The Permits and Licensing Division (PLD) of the city government closed 142 establishments from January to Sept. 5 for operating without a business permit.
PLD Supervising Administrative Officer Allan Abayao said majority of establishments closed are real estate lessors particularly boarding houses, transient, and apartments.
Other businesses closed for lack of permit are sari-sari stores, eatery/refreshment, dry goods, junkshop, pasalubong centers, pet shop, cable installation services, and an immigration service institution.
Abayao said more than 700 closure orders have been prepared for implementation in the coming weeks once the one-month leeway for compliance is not met.
The Tax Ordinance provides, “It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in any business or trade without first obtaining a permit and paying taxes, fees and other required charges.”
A business permit is valid for one year and shall be renewed during the first three months of every year.
Abayao said the PLD will start their routine inspections and issue notices of violations from April onwards but inspections may be conducted starting January if there are complaints regarding specific establishments.
After the issuance of NOVs, the PLD will conduct monitoring to ensure compliance on business permit requirements. Failure to comply within a given period will result in confiscation of products or closure of the establishment.
Routine inspections from January to Sept. 5 showed 26 establishments issued with notices of violation complied with business permit requirements while 42 ceased their operations.
There are 21 business permit applications pending at the City Planning and Development Office for zoning clearance. – Jessa Mardy P. Samidan
