Senate committee approves moratorium on rental payments and evictions during calamities

A Senate committee on Tuesday approved the measure seeking to provide a moratorium on rental payments and evictions during emergencies and calamities.

Under the leadership of Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship approved Senate Bill 1525 or the Rental Payment and Eviction Moratorium During Disasters and Emergencies Act which will now be forwarded to the plenary pending a discussion of the technical working group.

The bill is sponsored by Senator Manuel "Lito" Lapid, who cited the difficulties brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the economy especially at the peak of lockdowns during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

"Hindi lingid sa ating kaalaman na sa panahon ng sakuna at kalamidad, ang mga mahihirap nating mga kababayan ang pinakaapektado. Gaya ng pananalanta ng bagyo, lindol, o 'di kaya ang pandemya, ang mga ganitong kalamidad ay nagdudulot ng panandalian o minsan pa nga ay permanenteng paghinto ng trabaho at pagsara ng ilang mga negosyo," he said during the hearing on the measure.

The proposed measure seeks to make permanent the policy on moratoriums on residential rental payments when a state of calamity or emergency is in place, and gives the Trade secretary the authority to expand a moratorium for micro, small, and medium enterprises.

To recall, the government under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act provided a 30-day moratorium on rental payment for residential units during the ECQ set in place in March 2020.

"Ang hangarin ng pagpapatupad ng nasabing moratorium ay tulungan ang ating mga mamamayan upang habang sila ay bumabawi pa mula sa epekto ng kalamidad at ipinapanumbalik ang kanilang mga trabaho at negoyso, sila ay bibigyan ng palugit sa pagbayad ng renta at palugit sa pagpapaalis," said Lapid. —KG, GMA News