Megaworld waives rent at malls amid COVID-19 quarantine

Megaworld Corp. will waive the rental charges of tenants of its malls for nearly a month starting March 16, following the enhanced community quarantine implemented in the entire Luzon.

In a statement on Thursday, Megaworld said it will not collect mall rental fees from March 16, 2020 to April 12, 2020.

"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.

Megaworld operates malls and townships such as 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.

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

From 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17, the entirety of Luzon was placed on enhanced community quarantine until April 12, 2020, restricting travel within the region in efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Other mall operators such as SM Supermalls and Ayala Malls earlier said they will waive mall rental fees.

In the same statement, Megaworld said it will continue to provide assistance to frontliners such as healthcare and medical personnel in various hospitals in Metro Manila.

"We still have scheduled distribution of McDonald’s food boxes and bottled water to other hospitals in the coming days, and to other border security outposts across Metro Manila," said Megaworld Foundation president Francis Canuto.

"We are also looking into extending food assistance to our LGU workforce who are also on the frontline of assisting people and ensuring community order during this quarantine period," he added. -NB, GMA News