shopee recorded 200 million plays for its in-app games over the past three months. This is driven by users logging in daily to earn rewards and try out new in-app games such as Shopee Farm and Shopee Throw.

Tao closed, “We want to make online shopping safe and convenient while staying true to our vision of delivering a social and engaging experience to our users. At the same time, we will continue to help both our sellers and buyers by providing them a seamless online shopping experience, especially during this COVID-19 crisis.

Download Shopee for free through the App Store or Google Play.

Make Mother’s Day truly special with Taco Bell and Dairy Queen

Tweet

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and now’s the perfect time to start planning a sweet and memorable surprise for the most special women in our lives. Good thing Taco Bell and Dairy Queen have new offerings that will surely make Mother’s Day unforgettable at home! 

Share a sumptuous Mexican-inspired meal with Taco Bell’s Mother’s Day bundles that can be delivered straight to your home through Grabfood or Foodpanda.

Taco Bell’s Grabfood bundle is perfect for families of four with its four Gordita Supreme, one Cheese Quesadilla, two Nacho Sprinkles, and four 16oz. Soda. For families of three, order our Foodpanda bundle that comes with three Gordita Supreme, one Cheese Quesadilla, two Nacho Sprinkles, and three 16oz. Soda. Taco Bell’s Mother’s Day bundles start at ₱599. This promo is valid until May 31 and deliveries are limited to areas near Taco Bell Cyberpark Tower 1 in Araneta City.

To complete your Mother’s Day surprise, order a Sunflower Blizzard Cake from Dairy Queen! This 8-inch, 100% ice cream cake comes with a limited-edition sunflower design that will surely brighten Mama's special day.

The Sunflower Blizzard Cake is available for delivery through Grabfood and Foodpanda. For take-out orders, you may visit the following Dairy Queen branches: Alphaland Makati, Cherry Congressional, Cyberpark Tower 1, Portal, Robinsons Lipa, SM Baguio, SM East Ortigas, SM Light, SM Manila, SM Novaliches, SM Sangandaan, SM Sucat, SM Valenzuela, and Waltermart Muñoz. 

The Sunflower Blizzard Cake will be available until May 17. 

For more exciting news and updates from Taco Bell Philippines, visit their official website (https://www.tacobell.com.ph/) and follow them on Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/tacobellPHL) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tacobellphl/).

For more exciting news and updates from Dairy Queen Philippines, visit their official website (https://www.dairyqueen.com.ph/) and follow them on Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/dairyqueenphilippines) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/dairyqueenphils/).

Adapting to the new normal: Fintech is bedrock of digital services as PH fights pandemic

Tweet

The pandemic has changed the way Filipinos deal with everyday life. Today, services are now delivered through digital platforms, and adjusting to this new reality may come in with some form of learning curves.

Now, Filipinos are advised to leverage digital technologies and smartphone apps in conducting day-to-day activities to reduce their risks of contracting COVID-19 outside their homes. For most, working from home has become the new normal, and social interaction is now being done through social networking sites and messaging apps.

Some Filipinos also have turned to online marketplaces for their groceries, medicines, and other supplies, and some have also maximized the use of food delivery apps and ordering services to minimize their time outside of their homes.

Suddenly, many parts of the Philippines have become powered by the digital realm, and payments are now being coursed through digital finance. Today, more and more Filipinos are embracing digital finance, seeing the value that it brings versus conventional cash.

GCash, the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines, alone saw app installations grow by 2x during the community quarantine, while registrations rose by 2.5x, and app referrals increased by another 2x.

“In a world where digital is the new normal, financial technology should be considered the bedrock of digital services. Through digital finance, people have the power to pay for goods and services without the need for physical cash. Aside from the convenience, it is also less risky than cash handling, more efficient than physical payments, and is also very transparent,” GCash Chief Technology and Operations Officer Pebbles Sy said.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has been promoting the use of digital payments for almost a decade now, adopting several key policies and programs like the National Retail Payments System, and the creation of automated clearing houses for more seamless transactions.

