Convenience and sari-sari stores as well as online sellers providing essential goods and services are among the businesses that have flourished in the city during the Covid-19 pandemic based on business permits issued from 2020 to May 2022.
Data from the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) showed the city approved 11,426 business permits in 2020 and 11,537 in 2021 under wholesale, retail, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles classification.
From January to May 2022, more than 50 percent or 9,401 of the 18,814 issued business permits approved are also classified under wholesale, retail, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles category.
Businesses classified under human health and social work activities, particularly pharmacies, have increased from 240 in 2020 to 270 last year. Construction also increased from 307 in 2020 to 308 last year.
BPLO Supervising Administrative Officer Allan Abayao said other businesses that flourished during the pandemic are delivery and errand services classified under administrative and support service activities.
Real estate activities also increased from 130 in 2020 to 491 last year and 579 as of May 2022. These are mostly commercial and space rental recently re-classified as real estate lessor following the implementation of the 2021 Philippine Standard Industrial Classification.
Abayao said the pandemic also resulted to the increase of businesses classified under Professional, Scientific and Technical Services mostly consultative services – from 334 in 2020 to 338 last year. – Jessa Mardy P. Samidan
