Vic Enterprises to CH: Withdraw closure plan

CEBU, Philippines — The management of  Vic Enterprises is asking the Cebu City government to withdraw the show cause order issued against the company for several alleged violations.

In its December 8 reply to the order, Vicente Ongchanhoi, owner of Vic Enterprises, said the company has been doing mitigating measures to address all complaints.

“It is requested that the show cause order under reply may kindly be withdrawn and the inquiry proceedings so initiated against the undersigned may be considered,” Ongchanhoi said in his letter-response obtained by The FREEMAN.

The reply was received by the City Legal Office yesterday. The office has yet to study the reply of Vic Enterprises for appropriate action, particularly whether it would push through with the city’s plan to close the company.

The city government had asked Vic Enterprises to explain in writing why the city should not close five of its warehouses, despite cited alleged violations that include operating allegedly without business permits.

“In reference to the warehouses particularly owned and registered under Vic Enterprises, the allegation claiming that these are without business permits is less accurate,” read a portion of Ongchanhoi’s reply.

Ongchanhoi said the company owns three warehouses and all have business permits in compliance with the City Ordinance No. 69 as amended by No. 75.

He said the five warehouses, which were the subject of the show cause order, were actually not owned but only rented by the firm.

The company, he said, openly admits that it may have overlooked the fact that a separate business permit is needed even if the warehouses are owned by another entity.

While admitting that the company does not own these five warehouses, Ongchanhoi said these warehouses have separate business permits secured by their owners.

As to the allegation that the company’s vehicles have violated several traffic rules, he said the company is not remiss in reminding its truck drivers to strictly abide by traffic rules and regulations. It is beyond the control of the management how drivers behave on the road, he added.

Ongchanhoi, however, said Vic Enterprises will not elude responsibility since it was made to pay fines by the Cebu City Transportation Office after receiving reports that 63 of the 85 vehicles of the company were found violating traffic rules.

“Vic Enterprises is currently employing means to avert situations that could worsen traffic congestion along the area. Though with this new scenario, it could take us longer time to finally adjust our business operation, nevertheless we are gradually re-routing half of our hauling fleets outside Mabolo,” he said.

On dust pollution issue, Ongchanhoi said the company is serious in addressing the matter since it does not only harm the commuters or residents near the area but also the workers of the company.

He said the Environmental Management Bureau-7 inspected the premises last July 7. On November 11, EMB-7 Director William Cuñado recommended that the pollution case be closed on the grounds that the cement dust mitigation measures employed by the company were deemed effective in addressing the concerns raised in the complaint. (FREEMAN)