A party-list lawmaker has appealed to the Department of Trade and Industry to consider exempting small business owners from paying the rental fees for the period covering the Enhanced Community Quarantine.
In a letter to Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez dated April 13, Rep. Alfred delos Santos of Ang Probinsyano requested the DTI to modify its Memorandum Circular 20-12 issued on April 4, which provides for a 30-day grace period on payment of commercial rental fee during the ECQ and settling it under a six-month installment plan to help them cope with the pandemic that has forced many businesses to shut down.
“However, Ang Probinsyano Party-list would like to propose a modified solution for the MSMES sector,” Delos Santos wrote in the letter.
“Instead of a 30-day grace period or a six-month installment payment plan which will still entail full rental costs on the part of MSME despite the lack of inflow of income and continuing overhead costs, we are respectfully suggesting to either waive the rental costs for MSMEs for the duration of the ECQ or provide a certain percentage of discount on the rental costs of MSMEs,” the lawmaker appealed to Lopez.
By doing so, Delos Santos added, MSMEs, which are considered the backbone of the Philippine economy, have a better chance to recover their losses and stay financially afloat to continue their businesses.
