Coronavirus crisis: Early 13th month pay release, bills and rental payment moratorium pushed

MANILA, Philippines — The private sector can help alleviate the woes of workers amid the coronavirus disease 2019  (COVID-19) through the early release of the 13th month pay and one-month suspension of bills payment of basic utilities, Senator Bong Go said Monday.

Go said the early release of the 13th month pay can be done at a prorated basis.

“Kahit prorated lang, malaking tulong na iyan sa ating mga kababayan habang naka-community quarantine (Even if its prorated basis, it will be of big help to our countrymen while there is community quarantine in place),” Go said in a statement.

Other suggestions made by the senator include imposing a moratorium on rental fees as well as providing a more flexible work arrangement for employees especially during the community quarantine imposed in Metro Manila.

“Kung maaari, huwag na natin papasukin ang ating mga empleyado sa opisina lalo na kung kaya naman magampanan ang trabaho nila mula sa bahay sa pamamagitan ng teknolohiya,” Go said.

(If possible, let us not require our employees to report to the office, especially if their jobs can be accomplished at home through technology.)

Further, Go said that big businesses can also help small businesses.

Go added that Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez told him that a meeting will be held with business leaders to develop steps to help small businesses amid the pandemic.

“I appeal to the private sector—the industry players, business leaders, foundations and the like—to join hands and combine our efforts as we fight COVID-19 as one nation, as one people,” Go said in a statement.

“Threats of COVID-19 to the safety and lives of our people continue to grow. While the government is doing its best, we can help contain the spread of the infection if we adopt a whole-of-society approach,” Go said.

As of Sunday evening, DOH has reported 140 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, and 12 deaths.

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus that first emerged in the city of Wuhan in China’s Hubei province late last year.

The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses named the novel coronavirus as SARS-CoV-2.

The virus causes mild symptoms such as fever and cough.

Older individuals, the immunocompromised and those with existing health problems may also be more vulnerable to serious illnesses such as pneumonia.

Coronavirus is a family of viruses, which surfaces have a crown-like appearance.

GSG