Baguio cracks down on illegal businesses traders forced to get biz permits

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – The sustained crackdown on business establishments operating without permits compelled traders to comply with the permit requirement of the city.

City Permits and Licensing Division Chief Allan Abayao on Tuesday said this can be gleaned from the number of business permits processed by the city which considerably increased.

As of Oct. 9, the number of permits released by the licensing office has exceeded the total number of licenses issued in 2017.

The office has issued a total of 19,774 regular business permits as of Oct. 9 while the 2017 total figure was 19,590.

For the same period last year, the office released only around 18,000 permits.

Abayao who assumed office a year ago vowed to sustain the campaign on illegal businesses as ordered by Mayor Mauricio Domogan in cooperation with the barangays.

As a result, hundreds of establishments were issued closure orders prompting many business owners to comply with the law resulting to the increase in the number of business permits issued and in the tax collection over the years as per the records of the city treasury office.

Abayao said that while the campaign has produced good results, there are still a lot of establishments that remained unchecked because of their limitations in manpower.

                The permits office has been conducting year-round inspection of businesses in the barangays.

Those found without business permits upon inspection are issued a notice to secure business permit directing them to immediately cease and desist from operating and giving them five working days to process their permits.

After five days, a verification process will be done to check on their compliance.  Those who fail to secure the requirements and are still operating will be issued a closure order through an administrative order by the city mayor as a final warning for them to comply.

If after another five days lapsed and they still fail to comply, the establishment will be padlocked by the team from the permit s and licensing division, public order and safety division, the barangay officials concerned and the Baguio City Police Office. 

The POSD and the barangay officials will ensure that the establishments will remain closed until such time that the owners have secured the permits.

Those who will defy the closure permit and will insist on operating without complying will be referred to the city legal office for the filing of appropriate case.