CH extends renewal of biz permit

CEBU, Philippines — About 35,000 business establishments in Cebu City are expected to renew their business permits with the Business Permit and Licensing Office of the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) next year.

Yesterday, the city government reminded the business owners on the schedule of renewal of business permits from January 4 to January 25 next year.

Acting City Treasurer Arlene Rentuza told reporters that to give enough time to firms for the renewal of their permits, they changed the deadline from the 20th of January to the 25th of the month.

This was through a resolution which was passed in the City Council recently.

Among the requirements in the renewal are duly-filled application forms, the preceding year’s income tax return with financial statements duly received by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), preceding year’s sales journal or percentage tax returns of 1st, 2nd, 3rd quarters and for the months of October and November this year.

The firms will undergo procedures which include application; evaluation and assessment; payments and printing of Temporary Mayor’s Business Permit; and verification of requirements and printing of final permit.

Rentuza said those business owners who fail to process the renewal within the given period will pay 2 percent interest and 25 percent surcharge and penalty fee.

The CTO will also install a one-stop mayor’s business permit renewal at Robinsons Galleria Cebu. Aside from processing business permit renewal, they will accommodate new applicants.

Rentuza hopes that entrepreneurs will secure their permits so that their business will not be closed down. (FREEMAN)