GOOD news for the residents of Disiplina Village Bignay and Disiplina Village Ugong in Valenzuela as the local government granted them a four-month grace period to settle their rental bills via a city ordinance.
The moratorium aims to ease the financial burden of tenants who are reeling from the effects of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.
For the second time, the lockdown has been extended anew by President Duterte to May 15.
Ordinance 691, Series of 2020, otherwise known as the “Rental Payment Moratorium Ordinance for Disiplina Village Residents,” gives the residents of the two Disiplina Villages a temporary reprieve of 120 days from their monthly rental dues covering the period of March 17 to July 15 of this year.
The lease fee accumulated during the 120-day moratorium period shall then be divided into equal installments to be paid in four months following the rent freeze period.
The amortized amount will be added to rental fee due in the next months with no interest, surcharge, or penalty.
The city government reiterated that the tenants will still have to pay their water, electricity, Internet, and other utility bills during the moratorium period.
The ordinance, likewise, extends authority to Mayor Rexlon Gatchalian to prolong the moratorium period given that the national government decided to extend further the ECQ.
This is reflective of the local government’s commitment to uphold the current living condition of the tenants and provide them with decent housing amid the challenges brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
Disiplina Village is the flagship in-city resettlement site and public rental housing project for the informal settler families (ISFs) of Valenzuela City.
Both communities now house 4,594 ISFs in 143 buildings. Built like mini cities, they have city hall annexes or Sentro ng Sama-Samang Serbisyo (3S Centers), day-care centers and schools, health stations and activity centers.