DESPITE being in the opposition, Barug Team Rama councilors expressed support to the plan of Mayor Tomas Osmeña to replace the business permit issued to establishments with a certificate from the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) stating that they have paid their taxes.
Councilor Jose Daluz III said it is a good move, but it should only apply to existing businesses while the new ones should still be compelled to comply with it.
He said new businesses must apply for business permit because it is one way of finding out if their business is lawful.
“That’s a very good move. Is it legal? I think it can be done because I don’t see in the Local Government Code about business permit or the mayor’s permit. It’s in our ordinance, which we can amend,” Daluz told reporters.
Daluz said he is willing to sponsor the amendment ordinance for it.
Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia also supports it, saying it will make the city more business friendly.
“If you cut red tape, Cebu City will be very business friendly and that is really something that I will support,” he said.
However, other requirements such as on the fire safety, health and building compliance that business establishments have to comply with should follow after the issuance of the certificate from CTO because it is mandated by law, he said.
Councilor Pastor Alcover said it is good that the mayor was able to come up with a plan to hasten the issuance of certificate of the payment of taxes since the long process of securing permit in the City is prone to corruption.
For her part, Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera said she did not totally agree with her colleagues, but she believes streamlining the processing of business permit is needed.
Pesquera said the City should not do away with the rest of the requirements for a business establishment because it is a proactive move.
In a business conference he attended last Tuesday, Osmeña said the City will replace business permit to taxes paid certificate as an initial requirement in order for establishments to operate, considering the long process of obtaining the business permits. (RVC)