THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is enjoining commercial lessors to waive the one-month rental of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which were forced to close due to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases has approved the DTI’s proposal to grant a 30-day deferment or grace period on the commercial rents falling due during the ECQ with no interest penalties and fees and other charges.
Repayment, he said, could be spread for the next few months.
“We encourage commercial lessors who would like to extend extra generosity to waive the one-month rental for MSMEs who were compelled to close due to the ECQ,” Lopez said in a text message.
Covered by the month-long grace period are smaller retailers that are not located in malls. Mall operators have earlier waived rental payments of their locators for a month following the lockdown.
12-hour operations
Lopez also said the DTI is encouraging supermarkets groceries, agri-fisheries stores, public markets, drugstores and all retailers of basic and essentials and medical products to extend their operations to a maximum of 12 hours.
“This will lengthen the operating hours and spread the flow of consumers,” Lopez said.
Lopez asked local government units to allow such establishments to operate on a 12-hour cycle.
Retailers will, however, have to set shift hours or pay overtime to their workers.
