RESTAURANT owners and lessors are optimistic that their requests to revert real property taxes and easing business permits application requirements will be granted for them to survive as they resume operations.
Restaurant Owners Association of Davao City, Inc. (RestoDC) president Benjamin Lizada said that as restaurants started to open at 30 percent capacity, they have appealed to the City Government of Davao to help them with recurring expenses such as rents.
“We sent a letter to the mayor requesting for assistance with real property tax kay karon man gud ang pinakadakong problema namo is rent kay recurring expense gyud na. Kabalo na man ka nga 30 percent capacity unya ang rent (our biggest problem is the rent because it is really a recurring expense and we are only allowed to operate at 30 percent capacity),” he said.
In the letter dated June 8, the association asked their real property taxes to be reverted to the 2017 Real Property Tax rates until 2023.
They also requested the City Government to make optional until 2023 the business permit application requirements such as the Sewage Treatment Plant for old inns and hotels and the Automatic Kitchenhood Fire Suppression System, especially for single-detached restaurants.
They further asked the government to act on unlicensed and unregistered AirBnB operators as it “eats into the hotel and accommodation market that has already been struggling since January 2020” and the unlicensed home-based food providers availing the services of legitimate food delivery outfits.
“These illegal operators can be tolerated to serve their immediate neighborhoods but they should not be allowed to serve the entire Davao City market via food delivery apps. Require the food delivery service providers to remove them from their system,” read the letter.
Lizada said the letter was already endorsed by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to the City Council and that it is being worked on by city councilors Danilo Dayanghirang and Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz. “They are acting on it. Very supportive kaayo sila sa among plight kay daghan na man mga restaurant nag sirado. Ang uban wala pa gani nangabri since March 18, (They are very supportive of our plight because a lot of restaurants have already closed and remained closed since March 18)” he said.
“We want this to continue kay tan-aw namo hangtod first or second quarter pa ni of next year so ang amo is nangita pud mi og collaboration with the lessors (We are seeing that the impact will continue until the first or second quarter of next year),” he added.
Lizada said they concerted efforts with the lessors and in preventing the spread of the disease by abiding with the health protocol set by the Department of Trade and Industry will help them cover the revenue loss they will incur.
“This is a huge push. Basta dungan lang mag lihok in the same direction walay dili pwede makab-ot (as long as we will work together towards the same direction, there is nothing we cannot achieve),” he added.