By CESAR JOLITO III

Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya has issued a strong warning to business owners in the city to avoid dealing with fixers, stressing that the local government is tightening its processes to stop long-standing schemes that put entrepreneurs at risk.

“Gapanawagan kita sa aton mga businessmen diri sa syudad: Indi na kamo kinahanglan maglabay kun kay sin-o nga fixer — kadto kamo direkta sa syudad,” Gasataya said yesterday.

“Ginatinguhaan gid sang syudad nga matadlong ang proseso sa pag-apply sang business [permit],” he added.

He emphasized that individuals claiming to “take care” of permits should immediately raise red flags.

“Kun may gapalapit kag magsiling nga sila ang bahala, dapat makulbaan kamo. Kadamo na sang negosyo nga naapektuhan tungod sini nga mga hilimuon,” he added.

To prevent opportunities for corruption, Gasataya reiterated that the city is shifting to online processing of permits, discouraging face-to-face transactions unless absolutely necessary.

Applicants will receive a QR code, and a drop-box system will be used for submitting documents.

If their paperwork is incomplete, the city will simply notify them.

“Ang tinutuyo sini — indi mo mabal-an kun sin-o ang naga-process. Kun i-allow ang face-to-face, dira gid pirmi naga-umpisa ang problema,” the mayor said.

Show-cause orders

Gasataya also confirmed that five regular employees of the city government assigned under the Office of the Building Official have been issued show-cause orders.

This is in connection with their alleged involvement in the processing of a fencing permit in Barangay Villamonte several years ago.

The employees — mostly engineers — were asked to explain why they should not face disciplinary action for allegedly accepting or facilitating transactions “on behalf of applicants,” which city employees are strictly prohibited from doing.

They were given five days to submit their explanations.

The city will then decide on the appropriate disciplinary measures./CJ, WDJ