142 Baguio businesses closed; lack of permit

_{By Jessa Mardy Samidan}

_{BAGUIO CITY -- The Permits and Licensing Division of the city government closed 142 establishments from January to September 5 for operating without business permits.
    PLD Supervising Administrative officer Allan Abayao said majority of establishments closed are Real Estate Lessors (REL) particularly boarding houses, transient and apartments.
    Other businesses closed for lack of permit are sari-sari stores, eatery/refreshment, dry goods, junkshop, pasalubong products, pet shop, cable installation services, and an immigration service institution.
    Abayao said more than 700 closure orders have been prepared for implementation in the coming weeks once the one-month leeway for compliance will not be met.
    City ordinance 2000-001 provides, “it shall be unlawful for any person to engage in any business or trade without first obtaining a permit and paying taxes, fees and other required charges.”
    A business permit is valid for one year and shall be renewed during the first three months of every year.
    Abayao said the PLD will start their routine inspections and issue notices of violations (NOVs) from April onwards but inspections may be conducted starting January if there are public complaints regarding specific establishments.
    After the issuance of NOVs, the PLD will conduct monitoring to ensure compliance on business permit requirements.     Failure to comply within a given period will result in confiscation of products or closure of the establishment.
    Routine inspections for the period January to Sept. 5, 2023, resulted in 26 establishments issued with NOV able to comply with business permit requirements while 42 ceased their operations. Meanwhile, there are 21 business permit applications pending at the City Planning and Development Office for zoning clearance.}