CH opens one-stop shop for biz permit renewals

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City government has launched a one-stop shop for the renewal of business permits this year.

Located on the second level of SM City Cebu at the North Reclamation Area, the shop will open until January 31.

Attorney Jerone Castillo, officer-in-charge treasurer of the city government, said that they are expecting at least 40,000 business establishment owners who will be renewing their permits this year.

Castillo said that the supposed schedule was through January 20 only, but they have asked the City Council to extend it till the end of the month.

“So the period now is from January 2-31 to really make it easy and convenient for them. We also asked SM na instead 10 a.m. during mall hours sila mo-open, for purposes of our business permit renewals and real property tax payments kay abli na ta by 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.,” said Castillo.

He said all clients with priority numbers before the cut-off time of 6 p.m. will be accommodated.

Castillo said that they are projecting at least 1,000 clients a day, but they are preparing for more since the number of business establishments in the city has increased.

He also said that he is lobbying for the establishment of more one-stop shops for the purpose of entertaining business permit renewals.

“Before, on the first day, dili man ingon ani ka daghan. Ako gani suggestion sa among meeting that we will retain this office, samtang naa tay financial center, kay pwede puhon mabahin na ang tao para dili lang in one area,” said Castillo.

“We have SM, Ayala in Banilad IT Park naa man gi-offer na space didto, then, hopefully, we will have the financial center, then we can get SM Seaside, so asa nearer ang businessmen adto na sila mo-transact og business,” he added.

Attorney Jared Limquiaco, OIC of the business permit and licensing office (BPLO), said that there will be a penalty to be imposed on those who fail to renew their permits on the given duration.

“Two years na ang validity sa business permits. For taxes, same lang, mo-due siya depende sa gi-choose sa business owners. Pwede man quarterly or annual, sa mga annual, annual ra gihapon mobayad, same sa quarterly. It doesn’t mean mo-times two ang bayad. Actually, the same for next year, dili na sila mo-renew sa amo, mobayad lang sila,” said Limquiaco.

The council earlier approved an amendment seeking to extend the validity of business permits in Cebu City from one year to two years.

“The extra requirements are fire safety inspection certificate, sanitary permit, and environmental clearance from CCENRO,” said Limquiaco.

Meanwhile, the existing one-stop shop is not only limited to business permits, as the public may also process delivery permits, special permits, events permits, and cedula at the shop.

The shop will be also open on Saturdays, except on January 18, or the day before the Sinulog Festival.  KQD (FREEMAN)