Due to the lockdowns, curfews, and work-from-home setups that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought, a lot of companies and services are giving ample allowance for people to delay their payments, alleviating budget allocation and enabling people to prioritize their budgets for their supplies and safety.
The following are some of the companies and their pledges, with actual social media post links and articles for validity, legitimacy, and clarity towards what they actually offer.
BANKS
Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) 1
Banco de Oro (BDO) 1 | 2
Chinabank 1 | 2
Eastwest Bank 1
Metrobank 1 | 2
PSBank 1 | 2
Security Bank 1 | 2
RCBC 1 | 2
Union Bank 1 | 2
GOVERNMENT
Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)
MALL RENTAL
Robinsons Land Corp
Ayala Malls
SM Malls
UTILITIES
Cignal
Globe
Manila Water
Maynilad
Meralco
PLDT / Smart / Sun
SkyCable
Keep in mind that most of these are extensions, NOT waivers, except for the rentals of tenants in malls. Some extensions are actually adjustments, wherein your 36-month payment (for example) would become a 38-month payment because the two months concerned are months where the biller won’t actually collect anything, so you won’t have to worry about a compound bill after this.
Be sure to validate the legitimacy of announcements posted online, and only trust announcements direct from the companies themselves. This could be via their official website or social media platforms, as well as trusted publications. If doubtful, you may always reach out to them to clear things up. At the same time, read the fine print. Some billers are actually extending the payment date for free, but aren’t waiving certain fees.
Your biller not listed? If it’s a monthly recurring bill, chances are they might be willing to give you ample allowance. Try calling them up!