BIR’s shameful stubbornness

ONE of the most encouraging developments of the daily drama we all have been sharing as the nation struggles to come to grips with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic is the compassion many government agencies and private companies have shown toward consumers and businesses in terms of meeting bill and loan payments and other obligations.

Banks have extended payment deadlines for loans. Utility companies have likewise extended bill payment deadlines and have suspended service disconnections while the crisis is ongoing. Government offices such as the Government Service Insurance System and the Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG have also extended loan repayment deadlines and eased late payment fees, as well as offering new loan products to help their subscribers cope with difficult circumstances.