Cebu City gov’t cracks down on businesses operating without local permit
ABOUT HALF of Cebu City’s more than 28,800 businesses have been found to be operating without securing business permits that need to be renewed annually. Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña, in a press conference, said the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) discovered that there is a large number of commercial establishments that violated the Revised Omnibus Tax Ordinance of the city. Claire Cabalda of the CTO business permit section said that of the 28,817 business establishments registered, only 14,404 have secured an approved business permit. Mr. Osmeña has formed a special team, with him as the head, to go after the violators and close down their operations. “Now, I am warning them. I don’t care who you are….There is no exception,” said Mr. Osmeña, adding that violators have a slim chance to settle and reopen their respective businesses after being closed. “I want to make one thing very clear: You get caught and just apply and pay, you’re excused? No. Your business will remain closed for five years, one year… depending on the situation,” he said. The mayor said the city government will first run after big businesses. Based on the procedure, the city will first issue a show cause notice to the establishment, asking for explanation on its failure to secure a business permit. The city’s Legal Office will evaluate the response, and the mayor will give the final decision. —