THE City Government of Bacolod has registered at least 18,000 businesses through the Business One-Stop-Shop (Boss) held at the Ayala Malls Capitol Center from January 1 to March 31, 2022.
Stela Rose Rayos, head of the city's Permits and Licensing Division, said the regular processing of business permit is now back at the Bacolod Government Center (BGC) after the three-month one-stop-shop.
Rayos said the city registered a total of 22,000 businesses in 2021 in spite of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
She said that business establishment owners who failed to process the renewal of their business permits will pay 25 percent surcharge.
"Those who will apply for new business, there will be no surcharges," Rayos said, adding that the processing of business permits will continue until December 2022 so business owners have more time to secure their permits.
"We expect that our business registration will increase until the end of this year," she added.
The City Council earlier approved the extension of Boss, as well as the deadline of payment of business taxes fees and charges following the request of Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
It also approved the extension of the first quarter payment of business taxes, fees and charges without penalties and surcharge until March 31 with 10 percent discount on one-time payments.
Leonardia said the mandatory extension of deadlines for the payment of taxes, fees and charges imposed and collected by the local government unit is pursuant to Republic Act 11494, or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.
The mayor earlier assured all business establishment owners in the city that the Permits and Licensing Division can release their business permits within 15 minutes as long as they have complied with all the requirements.
"They don't have to wait for three days for it to be released," he said.