PEZA extends suspension of work-from-home limit

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has extended the suspension of the 30 percent work-from-home limit and use of workspaces outside of the agency’s sites for registered information technology (IT) enterprises until September next year as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to be a major threat.

“We temporarily suspended the 30 percent work-from-home limit during normal period. We increased it until 90 percent and this will be until Sept.12, 2021,” PEZA director general Charito Plaza said.

She said the remaining 10 percent would still have to be earned or produced by firms inside the proclaimed IT centers or parks.

The 30 percent limit on the total annual revenue on work-from-home arrangement has been suspended since March as a form of assistance to companies given the ongoing pandemic.

Plaza said the agency is also extending the period IT and export companies are allowed to temporarily establish workplaces or pop-up centers in non-PEZA sites until Sept.12 next year.

PEZA said it was allowing the suspension of the 30 percent limit on work-from-home and use of workspaces in non-PEZA sites until the end of this year.

Plaza said PEZA also continues to allow registered enterprises availing of the five percent gross income tax incentive to include as deductible expense the costs incurred to be able to maintain operations during the quarantine period.

In particular, costs for providing temporary housing or accommodation, shuttle services, personal protective equipment, and disinfection, as well as port charges may be included as deductible expenses.

As of Oct.10, Plaza said 87 percent or 2,629 registered firms with 1.2 million workers, are in operations.

By area, 86 percent or 2,202 registered companies in Luzon are operational, 94 percent or 384 registered firms are in operation in the Visayas, and 93 percent or 43 registered enterprises have production operation in Mindanao.