Manila Water extends due date for bills !-- -- Rhodina Villanueva (The Philippine Star) - March 18, 2020 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines Manila Water yesterday announced that it is extending the due date of payment of customers' water bills for 30 days. This is in response to the month-long enhanced community quarantine imposed on the entire Luzon due to the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The extension will apply to water bills whose due dates will fall within the quarantine period. Manila Water president and chief executive officer Rene Almendras gave assurance that the company values the customers' welfare in these trying times.

"The welfare of our customers is our primary concern as we all work together to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our concern is for them not to go out and risk infection just to pay. We encourage them to follow the President's call to stay home," Almendras said.

"This also comes with the assurance that there are available payment options that will not require the customers to leave home, such as online banking and other online payment channels such as GCash for those that wish to pay their bills," he added. Manila Water has also said there is adequate and continuous water supply for all customers, except during emergency repairs and necessary maintenance activities.

3-month moratorium Meanwhile, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has announced a three-month moratorium on the payment of monthly amortization by all housing loan borrowers to tide them over while there is an ongoing health crisis brought by COVID-19. Human Settlements Secretary Eduardo del Rosario said he had already sent an advisory to the housing agencies that include Pag-IBIG Fund, National Housing Authority, National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. and Social Housing Finance Corp.

all key shelter agencies under DHSUD directing them to implement the moratorium. Del Rosario said the reprieve took effect on Monday and would be observeduntil June 15. This is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 922 dated March 8, declaring a State of National Health Emergency throughout the country due to the threats posted by COVID-19. The DHSUD noted that a total of 5,225,783 members have availed themselves of or have outstanding housing loans, including multi-purpose loans and calamity loans.

Del Rosario had earlier assured continuous delivery of public services despite the ongoing COVID-19 scare. During a recent emergency management committee meeting attended by all DHSUD officials, Del Rosario issued a number of guidelines, including the adoption of a four-day workweek, to ensure the continued delivery of public services as well as the agency's policymaking functions and health concerns of all employees and clients.

© Pakistan Press International, source Asianet-Pakistan