Rental Holiday, to Heal as One Ordinance, signed. What is it About?

The Rental Holiday, to Heal as One Ordinance was signed by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Friday, May 22, 2020.

Ordinance No. 54, Series of 2020 has been made public by the Sangguniang Panlungsod Baguio and the Public Information Office – City of Baguio official Facebook pages on the same day it was signed.

What is Rental Holiday, to Heal as One Ordinance

Under the Rental Holiday, to Heal as One Ordinance, lease rentals of real properties, buildings, stalls, units or spaces used for professional, commercial businesses or industrial purposes shall NOT be collected by owners, lessors, sub-lessors, operators, administrators or managers while said establishments are still prevented by legal orders from business operations whether under the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), General Community Quarantine (GCQ) or similar situation.

Rental Holiday, to Heal as One Ordinance Coverage

According to Section 3 of Ordinance No. 54, Series of 2020:

“The ordinance applies to all corporations owned and controlled by the city government and national government as well as private owned real properties and commercial or operational establishments covered by lease contracts or under a lessor-lessee relationship where the parties’ obligations under Article 1654 and 1657 of the New Civil Code of the Philippines could not be fulfilled due to the suspension of operations of such establishments as mandated by local and national guidelines and issuances in light of the dangers posed by the Coronavirus disease.”

All establishments which are not ordered closed but nevertheless choose to close during the entirety of the ECQ period are also covered by the ordinance.

Baguio City Public Market

For Stalls that Continue to Operate During ECQ/GCQ

Stalls within the Baguio City Public Market that continue to operate during the ECQ and GCQ shall settle their unpaid rentals for the months of March, April, and May on June 30, 2020, without penalty and surcharges.

For Stall that Didn’t Operate During ECQ

On the other hand, stalls within the public market that did not operate during the Enhanced Community Quarantine shall not pay rentals.

For Building Owners

Still based on the Rental Holiday, to Heal as One Ordinance, building owners with lease contracts with the City Government of Baguio which are not covered by Section 3, shall pay their accumulated rentals for the months of March, April, and May in three (3) equal installments starting on June 30, 2020, to be added to the rental due for the month.

City-Owned Parks

Concessionaires at Burnham Park and Botanical Garden

Under the same ordinance, all concessionaires at Burnham Park and Botanical Garden are exempt from payment of rent during the ECQ or while the said establishments are prevented by legal orders from business operations.

Pay Toilet Concessionaires

Furthermore, Pay Toilet Concessionaires are also exempt from payment of rentals for the duration of non-operation.

Compliance Report

Within a period of thirty (30) days after the lifting of the ECQ, owners, lessors, operators, administrators or managers of the covered establishments shall make a written report of compliance addressed to the City Mayor through the City Permits and Licensing Division.

Moreover, the Baguio City Market Authority, through the Market Superintendent, shall make the report on behalf of the City Government of Baguio.

Penalty for the Ordinance Violators

• Any covered establishments violating the Rental Holiday, to Heal as One Ordinance shall be closed, their business permit revoked, and any business permit application shall be denied until full compliance.
• The person responsible or responsible officers in case of a corporation shall be penalized with:
  • A fine of Five Thousand Pesos (P5, 000.00)
  • Imprisonment of one (1) year upon conviction

 

SOURCE

Sangguniang Panlungsod Baguio

Public Information Office – City of Baguio