This huge push for digital finance has given birth to a new working target of migrating cash transactions to non-cash. Now, the government aims to increase the share of cashless transactions to 30 percent of the total transaction from the original target of 20 percent.

GCash has been supportive of this shared goal, and has made it easier for Filipinos to adapt into the new normal. Aside from the easier know-your-customer (KYC) process, GCash also offers Filipinos a convenient and very affordable way to transact with merchants both online and offline. Likewise, GCash users may use their digital wallets to pay for bills and government dues, as well as transfer money to almost anyone with a bank or non-bank account.

"We want our customers to be able to use GCash to its full potential. The app has multiple features that would help ease the burden of the average Filipino, from paying their utilities to sending money to their relatives in the provinces. Contactless payments are preferred by many merchants, especially during this time where long lines crowd banks and other shops," Sy said.

With GCash, a simple tap and click would suffice in accomplishing everyday tasks, making financial services more accessible to anyone with a smartphone. Through contactless payments, Filipinos are able to reduce exposure, preventing the spread of the virus from the exchange of money and the use of cards.

Partnering with over 70,000 merchants nationwide, going cashless is an option GCash easily offers, with over 20 million users availing of services like QR code payments, bills payments, and even credit services.

"During this difficult period, GCash stays true to its mission of staying connected. Our services are important, now more than ever, as the Filipino looks for ways to minimize exposure to the virus," Sy said.

Another service GCash has put in place during this crisis is the ability to help, offering a quick and easy way to donate to frontline workers and other marginalized sectors.

"We've also made it easier for the Filipino to help those who are most affected by this global health crisis. Truly, this day and age is now powered by the digital arena, and we all have to learn and adapt to it, as long as this new normal persists,” Sy said. 

Join the Movement: Wear Masks In Public and Block COVID-19

Tweet

As the rest of the world works together in flattening the curve due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, several cities and countries have imposed precautionary measures to ensure public safety. These new guidelines will define what the new normal will be for the time being — and it includes wearing masks in public.

Over 13,000 LBC employees nationwide join the mask movement to block COVID-19. Photo Credit: LBC

Wearing masks is now increasingly becoming a global movement where everyone is called to act. Companies, known personalities, and governments all over the world are enjoining everyone to be responsible by wearing masks in public. Online campaigns rallying for people to wear masks have gone viral. What covers up most people’s faces is now an act of solidarity — for friends, families, and neighbors, essential workers, and frontliners. 

The Philippines, which currently holds the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia, has also followed suit when the government recently imposed wearing of masks in public.

Recent studies have shown that while masks may not totally prevent transmission of the virus, it aids in reducing it especially after asymptomatic cases have been confirmed in different parts of the world. Coupled with other acts like social distancing, frequent handwashing, and staying at home, wearing masks can help save lives.

People and organizations are doing it not just for themselves, but for others too.

Local conglomerates, like LBC Group of Companies for example, are helping advocate for wearing reusable masks in public. With most of its employees acting as frontliners by delivering essential goods to households, wearing masks is not just a mandatory — but also a welcome act of being one with the Filipinos in flattening the curve. Its employees nationwide join the new normal and wear masks. In just a sheer number of days, the company was able to mobilize its 13,000-strong workforce to help save not just themselves but also, other people.

Creativity is also in action. While personal protective equipment and surgical masks are reserved for medical frontliners, people found a way to create their own: from bra masks to homemade masks made from old fabrics. Online businesses, like swimwear shop Pearlypop Swimwear, have also found ways to be creative by reinventing its product line and starting to sell reusable masks for shipping

Celebrities are on the frontlines of the movement too using their influence to educate the public about the importance of wearing masks. Filipino personalities like Iza Calzado, Tweetie de Leon, and Tim Yap have challenged friends and families to support the movement while Hollywood actress Sophia Bush hit close to home by sharing who she’s masking for. 

These are just some of the examples of how wearing masks have now become more than just a call for safety, but a call for solidarity too.