Former vice president Jejomar “Jojo” Binay on Monday (February 15) said the government should consider imposing a moratorium on all increases in government fees, charges, or penalties until the COVID-19 pandemic is over.
Due to the pandemic, many Filipinos lost their jobs and many businesses were forced to shut down their operations.
“It should also suspend the implementation of new laws and policies that would result in additional expense or added financial burden on our people,” he said.
Government agencies, according to Binay, should not focus on increasing their revenues while there is a pandemic and people are economically affected.
“Mali na ang inaasikaso ng ibang government agencies ay kung paano tataas ang kita nila habang naghihirap ang ating mga kababayan dahil sa pandemya (It is wrong for government agencies to focus on increasing their revenues while our fellow Filipinos are suffering due to the pandemic),” he said.
“This is the least they could do, especially when no additional cash aid or economic relief is being considered this year,” the former vice president stressed.
Numerous lockdowns have been imposed by the government in the country to curb the COVID-19 pandemic which paralyzed the economy.