Baguio bocap hit for not releasing compost permit

By Jordan G. Habbiling

BAGUIO CITY -- Horse owners at Wright Park assailed the punong barangay of Lualhati Barangay here for allegedly refusing to issue them a barangay clearance for their application of their business permit.
    Arnel Cayatoc and Marian Panelo sought an audience with the Baguio City Council last Monday to seek help on the processing of their business permit for the selling of their horse manure compost products which, according to them, was deliberately being stopped due to the absence of a barangay clearance supposedly issued by Punong Barangay Julius Ampal.
    Cayatoc claimed their business was funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
    “We wanted to legalize our business to avoid getting apprehended for obstruction and illegal peddling,” he explained.
    He said there was no reason why they should not be issued a barangay clearance since the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) and the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) had given them permission to sell their compost products in the area. 
    According to Cayatoc, Ampal said in a letter that the request for a barangay clearance had been denied on the ground that there are already two cooperative stores selling compost products. 
    But Cayatoc claimed they started composting their horses' manure and selling compost products at the height of the pandemic in 2020, whereas these cooperatives started doing the same just recently.
    Lawyer Rhenan Diwas, CEPMO Head, advised the complainants to go to his office so they could talk the matter out with Ampal.
    Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan tasked Councilors Philian Weygan-Allan and Elaine Sembrano to help in resolving the dispute.