Baguio biz owners warned: Fix papers or face closure

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY – The mayor of this tourism resort warned business owners to strictly adhere to their line of business stipulated in their permits or face closure.

He said the recent successive closure of many establishments that deviated from the business permits should serve as stern warning.

“We want to send a clear message to our businessmen that their establishments will be closed once it will be discovered that they deviated from the permit issued to them by the local government,” Magalong stressed.

 One of the famous establishments closed by the city  government last week was The Camp along Leonard Wood road after it was discovered that it deviated from the permit to operate as restaurant considering that it also operates as a bar at night despite the absence of permit for them to do so.

According to him, the local government will remain aggressive in its campaign to close the operation of establishments without permits and those establishments that deviate from their line of businesses that are stipulated in their permits so that erring businessmen will learn to adhere to the rules and regulations governing their operations.

The city mayor said sanctions will be imposed by the local government against those who continue to violate laws governing their business operations.

Aside from conducting regular inspections on the operation of business establishments in the city, the local chief executive also is checking compliance of business establishments to health and sanitation standards to ensure cleanliness and orderliness within the different establishments to avoid unnecessary complaints from residents and tourists on unsanitary condition of establishments, especially those serving food to the people.

He appealed to owners of establishments in parts of the city to first secure the required permits prior to their operation to avoid the unnecessary interruptions in the conduct of their business operations considering the expected conduct of unrelenting and unwavering operations against illegally operating businesses even in the barangays.

The local government will also be tapping the cooperation of barangay officials to help in operations of the city against business establishments that are operating without the necessary permits, thus, businesses that continue to operate without permits must already secure their permits before their closure.