AMID looming threats from an “exponential surge” of the contagious Omicron variant, Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay aired an appeal for local governments to extend looming deadlines for annual payments of real property tax and business permits.
At the same time, Binay conveyed a separate plea to utility companies to “suspend disconnection activities” amid the pandemic.
In a statement, the Senator conveyed the pleas addressed to local government units (LGUs) to extend the deadline for payment of real property tax and business permits to avoid an influx of taxpayers amid the exponential surge of the Omicron variant.
“We call on local government officials to extend the deadline for the payment of real property tax and business permits, if possible, and, as a consideration, do not impose penalties on our taxpayers,” Binay was quoted in a statement as saying in Filipino.
Moreover, the lawmaker noted that LGUs in the National Capital Region and areas where surges are reported should consider the move of the City Government of Manila to extend the deadline for payment of business
permits until March 31.
“Given the current spike in Covid-19 cases,” extending deadlines will help reduce the movement of people, the senator suggested in airing an appeal after the Department of Health recorded 33,169 new coronavirus infections last Monday.
At the same time, Binay suggested that LGUs should also adopt and promote “digital payment options that will enable people to pay their taxes without leaving their homes.”
She added that “LGUs should definitely look at integrating electronic modes of payment in the collection of payment of taxes and fees.”
Moreover, Binay noted that for those who are required to be physically present to submit and sign documents, the senator suggests the LGUs can temporarily accept digital or electronic copies pending verification or submission of original documents.
“This is more convenient for their constituents and will help to avoid long queues or gatherings, especially in paying permits and submitting documents,” the senator said in Filipino.
The Makati lawmaker, likewise, appealed to utility firms to suspend disconnection activities in their respective franchise areas and give them time to settle their unpaid bills as the Omicron variant takes its toll especially in the NCR.
“It’s also a small consideration because the cases of infections are now family-based. In these difficult and extraordinary times, going out of the house is not an easy decision, especially if you have children and elderly family members at home. This is why we also call on our utility companies to be considerate for delayed payments as the number of Covid-19 positives increases again,” Binay said in Filipino.