Owners told: Display business permits or face closure

Mandaue City Treasurer Giovanni Tianero is asking businesses to always display their permits to prevent the possible closure of their establishments.

Lawyer Tianero said personnel from the City Legal Office are now visiting establishments along M.C. Briones St. in barangay Guizo as part of the city’s crackdown against illegally operated businesses.

City Hall inspectors, he said, would look into the establishments’ business permits and other documents, which would include their lease contracts.

“If they can’t present the lease contract issued by the property owner or the government, it means they are not allowed to operate businesses in the area,” said Tianero.

Tianero said a lease contract is one of the requirements in the issuance of a businesses permit.

On Wednesday, the city government closed at least 14 small-scale business establishments operated along M.C. Briones Street in barangay Centro for failure to obtain permits for the last 10 years.

While they occupy a national government-owned lot, the owners of the closed businesses failed to present a lease contract to the city inspecting team.

Jamaal James Calipayan, assistant city legal officer, said the closed establishments have not paid taxes and failed to present their book of accounts in violation of City Ordinance 99501 or the Revenue Code of Mandaue City.

He said owners of the closed establishments face a penalty of at least P1,000 or six months in jail.

Tianero said personnel from the city legal office are also verifying on the business permits of other establishments along M. C. Briones Street in barangay Guizo’s side.

Their visits, he said, is without any “political color” and is in compliance with the mandate of their office.

“There is no such thing as small- and big-scale businesses. We don’t chose what establishments to close. In fact, the Cebu Golf Academy along A.S. Fortuna, barangay Banilad was also ordered closed since Monday and ahead of the 14 other establishments,” he said.