By Nanette Guadalquiver
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NO PERMIT. A food service establishment is shut down for operating without a business permit in Bacolod City on Sept. 2, 2025. Upon closure, a firm must voluntarily suspend operation and comply with the requirements within 15 days for the issuance of the permit from the City Mayor’s Office. (Photo courtesy of Bacolod City Communications Office)
BACOLOD CITY – The city government here is assisting closed businesses to comply with local regulations, following the shutdown of 23 establishments for operating without mayor’s permits in the past week.
Mayor Greg Gasataya said in a statement on Thursday that he has instructed the City Legal Office (CLO) to engage in dialogues with business owners to facilitate their compliance with city regulations.
“If they are facing problems that prevent them from securing permits, they should coordinate with us, and we’ll act on it,” he added.
On Aug. 29 and Sept. 2, the joint operations of the CLO and Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) led to the closure of an Internet café and gaming station, a department store, a pastry shop, a dressed chicken plant, a boarding house, a restaurant, a ready-to-wear shop, cellphone repair shops, grocery stores, and salons.
After being found violating Section 65, Article 20 of the Revised Revenue Code of Bacolod City, they were issued notices before the closure orders were enforced.
Upon closure, a firm must voluntarily suspend operation and comply with the requirements within 15 days for the issuance of a business permit from the City Mayor’s Office.
City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chiu said that with the local government’s digitalization efforts, applications for business permits are now seamless, transparent, and secure.
“We would know more how to help them, make processing faster with no shortcuts in the guidelines required by law,” he added.
Based on the BPLO records, 43 businesses have been recommended for closure due to permit deficiencies, while more than 100 others have also been found operating without permits. (PNA)
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