Las Piñas City Mayor Imelda T. Aguilar recently announced the postponement of the deadline for the payment of business and real property taxes for the first and second quarters of 2020 to provide relief to thousands of taxpayers affected by the economic slowdown caused by COVID-19 crisis.
The City Council led by Vice Mayor April Aguilar-Nery approved the extension of the deadline during its special session held last week.
Aguilar said the first quarter deadline for real property tax is moved to May 15 instead of March 30, while the second quarter payment for business taxes will be on May 20, instead of April 20, 2020.
There are 13,0000 business establishments in Las Piñas.
“No penalties and surcharges will be imposed to business and property owners during the said extension period,” she said.
Aguilar likewise appealed to property owners to “act with compassion and benevolence in dealing with their tenants who ceased to operate during the period of enhanced community quarantine by waiving rentals for at least one month and/or allow deferment scheme in the payment of monthly rentals to alleviate their situation at this time of crisis.’
The mayor also urged property owners to defer legal actions such as evictions or imposition of penalties for tenants/lessees who are unable to pay rent due to loss of income resulting from the COVID-19 crisis.
She also appealed to business owners to provide financial aid or assistance to their employees who are affected by the enhanced community quarantine.
Meanwhile, Aguilar repeatedly appealed to city residents to stay at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
She assured residents of Las Piñas that the distribution of food packs in every household is ongoing.
"Humihingi po ako ng pang-unawa sa ating mga residente na manatili sa kanilang mga pamamahay habang inihahanda at inaayos ang food packs na ihahatid sa kani-kanilang mga bahay, lalong lalo na sa ating mga kababayan na higit na nangangailangan."
As of Monday (March 23), there are six (6) cases of COVID-19 in Las Piñas. One patient recovered and the rest are in stable condition. The Surveillance Team of the Las Piñas City Health Office already conducted extensive contact tracing to all those who have encountered the victims in the communities where they reside. Members of the patients’ immediate family are also undergoing self-quarantine.