Requirement For Business Permit: Cebu City to ask bizmen to submit env't action plan

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government has proposed an ordinance requiring business operators within the city’s jurisdiction for a mandatory submission of environmental sustainability action plan minimizing the effects of global warming and climate change.

Councilor Nestor Archival, the proponent of the ordinance, said that while there is growing number of investors and expanding population of the business sectors in the city, there is also an immediate concern to ensure environmental sustainability and to promote balance between ecological system and economic development.

Archival said the “Sustainable Development Ordinance of the City of Cebu,” is aligned to the city’s advocacy to preserve and protect the sources of life “the trees, soil and water” and to focus on sustainable development in the fulfillment of human needs while maintaining the quality of the natural environment for the current generations and for the generations yet to come.

He said last Wednesday’s public hearing of the proposed ordinance that was attended by environmental lawyers, businessmen, and officials of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce “turned into an avenue to express other concerns from the business community.”

The councilor said representatives from the business sectors suggested there should be provisions in the proposed ordinance and that there should be a “template” or a standard document so that filling out of the “documents” would be easily facilitated.

“They also suggested that there must be certain period of time of processing so that business would not be delayed,” he said, adding that the Committee on Laws found “no reasons” not to push for the proposed ordinance.

The ordinance, he said, shall apply to “all persons whether natural or juridical, operating or doing business within the territorial jurisdiction of Cebu, securing or renewing business license, and/or mayor’s permit.”

The concerned individuals shall prepare their Annual Environment Sustainability Action Plan which shall be signed under oath by the company’s president as attested to by its corporate secretary or in the case of single proprietorship, its owner or general manager. The sustainability plan shall also be duly notarized.

The sustainability action plan shall be submitted to the Environment and Natural Resources Officer, who in turn, shall issue a certification in favor of the persons covered in the ordinance, after verification of the sustainability action plan.

The certification that is issued by the city’s Natural Resources Officer shall be submitted to the City Treasurer’s Office as part of the requirement for the renewal or for securing business and/or mayor’s permit or license.

The concerned parties may opt to adopt any of the above environmental programs attune to their line of business.

The Environment and Natural Resources Officer shall keep record of all environment sustainability action plan submitted and shall monitor and oversee for its compliance.

Failure of the persons covered under the ordinance to comply with the process, shall cause denial or the non-issuance of business and/or mayor’s permit or license to operate or open any business.

Archival said the proposed ordinance will not only “protect, preserve and restore the quality of the city’s sources of life but also to foster smart growth and economic development and for the benefit of the generations and the generations yet to come.” —WAB   (FREEMAN NEWS)