Extension for business permit applicants pushed

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Treasurer’s Office has requested the City Council to extend the application of business permit without surcharges or penalties.

CTO is requesting to have the application extended from January 5 to January 23, 2015 instead of the original schedule from January 2 to January 20, 2015.

City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas said the request was made to allow business permit applicants to pay their dues, especially with the succeeding holidays.

“Kailangan gyud ning ma-reschedule and ma-extend para naa’y time atong mga applicants nga mobayad, kay daghan pud ra ba ‘ta og holidays,” she said.

Last November 27, the City Council approved CTO’s request for the rescheduling and extension of the renewal of the Mayor’s Business Permit for the year 2014.

With this, Cuevas said she is optimistic that the City Council will also grant this recent request.

Such request is in accordance with Section 167 of Republic Act No. 7160 which states “Unless otherwise provided in this Code, all local taxes, fees, and charges shall be paid within the first twenty (20) days of January or of each subsequent quarter, as the case may be.”

However, the same provision allows for an extension, but only for a period of time not exceeding six months by way of an approved resolution of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Mayor Michael Rama has already approved CTO’s request, but it still needs an approved resolution for its legality, Cuevas explained.

The City Council has referred the request to Councilor Nendell Hanz Abella, the vice chairman of the Council’s committee on budget and finance, for comments and recommendations.

The matter will be tackled on the last day of the council’s regular session for this month, December 17. — (FREEMAN)