A CITY official is proposing that business permit applications be made more affordable for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Maribel Paguican, Davao City Business Bureau officer-in-charge, said they have submitted a proposal to the City Council Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Industry to make business permit applications more affordable for MSMEs.

“I have submitted my proposal with our trade and commerce na committee to really come up with specific provisions for those home-based (businesses),” Paguican said.

Paguican said this proposal is also to help MSMEs such as sari-sari stores and riders to secure their business permits “without hesitation and fear.”

“Kay on their [MSMEs] part [it is] very costly getting business permits, and not only Business Bureau baya ang ilang i-lodge [na mga requirements] (For MSMEs, it is very costly to get business permits, because they will not only lodge requirements to Business Bureau alone),” she said.

Paguican said they hope they can get support from the Committee of Trade, Commerce and Industry’s chair Nilo D. Abellera and from Vice mayor Jay Melchor Quitain, Jr.,

Meanwhile, she said registered businesses in the city have grown to 42,856 as of January 2023 from 38,839 in the same period in 2022.

However, of the registered businesses this year, around 5,000 have yet to pay the penalties incurred during years of not paying for their renewals and other fees. ICE