Viewing category: Advisories

Public Advisory No. 6

March 14, 2020

Filipino workers who are currently in the Philippines or outside of Germany who are either returning to their workplaces or scheduled to commence employment in Germany and are unable to return to/arrive in Germany due to COVID-19 related travel restrictions, are respectfully advised to contact the following focal agencies/entities as applicable:

1. For nurses hired under the Triple Win Program (TWP), contact the following nos.:

TWP PH : +63 2 8651 5183 (Mon. to Fri., 8:00 am to 5:00 pm)
TWP Germany : +49 6196793599
POEA GPB : +63 8722 1177 (Mon. to Thurs., 7:00 am to 7:00 pm)

2. For nurses hired under the Private Employment track, including other categories of workers (e.g. IT, engineering, other professions/skills) hired directly or through an agency, contact your respective Philippine-based agencies or employers in Germany.

3. For vacationing workers / Balik Manggagawa – contact your employer.

Appropriate representations will be undertaken related to unavoidable delays in the return to/arrival in Germany of Filipino workers.

Other COVID-19 related ADVISORIES may be accessed via our website, www.philippine-embassy.de and Facebook page (@PHinGermany) for information and updates.

Thank you.

Berlin, 14 March 2020

PDF :Announcement Advisory for Workers 14March2020

Public Advisory No. 5

March 14, 2020

For safety and public health concerns in connection with the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the Philippine Embassy in Berlin will shorten its opening hours to the public.

Effective Monday, 16 March 2020, the Embassy will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. only from Mondays to Fridays. All public services will continue to be delivered during these hours.

The adjusted schedule will allow both the Embassy’s clients and personnel to avoid the morning and afternoon rush-hour commute.

The Embassy also wishes to provide the following reminders to our clients:

1. Unless extremely necessary, clients are requested to refrain from bringing companions when visiting the Embassy to allow us to manage more efficiently the flow of people in the premises.

2. Those who are feeling unwell or are experiencing some flu or cold-like symptoms (i.e. elevated body temperature, cough, sneezing, fatigue, headache) are also requested to defer their planned visit/ transaction to the Embassy. These thoughtful precautions on your part will help in ensuring the safety of other clients, particularly those who fall under high risk/vulnerable groups.

3. You are encouraged to choose mail-in transactions if possible (i.e. for civil registry and authentication services) to reduce your risk of exposure through travel and to reduce the volume of clients in the premises.

For consular-related inquiries, you may email the Embassy at consular@philippine-embassy.de. Please also visit our website, www.philippine-embassy.de and Facebook page (@PHinGermany) for any further information and updates.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Berlin, 14 March 2020

PDF: Announcement New Public Opening Hours 14March2020

Public Advisory No. 4

March 13, 2020

ADVISORY

ON THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK

For the information of the Filipino Community in Germany, following is the Statement issued by the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson, Republic of the Philippines, on the implementation of a Community Quarantine in Metro Manila in response to the COVID-19 outbreak:

On Code Red Sublevel 2

The Palace wishes to inform the public that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has been apprised by our health officials about the decision to raise the Code Alert System for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country to Code Red Sublevel 2.

Following discussions with health officials, as well as with members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), the Chief Executive has decided to approve the imposition of Stringent Social Distancing Measures in the National Capital Region (NCR) for thirty (30) days, with the salient directives discussed below.

First, the suspension of classes in all levels in Metro Manila is extended until April 12, 2020, with students remaining in their respective homes for the said duration.

Second, mass gatherings, defined as events where the number of people attending could strain the planning and response resources of the community hosting the event, shall be prohibited during the aforesaid period.

Third, community quarantine is imposed in the entire Metro Manila. Local Government Units (LGUs) in other areas are advised to abide by the following guidelines:
• A barangay-wide quarantine is advised when there at least two (2) positive COVID-19 cases belonging to different households in the same barangay;
• A municipality/city-wide quarantine is advised when there at least two (2) positive COVID-19 cases belonging to different barangays in the same municipality/city;
• A province-wide quarantine is advised when there at least two (2) positive COVID-19 cases belonging to different municipalities, component cities or independent component cities in the same province; and
• LGUs, which have imposed community quarantine in their respective jurisdictions, upon the declaration of a State of Calamity, shall be allowed to access their Quick Response Fund.

