THE Office of the Building Official (OBO) of the Cebu City Government finally issued a certificate of occupancy to Phoenix Petroleum’s gasoline station in Barangay Banilad Monday afternoon. The gasoline station was inaugurated last Saturday and started its operation on that day even without an occupancy permit.
After complying with the other requirements like a building permit, the gasoline station was supposed to open a few months ago when its building was finished. But OBO halted the issuance of the occupancy permit citing no reason at all.
City Legal Officer Joseph Bernaldez claimed that the Phoenix gas station was a party to an injuction case filed by the Alba family, who claimed to own a parcel of lot as a road right-of-way. But the injunction issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) had long been dismissed by the Court of Appeals.
Phoenix is owned by Davao City businessman Dennis Uy, who is one of the major campaign fund contributors of President Duterte in the 2016 presidential elections. My source said the “former political has-been” wanted to meet with Uy before OBO could issue the certificate of occupancy. You know already what it is for. But Uy refused to meet him. Perhaps, because of media commentaries, City Hall was pressured to issue the certificate.
But the problem did not stop there. There is still a business permit to be secured by the management before it can fully operate. According to the company’s legal counsel, they already applied and paid for the permit.
Technically, the operation of that gasoline station is illegal. Why won’t the “former political has-been” order its closure? Is it because it is owned by an influential person close to the powers that be?
Aw, maayo lang siya manggukod atong mga mayokmok nga mga negosyante labi pa gyud tong mga kontra niya sa pulitika like Vic Enterprises, whose owner was known to have contributed to the campaign kitty of former mayor Mike Rama.
But Phoenix’s lawyer has threatened to go to court if City Hall won’t issue a business permit. Lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna said he will invoke the new law that was signed by President Duterte last May. Republic Act 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business Act in relation to Republic Act 9485, also known as the Anti-Red Tape Act, is meant to make the process of putting up a business easier and more efficient.
Or he may file graft and corruption charges against City Hall officials. Officials of government regulatory bodies who refuse to sign or approve permits and clearances have the tendency to make money out of the application. Aber, nganong dugayon man o langayon ang pag-issue kung na-comply na tanan ang mga requirements? Aron modugo ang applicant?
The thrust of President Duterte is to not make the lives of business applicants miserable by forcing them to join long lines and to do constant follow-ups for their permit applications. Give the applicants a “check list” of the requirements and ask them to return at a specific day to claim their approved applications. That’s the “order.”
Unfortunately, many government agencies are not complying with this order for reasons only known to them.