1,019 businesses have no permits from city

CEBU, Philippines — At least 1,019 business establishments in Cebu City are operating without a business permit, of which 47 have been closed since August, said the Task Force on the Inspection and Investigation of Business Permits

“Daghan ang ni-respond sa mga notices nga atong gi-send maong wala sila ma-close kay nag-process sila para makabayad sa ilang tax while ga-process pod sa ilang permits,” task force acting head Melvin Bacalso told The FREEMAN.

It was on August 2 when the task force started inspection and investigation. It then issued notices and show cause orders to at least 3,842 establishments.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña created the task force as a move against tax evaders – for the task force to check who are paying taxes religiously and to close down those that are not paying.

At least 11,504 establishments were inspected since August 2 in Barangays Camputhaw, Capitol Site, Lahug, Luz, Mabolo, Kasambagan, Apas, Pahina Central, Kalubihan, Banilad, Ermita, Tabunan, Zapatera, and Calamba, among others.

Initially, the task force targets to inspect up to 50,000 business establishments until December 2018.

This program of the city is seen to be among the reasons why the City Treasurer’s Office exceeded by at least 12 percent its target collection of business taxes this year.

City Treasurer Veronica Morelos said the city collected P2 billion from business taxes from January to October this year – higher than the P1.8 billion collected in the same period last year.

As for all taxes and non-taxes revenues of the city, Morelos said the office has collected at least P5.6 billion as of October this year.

Morelos believes that the office will reach or even surpass the targeted P6 billion this year.

Her office has also continued mapping establishments that are doing business in the city to identify tax delinquents, and other efforts to increase collection this year.

Also, the office has collected P917.8 million real property tax from January to October this year. — /JMO (FREEMAN)