Solons seek compassion, understanding for fellow Pinoys amid crisis faced by PH
SENATORS said it is time to practice some kind of Bayanihan to fellow Filipinos saying that the country is facing so many challenges and a recent earthquake is a major event that hit so many families in various parts of the country.
In an interview yesterday with Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito in the Senate, he admitted that the recent earthquake calamity is really a big blow and urged Filipinos to help hand in hand in facing the crisis.
“Hindi pa tapos ang dagok ng pandemic. And the prices of basic commodities and oil are continuously rising. Eto tumama satin ang Earthquake na talagang malaking dagok para sa marami nating kababayan. Baka pwede magtulungan muna tayong lahat. Sana po makiramay tayo sa ating mga kababayan,” Ejercito said as he appealed the need for various agencies and companies to show some kind of concern to fellow Filipinos,” Ejercito said.
The senator from San Juan said this is the right time to show compassion and understanding to fellow Filipinos as he urged everyone to do their share in helping the people and the government.
During the session, Senate President Juan Miguel Migz Zubiri urged fellow senators to donate or give a portion of what they have to the victims of the recent earthquake that hit many parts of the country.
For his part, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has filed a bill that seeks to impose a moratorium on the payment of all fees, charges, and costs relating to the rental of residential units in times of disasters and other kinds of emergencies.
Gatchalian also eyes a moratorium on eviction during the period of the State of Calamity or Emergency. During this time, the lessor, sublessor, or owner of a residential unit may not make or cause to be made any eviction or similar legal proceeding to recover possession of the unit from the lessee or sublessee unless they perpetrate a criminal act.
In filing Senate Bill No. 820 or the Rental Payment and Eviction Moratorium during Disasters and Emergencies Act, Gatchalian seeks to protect poor Filipino families by cushioning the impact of disasters and other emergencies, noting that they are more vulnerable when they have no place to stay. By providing a moratorium on rental payments, Gatchalian said, poor families would be able to cope with the economic effects of disasters and emergencies.
“Malaking dagok ang dulot ng mga kalamidad at mga sakuna sa kabuhayan at negosyo ng ating mga kababayan. Kaya naman iminumungkahi natin ang moratorium sa pagbabayad ng renta at moratorium sa pagpapaalis sa mga nagrerenta sa panahon ng kalamidad upang mapagaan ang kanilang mga pasanin at matulungan silang makabangon,” said Gatchalian.
The moratorium on rental payments that Gatchalian proposes shall be imposed during the duration of a State of Calamity or Emergency at the national or local level as declared by the President or the appropriate local government unit. The moratorium shall be extended 30 days from the termination of the State of Calamity or Emergency. If a State of Calamity or Emergency exceeds 60 days, the payment of the deferred fees, charges, and costs shall be spread out for a six-month period of equal installments. Gatchalian’s bill further provides that no penalties or interests shall be collected on these payments.
The proposed moratorium covers residential units, whether in a lease or sublease arrangement and whether reduced in a written form or not.
These rental and eviction moratoriums may be applied to commercial or office space rental of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as defined in the Magna Carta for MSMEs (Republic Act No. 9501, as amended). Rental and eviction moratoriums during a State of Calamity or Emergency may be applied to MSMEs at the discretion of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary, taking into consideration the closure of businesses, community quarantine orders, or other circumstances that may hamper their operations
