LGUs now accepting biz permit applications

CEBU, Philippines — Some local government units in Metro Cebu announced they are now starting to accept business permit applications and renewal.

In Cebu City, the City Hall will accept the renewal of business permit of establishments that were ordered closed last year.

However, acting City Treasurer Veronica Morelos said it is still up to the city whether to grant or approve their applications.

“We will approve if naa gyud ang tanang requirements and ma-submit dinhi sa syudad,” she told reporters.

Last year, the city closed several businesses reportedly for lack of business permits.

Those closed were the 12 warehouses and one main office/store of Vic Enterprises; Abuhan's branch along Ramos Street; two branches of the famous Rico’s Lechon, as well as its central commissary; Time Out Sports Bar; Jeshian Café; Ed’s Tambayan; and Chuva-Chuva.

Yesterday, a one-stop shop opened at Robinsons Galleria Cebu until January 26 during the first day of the acceptance of new application and renewal of business permits.

The one-stop shop, which will operate until January 26, opens from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from Monday to Saturday, except on January 20.

Morelos said there is no extension for the 35,000 businesses that are expected to get their business permits.

She asked businessmen to comply with all the requirements, saying the city will impose two percent interest per month and 25 percent surcharge and penalties on those renewing their business permit beyond January 26.

“By February, we will have a massive inspection para makita nato ang businesses nga wala ni secure og permits and maka-issue ta og notices nila,” she said.

Morelos said the inspection on business will be done per barangay to include sari-sari store, small eateries and apartments.

In the previous years, she said only 27,000 to 28,000 businesses out of the 35,000 businesses in the city secured their business permits.

With this, Morelos said her office will intensify the inspection so all businesses operating without business permits will be sanctioned and penalized.

Morelos said the city government has eliminated the process of the issuance of tax payment certificate in the application since the official receipt is already a proof that an establishment has paid the business tax.

She said the process can be completed in a day if all requirements are present.

Lapu-Lapu City

Lapu-Lapu City launched a one-stop shop for the application and renewal of business permits and payments.

The one-stop shop, opened last January 2, is located at the Lapu-Lapu City Hall.

“Naa na nganha ang katong fire, engineering, ang planning. Katong mga offices that involve sa atong before giving the permit kay actually, like katong gitagaan natog mga temporary, they are able to kuan nga matang-tang na tu ang temporary, ma permanent na,” said Mayor Paz Radaza.

“Unya ang ilang SSS contribution kay gi hook-up mana diri sa ato. Ang GSIS. So kanang mga ing-ana nga contribution, part gihapon na sa assessment sa atong one-stop shop,” Radaza added.

On weekdays, the one-stop shop will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. On weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) and on holidays, it opens from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Radaza said if there will be more clients, they can “even extend” the transaction period.

“Actually, supposedly, every 20th na so we expect nga ang ilaha mag sayo gyud na sila kay mag-overtime man gyud ta diri sige. 20 is a Saturday so we’ll just see ug unsay ikuan,” she said.

Lapu-Lapu City Treasurer Elenita Catagcatag said there will be penalties for payments made beyond the January 20 deadline.

Talisay City

In Talisay City, City Treasurer Emma Macuto urged business owners to renew their permits before January 20.

She said the application and renewal of business permits started yesterday, urging businessmen to immediately apply since there will be no extensions.

“Wala mi extension, nanawagan mi sa tanang negosyante nga muari, mu-renew sa ilang business permit para dili maapiki during deadline nga daghan ang tawo. Para usab karun maanam-anam na sila , maapas pa namo og compute ug panawat sa mga bayad,” she said.

Macuto reminded that those who cannot renew their business permits until the deadline will have a penalty of 25 percent of their standard renewal fee and two percent interest that will increase every day that they missed.

She disclosed that last year, the city collected around P160 million for the business renewal and that the number of businesses in the city has been increasing every year.

This year, she said they expected P200 million in revenues from around 3,000 business establishments in the city. —Iris Mariani B. Algabre and USC Intern Zora Charisse O. Alfanta (FREEMAN)