DOLE Issues Guidelines on Processes and Proceedings Before the Labor Offices in Areas Under Community Quarantine
On 5 May 2020, the Department of Labor and Employment ("DOLE") issued DOLE Department Order No. 213 series of 2020 which suspended the reglementary periods to file pleadings, motions, and other actions, and interrupted the prescriptive periods for the commencement of actions for areas placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine ("ECQ") and General Community Quarantine ("GCQ"). However, given the extension of community quarantine measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, and in the interest of labor, DOLE issued Department Order No. 214 series of 2020 which provides for the lifting of the suspension of the reglementary periods and interruption of prescriptive period for areas placed under community quarantine excluding places under ECQ, MECQ,
Anti-Terrorism Act Signed into Law
On 3 July 2020, President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed into law Republic Act No. 11479 or The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (“Anti-Terrorism Act”). The Anti-Terrorism Act repealed the Human Security Act of 2007, which was previously the governing law on acts of terrorism in the Philippines. The Anti-Terrorism Act took effect on 22 July 2020, fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in the Manila Bulletin on 6 July 2020.
As of 6 August 2020, twenty-five (25) petitions seeking to declare the Anti-Terrorism Act unconstitutional, either partially or in its entirety, have been filed with the Supreme Court of the Philippines.
This Update summarises the salient features of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
House Panel Approves Bill Imposing 12% VAT on Digital Transactions
The House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means has approved the Substitute Bill to House Bills 6765, 6944, 4531, and House Resolution 685, which aims to impose value-added tax (“VAT”) on digital services. Digital service refers to any service that is delivered or subscribed over the internet or other electronic network, which cannot be obtained without the use of information technology.