Wednesday, June 25, 2008 15 Porta Vaga tenants close shops By Ernie N. Olson Jr.
AT LEAST 15 business establishments have already closed shop in Porta Vaga since its management was taken over by its present administration.
The Porta Vaga Tenants Association (PVTA) said: "The proprietors of several other shops are either planning to close down soon or else be padlocked due to their inability to pay the increased standardized lease rentals."
Among those that have closed shop, according to the group, are PC Corner, Wi Max, St. James Shoes, Semicon, Pepe's, Endless Boutique, Plato Wraps, Burgeroo, Piblas, Tres Marias, PJA Fashion, Gayak (cart), LB Collections and SAS General Merchandising.
LB Collections and SAS General Merchandising were allegedly padlocked by the Porta Vaga administration for their failure to pay rent.
Also reported to have halved the area of its leased space due to its inability to afford the standardized lease rental rates was Step Tutorial Review Center.
"How many more of us will have to close down before our appeal for a regulation, not standardization of lease rates, will be acted upon by the Inter-Vicariate Office (IVO)?" some of PVTA officers and members asked.
"Most of those who have already closed shop and others who are planning to follow suit due to the inability to afford the increased rates are the pioneers who have stayed in this building since it opened," they pointed out.
They said instead of understanding their plight, especially now that prices of basic commodities and transportation costs have surged, the Porta Vaga administration of the church-run building prefers to ignore their pleas.
"And if ever we do close shop and leave our leased spaces, it is even stipulated in our contracts we cannot take our improvements with us, even if some of us spent several hundreds of thousands of pesos to improve our shops," they added.
Instead, they said, several of them were issued letters on June 20 by Fr. Lorenzo Abela Jr., chief executive officer of IVO, reminding them to confirm their lease contract renewals "seven days from receipt of this notice."
"Based on our records, it appears you have not yet confirmed your lease renewal with Porta Vaga. The deadline for your confirmation has actually lapsed in March 2008. In the meantime, we received a letter in which you were one of the signatories explaining you will still pay your bill under the old rate. Please understand you need to confirm the lease proposal we gave you and if you still intend to continue to do your business in Porta Vaga, you need to pay your bill under the new rate," Abela said.
He also pointed out in the letters that the concerned tenants' payments for the months of April and May 2008 are considered as partial payments because they were paid under the old rate. "Kindly settle your balance so as to avoid penalty charges," Abela added.
In a letter to another tenant dated last May 30, he said "We received your letter stating your willingness to continue with your business. I was advised by our accounting department of your account status. We appreciate your support and enthusiasm to continue your lease with us."
However, in another letter from accounting officer Oceola Faith Kindipan dated last June 20, which was noted by Abela and finance officer Fr. Roland Buyagan, she also told the same tenant "as of date, we have not received any feedback from your office regarding our notice to settle your unpaid balance with Porta Vaga. Please be reminded our deadline is until June 30, 2008. We regret to inform you failure to settle your outstanding balance amounting to P226,385.53 until June 30, 2008 will force us to padlock your shop."
