The Bacolod City government is conducting an investigation on the issuance of fake business permits, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said Monday, July 10.
A preliminary investigation is being conducted to determine if this happened with the consent of persons working for the city government or was done by outsiders who work as fixers, he said.
Benitez said he has also received information of the involvement of some people who are no longer part of the city government, which will be part of their investigation.
The were some businessmen who were surprised to find out that their business permits were not valid and are now assisted to obtain legitimate ones, he said.
Businessmen should double check if their business permits are valid, he said.
The mayor, in his state of the city address, said during the past administration it took a long time for business permits to be processed so some businessmen resorted to using “fixers” to hasten their release.
What some of them did not know is that their business permits were fake, he said.
He said business permits during the previous administration lacked security features that is why they were easy to fake.
Under his administration QR codes are placed on business permits so when they are scanned their authenticity can immediately be determined, Benitez said.
An online tracking system of documents has also been set up under his administration to hasten the release of business permits, Benitez said.
Also being digitalized in real property tax payments, he said.*