By Mae Singuay
The Bacolod City government served a notice of business permit revocation and closure against DLC Junk Shop, following the discovery of alleged stolen telecommunication site batteries worth P14.1 million stored inside its premises on June 29.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez served the notice against the junk shop owner, whose name is being withheld pending his comment.
The notice, signed by Benitez on Wednesday, July 5, cited that the junk shop, located on Barangay 25’s Mabini Street, violated the conditions of its business permit, including the apparent misrepresentation with regards to the establishment’s operation.
“The business permit issued to your establishment by the Business Permit and Licensing Office [BPLO] is to operate as a junk shop,” part of the notice read.
“Likewise, you also executed an affidavit stating that the purpose of your application for business permit is for the operation of a junk shop,” it added.
However, Benitez said the establishment was not authorized nor given any permit to operate as a storage facility of potentially hazardous materials.
He added the operation of a storage facility may entail health and safety issues and, therefore, must be strictly regulated.
On June 29, the Philippine National Police recovered alleged stolen telecommunication cell site batteries valued at P14.1 million from the junk shop’s storage facility.
These included a substantial cache of 136 telco battery units with an estimated value of P13.2 million, and 15 12-volt 180AH battery units worth P1.5 million.
Arrested were suspects 30-year-olds Erwin Aribato, Romelyn Quiatchon and Joseph Villanueva, all residents of the city’s Barangay Banago.
Benitez said the BPLO and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) conducted a spot inspection on the junk shop premises on Tuesday, July 4, at around 10:00 a.m.
An inspection report submitted by Engineer Joel Vergara, CENRO officer-in-charge, stated that there were piles of used batteries inside the junk shop’s compound.
The report also stated that to engage in the battery recycling process, the establishment should have secured an Environmental Compliance Certificate or Certificate of Non-Coverage, and Hazardous Waste Generator Registration Certificate from the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which the DLC did not have during the inspection.
Section 444 of Republic Act 7160, also known as the Local Government Code, states that all local chief executives are vested with authority to suspend or revoke licenses and permits for any violation pursuant to law or ordinance, Benitez said./MS, WDJ