SENATOR Francis “Tol” Tolentino on Monday lauded the inclusion of the so-called ‘three-gives’ payment scheme of utilities in the approved version of the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act (Bayanihan 2) which was recently signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte.
“We thank President Duterte for including our ‘three-gives’ proposal, which will unburden many Filipino consumers in the payment of their bills, especially during this time,” said Tolentino, adding that the chief executive’s signing of Bayanihan 2 Act would definitely help affected sectors to recover from the effects of the global coronavirus pandemic.
The said payment scheme which was first introduced Tolentino during the plenary deliberations for Bayanihan 2 provides much-needed relief for Filipinos in the payment of their electric, water and other utilities during the months long lockdown brought by the enhanced community quarantine policy due to the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Under Tolentino’s proposal, electric, water, telecommunications and other similar utilities are mandated to provide a minimum of 30-day grace period for the payment of bills due within the period of enhanced community quarantine or modified enhanced community quarantine, without interest, penalties and other charges.
After the grace period, residential occupants and micro, small and medium enterprises may settle their bills in three monthly installments, also without penalties, interest and other charges.
Tolentino said that MSME and residential lessees who are affected by temporary work or operation stoppage are also given relief under the approved Bayanihan 2.
The lawmaker said they are given a month-long grace period within the period of the community quarantine to settle their obligation.
The amount due within the period will be amortized in equal monthly installments until December 31, 2020.
