DILG warns: Biz permit revocation for failure to comply with laws

LOCAL Government Secretary Eduardo Año urged the local government units (LGUs) Tuesday, March 19, to cancel or revoke the business permits of establishments within the Manila Bay watershed area that fail to comply with environmental laws imposed by the government.

Año issued a memorandum to all mayors in the National Capital Region (NCR), Central Luzon, and Calabarzon to ensure that all establishments in their areas or responsibility are complying with the pertinent provisions of the national building code, fire code, code on sanitation and other related laws, regulations, and policies for the benefit of the environment.

He said all LGUs should help enforce the orders from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), and other government agencies for the rehabilitation of the Manila Bay.

“The DENR and LLDA have started the inspection of commercial establishments last January 27, 2019, to ensure their compliance with environmental laws. They have issued cease and desist orders and notices of violations to various establishments. All concerned LGUs should immediately act on the findings of the DENR and LLDA and revoke or suspend the business permits they have issued, as maybe applicable,” said Año.

“Let us sustain the momentum of cleaning up Manila Bay. The DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) is committed to doing our role in the interagency Manila Bay Task Force which include supervision of LGUs whether they are judiciously inspecting all establishments in their respective areas,” he added.

Año said he also instructed DILG regional directors in the Manila Bay area to report to him those LGUs and local chief executives who will fail to abide by the directive.

In a separate memorandum, Año directed the 178 LGUs and 5,714 barangays inside the Manila Bay Watershed Area to contribute to the rehabilitation of the polluted bay by organizing weekly clean-up drives in their localities.

The DILG chief said they are closely monitoring all barangays and will call the attention of those villages that are not contributing to the clean-up effort. (SunStar Philippines)