City forms task force vs illegal businesses

To show the continued fight against tax evaders, the Cebu City government has created a special task force that will investigate business establishments operating without business permits or falsely declaring their income.

This was through the issuance of executive order of Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who said that the city government is empowered to regulate the conduct of business in accordance with its power and mandate to promote general welfare.

“There shall be a special task force, under the Office of the Mayor, whose primary duty is to conduct ocular inspections on all business establishments in the City of Cebu and to take the necessary actions, as herein below provided against those operating without business permits, and/or those who have been remiss in the payment of their business taxes or have falsely or fraudulently declared their income,” read a portion of the August 1 order.

The task force will roam around the city to investigate and inspect business establishments relative to their permits and taxes to the city.

The special task force is called “Task Force on the Inspection and Investigation of Business Permits” and is headed by City Hall employee, Melvin Bacalso, with 20 members under him.

Osmeña has given the task force at least six months to inspect all establishments doing business in the city and investigate who are religiously paying taxes and who are not.

Upon finding probable cause that a certain establishment is operating without business permits, the task force will issue a show cause ordering the owner to explain in writing his/her reason for failure to secure the necessary permits.

Once the business owner submits its reply to the show cause order, Osmeña said the task force will study and investigate the reply and further recommend immediate closure if proven that the business establishment has been operating without permits.

Osmeña will further issue a closure order and direct the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement Team to implement the order.

Earlier this year, the mayor said there are about 10,000 business establishments that are operating without business permits in the city.

That is why he is now forming a team to crack down on these establishments.

Last year, the city closed down two branches of the famous Rico’s Lechon, as well as the establishment’s central commissary for alleged failure to pay its taxes.

Other businesses that were ordered closed last year were Time Out Sports Bar on F. Ramos Street in Barangay Cogon, Jeshian Café in Barangay Kamagayan, Ed’s Tambayan in Sitio Nasipit, Barangay Talamban, ChuvaChuva Spa and Abuhan restaurant along F. Gochan Street, Barangay Mabolo.