Manila lifts closure order on mall

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila city government yesterday lifted the closure order on Isetann Mall on Recto Avenue after it has secured the appropriate permits to operate.

Mayor Isko Moreno lifted the order just two days after he personally went to the mall and put a “closed” sign due to its tax deficiencies and ordinance violations.

“Upon coordination with this office and submission of requirements, this is to confirm that you have substantially complied with the deficiencies/ violatons noted in the closure order in relation to the operation of your business,” the order recommended by Bureau of Permits chief Levi Facundo read.

The city government warned the mall management that it will revoke its permit in case of future violations.

After it looked into the stolen cell phones being sold at the mall, the Manila city government also found that the mall management failed to pay for the permits of their cinemas and their cinema snack bar, as well as tax delinquencies amounting to P4 million.

The 20,000 square meter mall also misdeclared its size to just 1,000 square meters.

The mall finished settling its deficiencies yesterday and paid P2 million upon availing of the city hall’s tax amnesty program, public information officer Julius Leonen said yesterday.

The mall management paid another P1 million to settle its permit deficiencies. 

In a letter to the mayor, the mall management vowed to prohibit the sale of secondhand phones.