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Friday, March 29, 2024

Malls waive tenant’s rentals

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Shopping mall operators Megaworld Corp. and SM said Friday they are waiving the rental charges on the tenants in their commercial properties following the Luzon-wide COVID-19 quarantine.

Megaworld said it is waiving the rental charges on its tenants and retail partners in its malls and commercial centers in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon from March 16 to April 12, 2020, particularly those who unable to operate as a result of the quarantine.

“We understand the impact of our mall closures to our retail partners and merchants, and we would like to provide them with this reprieve in order to help them recover during this difficult time,” said Graham Coates, first vice president and head of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls.

In related developments:

*MORE than 660,000 JOB orders and contract of service workers affected by the lockdown following COVID-19 will continue to receive their wages during the duration of the enhanced community quarantine.

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Data from the Civil Service Commission shows that of the 2.4 million workers in the government, more than 660,000 workers fall under the job orders or contract of service contracts. Some 360,000 government contractual workers are in Luzon, where the national government ordered an enhanced community quarantine until April 14 due to COVID-19.

“Contractual workers in government agencies, such as those categorized as either job order or contract of service, who will be required to work from home, shall be paid their corresponding salaries or wages during the community quarantine period,” read a joint circular from the Commission on Audit and the Department of Budget and Management.

*The labor group Partido Manggagawa has called on employers to grant paid leave to workers affected by the closure of the ecozones in Cavite, saying more than 100,000 workers would be affected by the month-long closure due to the COVID 19 outbreak.

The biggest export complex in the country, the Cavite Economic Zone in the town of Rosario, was closed on Thursday while the First Cavite Industrial Estate in Dasmariñas will be closed at midnight on Friday.

“We estimate that more than 100,000 workers from the two ecozones are affected by the lockdown. Foreign Investors should shoulder temporary losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” PM national chairman Rene Magtubo said.

Megaworld Lifestyle Malls has shopping malls and commercial centers in Luzon like Eastwood City in Quezon City, Uptown Bonifacio, Forbes Town, McKinley Hill and McKinley West in Taguig City, Newport City in Pasay City, Arcovia City in Pasig City, Alabang West in Las Piñas City, Twin Lakes near Tagaytay, Southwoods City in Laguna and Lucky Chinatown in Binondo, Manila.

Megaworld Lifestyle Malls said it will also help mall merchants like supermarkets, pharmacies, clinics, and banks that have been allowed to open during the quarantine period in terms of in-store sanitation and disinfecting efforts. 

“Our personnel will also help tenants like supermarkets that need assistance in ensuring the required social distancing during long queues,” Coates said.

Megaworld said it had also extended food assistance to health care and medical personnel in various Metro Manila hospitals, including border security personnel from the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and Bureau of Fire Protection deployed in Metro Manila.

SM Supermalls said earlier it would waive rentals to all tenants nationwide from March 16 to April 14, 2020.

“We share our tenant partners’ concerns at the unfortunate situation and will waive rental charges for those affected and unable to operate during this period,” said SM Supermalls President Steven Tan.

The SM Group also assured its employees of their regular compensation and the extension of an emergency financial assistance to front liners, security guards and janitorial staff during the enhanced community quarantine being implemented from March 16 to April 14, 2020.

Under its financial assistance program, all SM employees will receive their regularly scheduled salaries during the ECQ period without deductions against their vacation and sick leaves.

The company’s front liners, who comprise the skeletal workforce, will, in addition, be provided premium pay while all security guards and janitorial staff will receive financial assistance of P5,000 for the period.

“In these trying times, we are in [uncharted] territories. Let’s be one with each other, united in the spirit of service. Let’s be mindful of our front liners and help with their need to be alert so they can continue to do their best in working for the safety and health of our communities,” said Hans Sy on behalf of the Sy family.

SM said it continues to assess the health crisis with vigilance, enjoining its employees and the public to follow guidelines and precautions to help combat the virus.

It said financial assistance is another commitment to fighting the negative effects of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the Aboitiz Group earmarked P900 million in assistance to help its team members cope with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic following the announcement of a national state of calamity.

This amount covers the early release of the end-March salary and the 13th or 14th month pay of the Group’s over 11,000 team members across its strategic business units in power, banking and financial services, food, infrastructure, and land.

The Aboitiz Group will also cover COVID-19-related medical expenses of any affected team member.

Aboitiz Group president and chief executive Sabin Aboitiz said there was a lot of anxiety as “during these trying times, we understand financial security is critical for all.”

He said the best way the Aboitiz Group could support the government’s campaign against COVID-19 was to let its team members stay home.

“The COVID-19 pandemic remains at large, and we wish that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy in your homes,” Aboitiz said in a message to Aboitiz team members. With Macon Ramos-Araneta and Vito Barcelo

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