THE Business Permit Licensing Office (BPLO) of the Cebu City Government did not issue either a closure order or a threat of closure to the management of SM Seaside City Cebu.
In her judicial affidavit, Claire Cabalda, BPLO chief, said the business permit applications of SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPHI), the parent company of SM Group’s shopping malls, and its subsidiaries, are still being processed in her office pending the submission of the lacking documents.
“The establishments of petitioners are still operating until the present,” said Cabalda in her affidavit.
Last March 10, Judge Alexander Acosta ruled that SM Seaside can continue with its operations, at least until the City Government acts on their business permit renewal applications on April 20.
The City Legal Office and the counsels of SMPHI have entered into a compromise agreement, which states that the City will not issue any closure order against the mall until April 20.
This means that SM Seaside has more than one month to comply with the required documents for the renewal of their business permit.
Last March 7, SMPHI filed the petition for mandamus and prohibition against Mayor Tomas Osmeña, City Treasurer Tessie Camarillo and City Engineer Josefa Ylanan.
SMPHI’s subsidiary, Shopping Center and Management Corp. (SCMC) and SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc., also joined in the petition.
The petition came after Osmeña reportedly directed the BPLO not to accept the applications for renewal of business permits of SM Seaside, its affiliates, and tenants for 2017.
In her affidavit, Cabalda said the SMPHI, SCMC, and SM Lifestyle Entertainment lacked documents for their business permit applications.
Cabalda said she sent a letter to Ana Kristin Therese Seno, SCMC mall manager, informing her that their business permit applications and supporting documents are pending for review and evaluation. Also included in the letter is the list of documents that they still need to submit.