JOINT MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 2021-____
HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES GOVERNING THE OPERATIONS OF INDOOR AND
OUTDOOR DINE-IN SERVICES UNDER THE ALERT LEVELS SYSTEM FOR COVID-19
RESPONSE
WHEREAS, on 03 September 2021, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging
Infectious Diseases (IATF) issued Resolution No. 136-A, shifting from a community quarantine
classification framework to a policy focusing on the imposition of granular lockdowns and adopting an
Alert Level System for COVID-19 Response, with each alert level limiting restrictions only to identified
high-risk activities;
WHEREAS, on 13 September 2021, the IATF introduced the Guidelines on the Pilot Implementation
of Alert Levels System for COVID-19 Response in the National Capital Region (Pilot Guidelines),
which was adopted in IATF Resolution No. 138, providing the list of establishments, persons or
activities allowed and prohibited to operate, work or be undertaken under Alert Levels 1 to 5;
WHEREAS, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Tourism (DOT) are directed
to “issue guidelines promoting safe behaviors” in indoor and al fresco dine-in services in restaurants
and eateries;
WHEREAS, the IATF issued Resolution No. 136-F, Series of 2021 identifying the National Capital
Region (NCR) as the area for the pilot implementation of the Alert Levels System, with pilot period
from 16 to 30 September 2021;
WHEREFORE, foregoing premises considered, the following Health and Safety Guidelines Governing
the Operations of Indoor and Outdoor Dine-In Services under the COVID-19 Alert Levels System are
hereby issued.
I. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Short Title. This Circular shall be known as “Guidelines of Indoor and Outdoor Dine-
In Services under the Alert Levels System.”
Section 2. Coverage. This Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) shall apply to all restaurants,
including those located inside DOT-accredited Accommodation Establishments, fastfood businesses,
canteens, food courts, food parks, and other eateries providing dine-in services, regardless of the size
of the establishment during the implementation of the COVID-19 Alert Levels System.
Section 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of these Guidelines, the following terms are hereby
defined as follows:
a. “Buffet Service” refers to a system of serving meals where the diners serve themselves, with
or without assistance from a waiter, from a food selection placed on a table in a public and
accessible area.
b. “COVID-19 Alert Levels System” refers to the new Community Quarantine Classifications for
dealing with COVID-19 covering entire cities and/or municipalities; aimed to manage and
minimize the risk of the disease through System Indicators, Triggers and Thresholds
determined by the IATF Sub-Technical Working Group on Data Analytics to specify the public
health and social measures to be taken in relation to the COVID-19 response, as may be
updated based on new scientific knowledge, information about the effectiveness of control
measures in the country and overseas, and its application.
a. Alert Level 1 – refers to areas wherein case transmission is low and decreasing, total
bed utilization rate, and intensive care unit utilization rate is low.
b. Alert Level 2 – refers to areas wherein case transmission is low and decreasing,
healthcare utilization is low, or case counts are low but increasing, or case counts are
low and decreasing but total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate
is increasing.
c. Alert Level 3 – refers to areas wherein case counts are high and/or increasing, with total
bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate at increasing utilization.
d. Alert Level 4 – refers to areas wherein case counts are high and/or increasing, with total
bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate at high utilization.
e. Alert Level 5 – refers to areas wherein case counts are alarming, with total bed utilization
rate and intensive care unit utilization rate at critical utilization.
c. “COVID-19 Vaccination Card” shall refer to a digital or physical card or certification issued by
a legitimate vaccinating establishment or authority, whether local or foreign, as a proof of full
COVID-19 vaccination.
d. “Food Establishments” shall refer to establishments that prepare and sell food directly to
consumers for immediate consumption, whether indoor or outdoor, such as restaurants,
commissaries, cafeterias, cafes, lunchrooms, bistros, fast food establishments, food courts,
buffets, eateries, retail bakeries, mobile food trucks, and dining areas in accommodation
establishments.
e. “Fully Vaccinated Individual” shall refer to an individual who has been fully vaccinated for
COVID-19. An individual shall be considered as having been fully vaccinated for COVID-19:
1. More than or equal to 2 weeks after having received the second dose in a 2-dose series,
or
2. More than or equal to 2 weeks after having received a single-dose vaccine.
3. The vaccines administered to the individual are included in any of the following:
i. Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) List or Compassionate Special Permit (CSP)
issued by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration; or
ii. Emergency Use Listing of the World Health Organization.
f. “Indoor Dine-in Services” shall refer to the offering of food to be eaten inside the building or
enclosed space of a Food Establishment.
g. “Management” shall refer to the owner, proprietor, manager, supervisor, administrator or other
officer with control and supervision of the operations of the Food Establishment
h. “Outdoor or Alfresco Dine-in Services” shall refer to the offering of food to be eaten in a Food
Establishment’s outdoor dining area, with open-air ventilation and unenclosed spaces,
including those with structures consisting of non-adjacent impermeable walls; those consisting
of circular structures with 50% non-continuous impermeable walls; and those with ceilings,
roofs, umbrellas, or canopies with no walls.
i. “Restaurant” refers to any establishment that prepares and serves meals or refreshments to
the public for a fee.
II. HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS
Section 4. Compliance with Sector Specific Public Health Standards. Consistent with the
minimum public health standards prescribed by the Department of Health (DOH) under Administrative
Order No. 2021-00431 and DTI-DOLE Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2020-04-A2, owners or
designated safety officers of all establishments covered by this Circular are required to implement and
maintain the following sector-specific public health standards:
4.1. Prevention. To prevent the transmission of COVID-19, Management shall:
A. Physical Set-Up Controls.
1. For indoor dining, install table top clear dividers made of acrylic or any similar
transparent material to prevent droplet transmission in face-to-face seating
arrangements.
