GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 18 March) – The city government has temporarily closed down at least 10 establishments here for operating without business permits and other required licenses.
Charles Koh, licensing officer of the city permits and licensing division, said Tuesday the move is part of the intensified implementation of the local government’s “Oplan Kandado” or padlocking of unlicensed or unregistered businesses in the city.
He said they closed down the 10 business establishments after their owners or operators failed to present a business permit duly issued by the city government during an inspection on Monday.
The padlocked businesses, which are all situated in Barangay San Isidro, included a laundry shop, a carinderia or eatery, a barber shop and several mobile phone retail stores and used clothing outlets, he said.
Koh, who heads the city’s “Oplan Kandado” team, said they were among the 23 business establishments in the area that were issued with official notices or warnings late last year for operating without business permits, which is a violation of the city’s revenue code.
He specifically cited the provisions of City Ordinance No. 01, series of 1996 that was amended by Ordinance No. 09, series of 2009.
The violations are detailed in public notices placed by the “Oplan Kandado” team in front of the erring establishments.
It warned the owners against the unauthorized opening of the establishments and the removal of the notices, noting that it could lead to their permanent closure.
Under the city’s revenue code, businesses that post annual gross sales of P50,000 and above are mandated to secure permits from the local government.
Business owners or operators are required to first secure clearances and permits from the Department of Trade and Industry and the barangays before they can apply for a business permit from the city government.
Koh stressed that they have given the owners of the erring establishments enough time to secure their business permits.
He said businesses that are found operating without licenses or permits from the city government are given 30 days to comply after the issuance of an official notice or warning.
“In this case, we gave them a longer grace period and yet they still failed to secure their business permits,” Koh said.
He said the erring establishments will remain closed until their owners could secure the required business permits.
Koh said they will continue to enforce and implement the provisions of the ordinance in the coming days in all 26 barangays within the city.
He said they earlier issued warnings to around 100 business establishments in various parts of the city due to business permit violations.
“Our enforcement operation is not selective and covers all erring establishments, whether big or small,” he added.