City closes down another company

CEBU, Philippines — Another business establishment was closed down by the Cebu City government yesterday.

Good Harvest Flavors and Spice Corp., situated in Sitio Canumay, Barangay Pit-os, is now prohibited from processing agricultural and commercial food products after the city government closed it down for allegedly violating City Ordinance 1656 or the Revised Zoning Ordinance of the city.

Yesterday, the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement (PROBE) team headed by Racquel Arce implemented the closure order.

“Good Harvest Flavors and Spice Corporation is ordered closed by the authority of the Cebu City Government,” read a portion of the closure notice.

This brought to the attention of the city government after concerned residents near the factory lodged complaint detailing that the factory produces foul smell.

With this, the City Legal Office found out that the establishment that has been operating for more than 10 years already violates the revised zoning ordinance considering that the location of the factory is within the residential area.

The first notice was issued on February 27, 2018.

Last July 13, the PROBE has issued a three-day notice to the factory addressed to Eric Conlu informing them the city will shut down their business due to its violation of existing laws.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña had earlier denied its appeal because the mayor reportedly cannot tolerate any illegal act of the business owner.

In a letter dated July 10, Good Harvest Flavors and Spice Corp. is requesting the city government to hold in abeyance the implementation of the closure order for their new area is still under construction.

“While the company is awaiting the completion of the new warehouse, we plead to be allowed to continue our operations at the present site up to December of this year, with an undertaking that we would avoid any emission of foul odor,” portion of the plea letter reads.

In fact, it further provides that once their new warehouse will be completed they will immediately move in and cease all operations.

Arce said the factory has been compliant with the omnibus tax ordinance, the only violation is that the company is situated in a residential area.

“Compliant sa tax, zoning ra… Foul odor ba  mura ni siya magsagol or mag-manufacture.  Ang baho mogawas moalisbo gyud maong gi-complain sa residents,” she told reporters yesterday.

Lawyer James Go, who represented Good Harvest Flavors and Spice Corp., said they abide by the order of the city and they are now in the process of transferring to a new location.

“We respect the decision of the city. We have voluntarily complied with the closure order and ceased operations since last week. We are now in the process of transferring to a new location where our activity is allowed,” he told The FREEMAN. — GAN (FREEMAN)