Tuesday, October 10, 2007 Talk back: Business permits By Tomas R. Osmena Mayor, Cebu City
(THE letter is addressed to Sun.Star columnist Antonio V. Osmeña)
This is in connection with your column in Sun.Star Cebu last Sept. 26, 2007.
Our composite inspection team conducts most of their inspections in the daytime.
However, it is also necessary to conduct inspection at night to determine the actual conduct of businesses for establishments operating at night.
One instance was when our inspection team conducted a nighttime inspection in your businesses on Sept. 20 and they discovered the following:
a.) Abuhan Restaurant and Coffee Shop Corp.: no business permit
b.) Abuhan Music Bar: no business permit
c.) Abuhan Dos Restaurant: no business permit
I have firm instructions on all City Hall personnel, especially those conducting inspections, that they must be courteous at all times.
They must nonetheless strictly enforce the law even if detrimental to my relatives and friends.
Antonio V. Osmeña replies:
This refers to the report of the composite inspection team that allegedly discovered after their inspection conducted last Sept. 20, 2007 that Abuhan Restaurant/ Coffee Shop and Abuhan Music Bar do not have business permits.
Please allow us to explain that the abovementioned establishments are owned and operated by only one entity, the Abuhan Restaurant Corp., all located at the same vicinity.
The Abuhan Music Bar was formerly part of Abuhan Restaurant function room, which was converted into an airconditioned outlet in answer to the clamor of our customers for an aircon and a more comfortable dining area.
It was provided with music for a relaxing and un-stressful ambiance.
The food served in this outlet is prepared by Abuhan Restaurant kitchen personnel and food attendants are employees of the company. Thus, we have only one business permit and special liquor permit under Abuhan Restaurant.
We feel that the slight misunderstanding with the composite inspection team during their inspection of our establishments was due to our failure to provide them the permits and documents they requested which are all kept in our accounting office.
Unfortunately, this office is open only at daytime, otherwise our personnel would have only been too happy to provide them the permits they requested.
(Attached herewith are photocopies of permits and SEC Certificate).
We hope that we have clearly explained our side on this matter.
We sincerely appreciate your fair application of business regulations to all concerned.
We can assure you of our full cooperation and compliance of the laws with your able administration.
