Seventeen more business establishments in Bacolod City operating without proper permits were shut down by the City Legal Office (CLO) Enforcement Team and the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) on Tuesday, September 2.
The businesses closed included an internet café and gaming station found to be frequented by minors, as well as cellphone repair shops, grocery stores, a restaurant, an RTW shop, and a salon, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said on Wednesday.
CLO Enforcement Team head Reuben Mikhail Sabig said the establishments had previously been issued notices of violation for non-compliance with Section 65, Article 20 of City Ordinance No. 565.
“Notices of violation had earlier been issued against the establishments for violating Section 65, Article 20 of City Ordinance No. 565 prior to the enforcement of the closure orders,” Sabig said. This action follows the closure of six other establishments on August 29 for similar permit violations.
Mayor Greg Gasataya has instructed the CLO to engage in dialogs with business owners to facilitate their compliance with city regulations.
“They should not worry about the problems in the past, including the allegations of collections that never reached government coffers. I assure them that we will not tolerate such practices to continue. If they are facing problems that prevent them from securing permits, they should coordinate with us and we’ll act on it,” the mayor said, assuring assistance from the city government.
City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chiu said the city’s digitalization efforts are streamlining the permit process, making it “more seamless, transparent, and secure”.
“We would know more about how to be able to help them, make processing faster, of course with no shortcuts to the guidelines required by law”, he said.
BPLO head Stela Rose Rayos reported that 43 businesses have been recommended for closure due to permit deficiencies, with over 100 additional establishments found operating without permits during a recent inspection, leading to further violation notices.
She said six business establishments earlier closed down had reopened on Wednesday.
Among those that reopened were two department stores and an eatery after fulfilling the necessary requirements.*