The Bureau of Internal Revenue (“BIR”) issued on 18 March 2020 Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 28, series of 2020 (“RMC No. 28-2020”), amending Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 25, series of 2020 (“RMC No. 25-2020”), extending the deadline for filing the Annual Income Tax Return (“AITR”) for Calendar Year 2019 from 15 April 2020 to 15

Following the Philippines’ being placed under a state of calamity, the Supreme Court, through Administrative Circular No. 32-2020 (hereafter “A.C. 32-2020”), has ordered the physical closure of all courts nationwide starting 23 March 2020, subject to certain exceptions. To further limit the movement of the Judiciary’s personnel and maintain the general public’s safety, A.C. 32-2020

The ensuing challenges brought about by the quarantine, enhanced quarantine and/or lockdown have also raised fundamental concerns on the options and remedies of employers regarding the tenure and/or movement of their personnel. An employer may consider options and remedies generally classified as ranging from those that do not involve reduction or adjustment of wage and

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (“BIR”) issued on 17 March 2020 Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 25, series of 2020 (“RMC No. 25-2020”), announcing that it will not extend the deadline for filing the Annual Income Tax Return (“AITR”) for Calendar Year 2019 despite the one-month Enhanced Community Quarantine of the National Capital Region to prevent

So that the Judiciary may manage the rising cases of Covid-19 infection, the Supreme Court, on 13 March 2020, constituted a Task Force, through Memorandum Order 26-2020, “Creating a Task Force to Address the Rising Cases of Covid-19 Infection” (hereafter “M.O. 26-2020”). The Task Force is composed of Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez as

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued Memorandum Circular No. 7, Series of 2020, which took effect on 16 March 2020,  advising the public of the adoption of the following procedures at the Electronic Records Management Division, ICTD (“ERMD-ICTD”): Request for Plain/Authenticated Copy of SEC Documents Clients may either request for SEC documents online at

The Securities and Exchange Commission issued Memorandum Circular No. 6, Series of 2020, otherwise known as the “Guidelines on the Attendance and Participation of Directors, Trustees, Stockholders, Members, and Other Persons of Corporations in Regular and Special Meetings through Teleconferencing, Video Conferencing and Other Remote or Electronic Means of Communication”, which took effect on 12

So that the Judiciary may manage the rising cases of Covid-19 infection, the Supreme Court, on 13 March 2020, constituted a Task Force, through Memorandum Order 26-2020, “Creating a Task Force to Address the Rising Cases of Covid-19 Infection” (hereafter “M.O. 26-2020”). The Task Force is composed of Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez as

In order to abate the spread of Covid-19 cases across the country, the Supreme Court, on 16 March 2020, issued Administrative Circular No. 31-2020 (hereafter “A.C. 31-2020”), ordering the drastic reduction of court operations from 16 March 2020 to 15 April 2020.   Addressed to all litigants, justices, judges and personnel of the judiciary, and

In view of the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19 worldwide and its impact on the business and economy of the Philippines, the Department of Labor and Employment (“DOLE”) issued on 04 March 2020 Labor Advisory No. 09, Series of 2020 (“Labor Advisory No. 09-2020”) to assist and guide the employers and employees in the implementation of

The Philippine Intellectual Property Office issued on 16 March 2020 Memorandum Circular No. 2020-006: (1) suspending work (adopting a work from home arrangement) from 16 March 2020 until 14 April 2020; (2) cancelling all scheduled hearings and seminars; and (3) extending for a period of thirty (30) calendar days the deadline to respond to official

The Department of Trade and Industry (“DTI”) issued on 7 February 2020 Department Administrative Order (“DAO”) No 02, Series of 2020, otherwise known as the “Revised Rules of Mediation and Adjudication of Consumer Complaints” (hereafter referred to as the “Revised Rules”),. With the issuance of the Revised Rules, the DTI expects a more efficient, expedient

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (“IPOPHL”) has issued IPOPHL Memorandum Circular No. 2020-002 providing for the Revised Rules and Regulations on Voluntary Licensing (“Revised Rules”). The salient provisions of the Revised Rules, which took effect on 21 February 2020, are as follows: Definition of Technology Transfer Arrangements (“TTA”) The Revised Rules provide that

IPOPHL Memorandum Circular No. 2019-024, Series of 2019, which amends the Rules and Regulations on Inter Partes Proceedings took effect on 15 February 2020. Meanwhile, IPOPHL Memorandum Circular No. 2020-002, Series of 2019, which amends the Rules and Regulations on Voluntary Licensing of Intellectual Property Rights took effect on 21 February 2020. Copies of the

Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia (“CMT”) won in five (5) categories in the Asia Business Law Journal’s Philippines Law Firm Awards 2019:   Arbitration & Alternative Dispute Resolution Energy, Projects & Infrastructure Intellectual Property Enforcement Intellectual Property Protection Mergers & Acquisitions   Only four (4) law firms were awarded per category. The winners were selected based

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has issued Memorandum Circular No. 1, Series of 2020, otherwise known as the “Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 9856, Otherwise Known as the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Act of 2009” (hereafter referred to as the “REIT Rules”), which took effect on 23 January 2020,

Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia (“CMT”) has been recommended as a top-tier firm in 2 practice areas: Dispute Resolution and Intellectual Property. CMT’s Corporate and M&A, immigration, Projects & Energy, and Real Estate and Construction practice areas were also recommended.   Meanwhile, 7 lawyers from CMT are listed as leading lawyers in the Legal 500 Asia

The University of the Philippines Geology Alumni Association (“UPGAA”), in partnership with Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia, held its 7th annual Baguio City Geotour on 22 November 2019 in conjunction with the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association’s 66th Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference (ANMSEC). Through the efforts of Mr. Joey Nelson R. Ayson,

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has issued Memorandum Circular No. 25, Series of 2019, or the “2019 Guidelines for the Protection of SEC Registered Non-Profit Organizations from Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Abuse (“2019 NPO Guidelines”). The 2019 NPO Guidelines took effect on 28 December 2019 regarding the following matters: Internal Audit System (Chapter