No brgy clearance, no permit: Tejero officials seek CH help on business permit applicants

CEBU, Philippines -  Tejero barangay officials are asking Mayor Michael Rama not to grant business permits to applicants who fail to secure a clearance from the barangay first.

In a resolution, the members of the Tejero Barangay Council explained that they have observed that many applicants for business permit at the City Hall did not secure clearance from the barangays.

The City Council referred the matter to the Committee on Laws and City Treasurer’s Office for further study and recommendation but the concerned barangay officials claimed that their move is provided for by the Local Government Code.

The barangay officials stressed that they should also be aware of the kind of businesses that will proliferate within their territorial jurisdiction and the barangay will also earn revenues out of the clearance fees from the applicants who will secure business permits.

The Local Government Code provides that the barangay being the smallest local government unit is also entitled to revenues and is empowered to collect taxes and fees from anybody who operates business within the locality.

While only the Tejero barangay officials asked the mayor about the issue, other barangay officials have similar sentiments.

Tejero Councilman Garry Lao, the main proponent of the resolution, said the barangay’s revenues will surely increase if the provisions of the law will be complied with by City Hall.

The barangay officials observed that the City Treasurer’s Office will just issue business permits to applicants even if they do not have clearances from the concerned barangays where the business is situated. —MIT (FREEMAN)