Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. asked the banks and other private companies to avoid charing their customers for a while so they could save more money amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
On a Facebook post, Marcos said that the financial institutions and companies could help the people affected by the COVID-19 by implementing “pay date suspension” in the whole period of the outbreak.
“Tayo ay nananawagan sa mga bangko at financial institutions na pansamantalang suspindihin ang paniningil ng mga mortgage payments at bigyan ng palugit ang ating mga kababayan na naapektuhan ang kabuhayan at kita sa gitna ng global epidemic na ito,” Marcos said.
“Ako rin ay nakikiusap na suspindihin ang paninigil ng bayad para sa mga utilities at iba pang mga regular na bayarin para sa mga naapektuhan ng virus, tayong lahat ay dapat humanap ng paraan upang matulungan ang isa’t-isa sa panahon ng krisis na ito.” he added.
Marcos made the statement several days after Italy stopped asking their citizen from paying their monthly bills to help them during the outbreak.
Some small businesses and families were given time off during the financial crisis before having to repay.
Italy is the second most affected country in the world by COVID, reporting 17,660 cases as of writing.
The Philippine government also raised the COVID-19 alert to code red sublevel 2 and ordered the community quarantine of the whole Metro Manila.
13-M people in Metro Manila could be affected by the quarantine.
MMDA also ordered the suspension of malls and other establishments, except pharmacies, banks and groceries.