ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/18 September) – The city government has issued warnings against owners of 30 local establishments to secure business permits or face sanctions that include closure of their businesses, an official said.
Elmeir Apolinario, assistant city administrator, said the business owners were given until October 1 to comply with the requirements or “closure orders will follow if they continue to operate without business permits.”
The warning notices were sent after a task force was created to inspect on illegally operating business establishments in this city, Apolinario said.
The task force is composed of personnel from the City Administrator’s Office, City Legal Office, City Treasurer’s Office, City Engineer’s Office and City Permits Division, which is under the Office of the City Mayor.
Apolinario said the erring business establishments include dormitories, internet cafes and karaoke joints that are operating within the seven-kilometer radius of this city and as far as the districts of Ayala and Vitali in the west and east coasts, respectively.
Apolinario said the requirements are stipulated under City Ordinance No. 92-008, otherwise known as the Revenue Ordinance, which mandates businessmen to secure licenses or permits before operating any business establishment.
“It is their duty and obligation to comply with the law,” Apolinatio said, urging businessmen to strictly comply with the existing rules and regulations.
Should all the 30 business owners who were given the warning fail to comply with the requirements, the number of business establishments to be closed in about four months will increase to 60, he said.
Apolinario recalled they have ordered the immediate closure of at least 30 business establishments last June for failure to secure business permits from the city government.
The business establishments ordered close last June include internet cafes and restaurants located in the city proper, he said. (Mindanews)
