In the wake of the one-month long lockdown in the National Capital Region (NCR) from March 15 to April 14, 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the government must consider extending economic packages and assistance to affected workers and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

To offset wage losses and other related adverse consequences of COVID-19, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the Social Security System (SSS) should extend interest-free three-month emergency salary loans to affected workers, who have been temporarily laid off or placed on staggered work schedule, with repayment to be amortized for ten (10) months starting three months from receipt of the loan proceeds.

MSMEs should be granted a 10% reduction in their business income tax to cushion business losses prior to and during the lockdown and also due to the aftermath of the pandemic.

Hazard pay should also be given to workers providing frontline services like nurses, doctors, allied medical professionals and concerned hospital workers; immigration, customs and quarantine personnel in airports and seaports; and employees of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT), Light Rail Transit (LRT), and the Philippine National Railways (PNR).

The hazard pay allocation can be sourced from the Contingent Fund, Calamity Fund and Quick-Response Fund, among others, as appropriated in the 2020 General Appropriations Act.

EDCEL C. LAGMAN