Residential tenants struggling financially amid the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon and other parts of the country can soon find relief with the signing of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, Senator Grace Poe said Wednesday.

“Many renters live paycheck to paycheck, but during these extraordinary times when they suddenly need to work or not at all, they might not have enough to pay for their rent and may even face the possibility of eviction,” she said in a statement.

“The rent freeze will ensure that tenants, especially low-wage earners, will be in the safety and comfort of their homes for the duration of the public health crisis,” Poe said, even as she acknowledged that some homeowners and landlords have already done so on their own accord.

The freeze on all home rents due within the period of the enhanced quarantine, which the government enforced to curb the rapid spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), was among the key provisions that Poe had pushed for inclusion in the bill when the Senate tackled it during a special session on Monday.

The provision also states that interests, penalties, fees and other charges shall not be imposed on tenants following the 30-day moratorium on their rental payments.

“In pushing for this provision in the bill, we hope to ease the growing financial burden of the pandemic particularly on millions of poor Filipino households,” Poe said.

The Bayanihan to Heal as One Act was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday.

The measure authorizes Duterte to adopt and implement measures to prevent the further transmission of Covid-19. (PNA)