City business permit probe team formed following complaints

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan last week formed an ad hoc fact-finding committee to conduct investigations on issues and problems involving business permits.

Assistant City Treasurer Alicia Onoza and Legal Officer III Hannah Calitong will head the team composed of four key personnel of the city treasurer’s office.

In his Administrative Order No. 31, the mayor said business proprietors who apply for business permits pursuant to Tax Ordinance 2000-01 “get entangled with problems related to their partners, previous occupants of the business establishments and ownership of the rights to the business and the like.”

The mayor said the issues necessitate investigations “to give contending parties due process and ascertain whether or not there is basis on whether or not to issue a business permit,” thus the city government should have a team to conduct said investigations.

The committee will be tasked to conduct investigations and to decide on the issues brought forth.

It was also given authority to issue subpoenas and facilitate other legal processes relating to the problems.

It will be given 45 days to complete each investigation and to submit findings and recommendations to the city mayor’s office.