1 day processing of biz permits soon in Cebu City

Cebu City Hall (File photo)
Cebu City Hall (File photo)

FOLLOWING the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to fast-track the processing and releasing of permits and clearances, the Cebu City Government is set to implement the ease of doing business as soon as possible.

City Administrator Floro Casas on Thursday, July 25, 2019 promised that business owners in the City can process their business permits in one day.

He said the major causes of the delays are the sanitary permits and fire permits which take two months.

But they will forgo these requirements with a condition that the applicants have to secure the sanitary and fire permits within 60 days.

“We will just forgo (the submission of these two permits) as long as the owner will comply within 60 days,” Casas assured.

If they fail to do so, the City always has the right to revoke the permit.

Some of the requirements for the issuance of a business permit are the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) registration, barangay clearance and proof of payment of taxes, a business plate, a CGL (commercial general liability) insurance and BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) Form 0605 for Annual Registration, among others.

Casas said the requirements submitted should be accurate.

“We will give a business permit, not temporary, but permanent,” he said.

The business owners will sign an undertaking that will enumerate the condition that they must comply with the two requirements within two months or 60 days.

On the same day, Thursday, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said processing and releasing of the permits should not take more than 35 days. But Casas said this can be done within one day.

Labella has also requested Cebu City Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia to come up with an ordinance amending the tax payment to have it done once every two years.

The mayor is also planning to have the processing held in a separate building where all business-related transactions will be done.

“This is to de-clog our offices, especially the executive building,” explained Labella.

For a more convenient payment of regulatory fees, Labella had previously announced that business owners can soon pay through identified accredited government banks such as Philippine National Bank (PNB), Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank), Philippine Veterans Bank and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) president Virgilio Espeleta said the development is great news for the business community in Cebu City.

“(It’s) good for business. We welcome this development,” said Espeleta.

Espeleta further hoped for the City to digitize the business renewal process and adopt the online payment. (JJL)

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