2. For outdoor dining, implement an alternate/diagonal seating arrangement if table top
clear dividers are not installed.
3. Ensure adequate air exchange in enclosed areas through the implementation of
strategies as cited in DOLE Department Order No. 224-21,3 such as:
a. Maximizing natural ventilation through opening of windows;
b. Use of low-cost modifications to improve air flow (e.g. addition of fans or exhaust
fans);
c. Identification of multi-occupant spaces that are used regularly and are poorly
ventilated. Air flow shall be controlled to ensure indoor CO2 concentrations be
maintained at-or below 1,000 parts per million (ppm)4; and
d. Installation and regular maintenance of exhaust fans and air filtration devices with
High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters.
4. Install any of the following hand hygiene and sanitation facilities and supplies:
a. Hand washing station or sink with adequate and safe water supply;
b. Soap and water or 70% Isopropyl (or Ethyl) Alcohol; and
1 Omnibus Guidelines on the Minimum Public Health Standards for the Safe Reopening of Institutions dated 31 August 2021:
https://bit.ly/DOHAO21-0043
2 Interim Guidelines on Workplace Prevention and Control of COVID-19: bit.ly/MC20-04A
3 Entitled “Guidelines on Ventilation for Workplaces and Public Transport to Prevent and Control the Spread of COVID-19.”
4 Note that outdoor CO2 concentration directly impacts indoor CO2 concentration. It is critical to measure outdoor CO2 levels
when assessing indoor concentrations. Indoor CO2 levels shall not exceed the outdoor concentration by more than about
600ppm.
c. Hands-free trash receptacles, soap and towel dispensers, door openers, and other
similar hands-free equipment.
The use of foot baths, disinfection tents, misting chambers, or sanitation booths are not
recommended
5. Maintain physical distancing by ensuring table and seats spacing, using unidirectional
markers in queuing areas, and reducing seating capacity in accordance with the
prevailing alert level system where the Food Establishment is located.
a. Chairs shall be distanced at least one (1) meter on all sides.
b. Queueing area shall comply with the one (1) meter distance on all sides
requirement.
6. Establish a screening area at the point/s-of-entry. The following protocols must be
implemented thereat:
a. Health declaration or symptom assessment through the use of the Staysafe.ph
application, or any national and certified contact tracing application integrated with
the same, in the conduct of contact tracing activities. Those with symptoms or
exposure to probable, suspect, and confirmed COVID-19 cases, regardless of
vaccination status, shall not be allowed entry.
b. All personnel, suppliers, and customers must undergo a non-contact temperature
check. Those with a temperature higher than 37.5 degrees centigrade shall not be
allowed entry.
c. Indoor dine-in services in areas under Alert Level 4 shall only cater to Fully
Vaccinated Individuals with no COVID-19 Symptoms, subject to presentation of a
COVID-19 Vaccination Card.
7. Implement a Buffet Service only under the following conditions:
a. Food servers will serve the food;
b. All food trays are with food covers; and
c. Food is maintained at recommended safe temperatures (e.g. use of warming trays,
ice, etc.).
8. Install visual cues or signages to communicate the following:
a. Maintaining physical distancing of at least one (1) meter distance between
customers;
b. Cough and sneeze etiquette;
c. Proper hand hygiene and infection control;
d. Proper use and disposal of Personal Protective Equipment; and
e. Other critical reminders in the Prevent, Detect, Isolate, Treat, Reintegrate (PDITR+)
strategy and BIDA Solusyon,5 and Resbakuna for the promotion of the
Government’s Vaccination Program.6
9. Provide a proper facility for proper storage, collection, treatment, and disposal of used
PPE and other infectious waste in accordance with DOH AO 2021-0043.
10. Ensure that music volume is kept to a minimum to discourage loud talking, which
increases the likelihood of droplet transmission.
11. Prohibit the use of play areas or playgrounds.
12. Disallow the use of self-service stations like do-it-yourself customer refill and condiment
stations.
B. Administrative Controls
1. Ensure adequate provision of personal protective equipment to all employees,
regardless of employment status, which includes:
a. Cloth or surgical masks, or face shields, as necessary; and
b. Gloves and other appropriate PPE for all personnel tasked to do regular cleaning
and disinfection of chairs, tables, or other furniture, fixtures, and equipment.
2. Enforce limits on on-site capacity in accordance with the latest guidelines set by the
national government or limitations on venue/seating capacity or other prohibitions as
may be imposed by the Local Government Unit (LGU).
3. Permit individuals from the same household to dine together in one table, provided that
they show proof of the same address; and provided, further that their table/s shall be
distanced by at least one (1) meter from other customers’ tables.
4. Remind customers that face masks may only be removed while eating or drinking.
5. Maximize the use of online or mobile platforms for rendering services.7
6. As far as practicable, utilize single-use or QR-based menus and contactless order-
taking.
7. Utilize digital modes of payment or provide small trays for cash payment to avoid
physical contact between personnel and customers.
8. Disinfect premises in accordance with DOH Department Memorandum No. 2020-0157,
its amendments and Cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces in the context
of COVID-19 by the WHO. For this purpose, all furniture, fixtures, and equipment,
5 bit.ly/BIDAPartners
6 https://doh.gov.ph/vaccines
7 Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) needing assistance with onboarding to e-commerce and other digital
platforms may contact the nearest DTI Regional/Provincial Office/Negosyo Center.
