By Chito Chavez
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said on Tuesday about 80 to 90 percent of business firms operating in the city have not fully complied with basic city hall regulations.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte (FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
In an interview, Belmonte said this was based on the large number of provisional business permits that have been given to non-compliant business establishments.
She issued the revelation based on the report of Marge Santos Business Permits and Licensing Department (BPLD) officer-in-charge (OIC), declaring the huge number of business firms that have not yet fully complied with the required clearances.
Admitting the legality of provisional permits, Belmonte clarified that these have their limits as these should only last for 30 days to legitimize the operation of these businesses.
Expounding on the pressing issue, Belmonte insisted that provisional business permits could immediately be revoked in the event the owners of the firm fail to fully comply with the said requirements after 30 days.
She called on the city’s more than 70,000 business owners anew to comply with the regulatory requirements for mayor’s permit, whether for renewal or new businesses, specifically those issued beginning January 1, 2019.
“We do not want another Ozone or Manor Hotel where many people died because the City failed to fulfil its duty of ensuring that businesses are compliant with the National Building Code as well as fire safety, sanitary and environmental regulations,” Belmonte said.
Technically, Belmonte said existing permits should be considered revoked due to non-compliance, but the city government is giving business owners enough chance to comply before January 2020.
“This move also aims to make it easier for business owners to renew their permits next year,” said Belmonte.
She also ordered the BLPD to remind business owners about their clearance deficiencies.
The Quezon City government also assured the business community that it will further improve its processes in the application and release of clearances and permits in compliance with President Duterte’s call in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) to streamline all transactions in government and fast-track the release of business permits.