By Minka Klaudia Tiangco
Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso appealed to lessors of commercial establishments in the city to waive the rental fees and charges of their lessees during the enhanced community quarantine.
(MANILA PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE/MANILA BULLETIN)
“In view of the crisis caused by the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), the outbreak of which has resulted in a national emergency, the City Government of Manila hereby appeals and humbly requests all lessors of commercial establishments in the City of Manila that were closed during the one month period of general community quarantine to waive the corresponding rental fees and charges thereof,” Domagoso said in a statement released on Tuesday.
“This appeal is being made with the utmost intention of cushioning the socio-economic impact of the present crisis in the City of Manila,” he added.
On Monday, President Duterte placed the entire island of Luzon under enhanced community quarantine from March 17 until April 12 in light of the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the country.
During the Luzon-wide quarantine, only private establishments providing basic necessities such as food and medicine production can remain open.
These include public markets, supermarkets, groceries, convenience stores, hospitals, medical clinics, pharmacies and drug stores, food preparation and delivery services, water-refilling stations, manufacturing and processing plants of basic food products and medicines, banks, money transfer services, and power, energy, water and telecommunications supplies and facilities.
Forty-five more COVID-19 cases were reported by the Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday afternoon, bringing the Philippine total to 187, with 14 deaths.