THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) has issued a 14-point petition seeking relief to businesses to help mitigate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
While most of the concerns are being addressed by the government through official pronouncements, the PCCI in their petition circulated to media reiterated the need for the national government to formalize, approve and implement their suggested measures that will enable firms and households to cope with the adverse effects of COVID-19 and the community quarantines.
Foremost of the PCCI’s request is a reiteration of all of the business community’s plea for the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to allow tax payments after April 15 and waive applicable penalties and interest charges for delayed tax remittances.
The PCCI urged telecommunication companies to remove all data capping in mobile broadband Internet services for continuous service until the crisis is over. The National Telecommunication Commission has issued an order to ensure unhampered telco services.
Third, PCCI seeks the declaration of moratorium on loan amortizations falling due within six months from the occurrence of COVID-19 for business, consumer, home and loans to large enterprises. The central bank has earlier approved the grant of temporary relief measures to enable banks
Affected MSMEs and even corporations have to apply with their respective universal, commercial and savings banks for the moratorium to take effect.
The group, however, seeks a cut in the holiday pay of workers for April 9, Holy Thursday, which is also Araw ng Kagitingan where the salary computation for each said date would total 300 percent if a business is in operation, and 200 percent if closed.
PCCI suggests the adjustment of computation to 200 percent if in operation, and 100 percent if closed.
Fifth, the PCCI seeks strict enforcement by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) of price controls to keep food prices (and inflation) low, protect food supply and other basic and prime commodities, especially for the marginalized sectors, and enable trade to continue.
It said vital industries like power, water, transport, telecommunications and others that provide essential services during this time should exercise the recommended protocols as prescribed by the health and labor departments.
The PCCI wants Mindanao to be declared by the Department of Agriculture (DA) a separate food quarantine area to allow the unhampered delivery of food for the entire country.
“Location-specific quarantine will help with the continued supply of food in the country,” PCCI said.
Also for the DA, PCCI said the agency should create a food logistics backbone from General Santos to Cebu City and Tagbilaran City via Davao and Bukidnon where cold storage can be established.
Ninth in the PCCI petition is for the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), DTI and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to work out a mechanism where the Conditional Cash Transfer/Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program can be used to subsidize Micro and Small Businesses.
PCCI said government should also consider tapping the public infrastructure funds for the immediate construction of Specialized COVID-19 Monitoring and Treatment facilities across the country.
As assistance for micro, small and medium enterprises, the PCCI said a rehabilitation fund should be set up for technical assistance and special financing for working capital and equipment/machinery acquisition.
PCCI also joined clamors for the waiver of rentals for SMEs by mall owners/management/lessors during the period of the closure order or if not, grant a special arrangement as a support to our MSMEs.
PCCI said government should create and fund a task force that will be responsible for updating the data and maps needed for updated and detailed maps of areas adversely affected by COVID-19 so the private sector can direct its resources where it can be of most help.
Lastly, PCCI urged local government units through the provincial, city and municipal health offices must aggressively campaign for the public to immediately adopt positive health habits to boost personal immunity and lessen the effects of infection.
The economic team has rolled out a P27-billion COVID-19 relief package, including funds for workers and enterprises.
DTI’s P1-billion Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-Asenso (P3) Microfinancing special loan package has since been diverted for the use of micro entrepreneurs/micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) dislocated by the virus.
Meanwhile, the National Resilience Core Group for MSME Disaster Resilience (RCG), a public-private collaboration that promotes awareness on business continuity and disaster risk reduction among MSME, is discussing how the ongoing pandemic and the corresponding “enhanced community quarantine” guidelines are affecting MSMEs around the country.
The PCCI is conducting a survey to determine how the national and regional resilience core groups, and other industry enablers can help support the needs of MSMEs during these trying times.
The RCG is co-chaired by the DT, PCCI, the Office of Civil Defense, the Department of Science and Technology, Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc., and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation.