Fourth, work in the Executive Branch shall be suspended during the same period, without prejudice to the formation of skeletal workforces by government agencies. The Congress and the Judiciary are encouraged to adopt the same policy. Law enforcement agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, as well as health and emergency frontline services shall continue in full operation.

Fifth, flexible work arrangements shall likewise be encouraged in the private sector, following guidelines from the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Trade and Industry designed to safeguard the welfare of the workers. All manufacturing, retail and service establishments shall remain in operation during the same period, provided that strict social distancing measures are observed.

Sixth, mass public transports, such as the Light Rail Transits, the Metro Rail Transits, and the Philippine National Railway shall continue in operation, following guidelines by the Department of Transportation intended to ensure social distancing.

Seventh, land, domestic air, and domestic sea travel to and from Metro Manila shall be suspended beginning March 15, 2020 00:00H until April 14, 2020 23:59H.

All the aforementioned measures shall be subject to daily monitoring and reassessment by the IATF.

In addition, LGUs outside of the National Capital Region are advised to exercise sound discretion in suspending classes in their respective localities.

The President likewise approved that Balik-Manggagawa Overseas Filipino Workers may be allowed to travel to mainland China, except to Hubei Province, upon their execution of a declaration signifying their knowledge and understanding of the risks involved in their travel. A health advisory pamphlet shall similarly be handed to them upon their departure.

Finally, entry travel restrictions shall be imposed upon those traveling from countries with localized COVID-19 transmissions, except for Filipino citizens including their foreign spouse and children, if any, holders of permanent resident visa, and holders of diplomatic visas issued by the Philippine Government.

To be clear, and to allay the fears and apprehension of the public, the government is essentially calling for a stricter implementation of preventive measures in order to slow down and put a halt to the further spread of COVID-19. While a total and absolute lockdown is considered by some as a valid preventive measure, current circumstances do not warrant such an extreme course of action.

While the Duterte Administration remains resolute in combating this disease, the Palace asks affected entities and individuals for their cooperation in properly observing the foregoing adopted measures.

Salvador S. Panelo
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel
& Presidential Spokesperson

The Philippine Embassy in Berlin reiterates its earlier advisories for Filipino Community members to observe proper hygienic, sanitary, nutrition, and health practices. Our community members are likewise enjoined to limit their travel only to essential trips, avoid activities or events with an expected large volume of attendees, monitor developments on the outbreak in Germany from official websites (ref. PH Embassy Advisory, 12 March 2020), and review the holding of any community events in the coming weeks while developments involving the outbreak of COVID-19 are still evolving.

The Philippine Embassy reiterates that it continues to provide regular consular and other related services. We likewise kindly appeal to the sense of community and solidarity of our clients to, as far as practicable, refrain from bringing with them other persons who do not need to avail of any of our services when coming to the Embassy. However, seniors, persons with disabilities (PWDs), pregnant women, young children, and those similarly situated are welcome to bring companions, carers or assistants with them.

The Embassy hopes for the public’s kind understanding and patience on this matter as we exert best efforts to support measures to contain the further spread of the COVID019 for the safety and well-being of all.

Embassy Hotline: +49 (0) 1735215703/berlin.pe@dfa.gov.ph/info@philippine-embassy.de

For information. Thank you.

Berlin, 13 March 2020

PDF: AdvisoryCOVID19asof13March2020

Public Advisory No. 3

March 12, 2020

ADVISORY

On the COVID-19 Outbreak

For Filipino nationals residing in Germany, the developments as well as guidelines issued by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany regarding the ongoing new Coronavirus-2019 outbreak (COVID-19) may be monitored via the following official websites: