Senator Win Gatchalian has filed a measure seeking to impose a moratorium on payments related to rental of residential units during disasters and other emergencies.
In filing Senate Bill No. 820 or the Rental Payment and Eviction Moratorium during Disasters and Emergencies Act, Gatchalian sought to protect poor Filipino families from the impact of disasters and other emergencies as they would be more vulnerable when they have no place to stay.
The lawmaker believed that providing a moratorium on rental payments would allow poor families to cope with the economic effects of such events.
Gatchalian said he also plans to include a provision which would impose a moratorium on any eviction during a period of State of Calamity or Emergency. This means no one may evict a lessee or tenant from his or rental unit during that time.
"Iminumungkahi natin ang moratorium sa pagbabayad ng renta at moratorium sa pagpapaalis sa mga nagrerenta sa panahon ng kalamidad upang mapagaan ang kanilang mga pasanin at matulungan silang makabangon (We're eyeing a moratorium on payment related to rents as well as on eviction amid calamities to alleviate the burden of people and help them recover)," he said in a statement.
The moratorium on rental payments that Gatchalian is proposing shall be imposed during the duration of a State of Calamity or Emergency at the national or local level, as declared by the President or the appropriate local government unit.
The moratorium shall be extended 30 days from the termination of the State of Calamity or Emergency.
According to the measure, if a State of Calamity or Emergency exceeds 60 days, the payment of the deferred fees, charges, and costs shall be spread out over a six-month period of equal installments. Gatchalian's bill further provides that no penalties or interests shall be collected on these payments.
The proposed moratorium covers residential units, whether in a lease or sublease arrangement and whether reduced in a written form or not.
The rental and eviction moratoriums may be applied to commercial or office space rental of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as defined in the Magna Carta for MSMEs. Rental and eviction moratoriums during a State of Calamity or Emergency may be applied to MSMEs at the discretion of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) secretary by considering the closure of businesses, community quarantine orders or other circumstances that may hamper operations.