By CESAR JOLITO III
Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya clarified that only business establishments with a capitalization of more than P3 million are required to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems as a condition for securing or renewing business permits, amid confusion following earlier advisories from the Office of the Building Official (OBO).
Gasataya said the requirement is clearly defined under City Ordinance No. 600, enacted in 2012, which mandates banks, financial institutions and business establishments with a minimum capitalization of P3 million to install CCTV cameras within their premises to strengthen security and crime prevention efforts.
He stressed that small businesses are not covered by the ordinance.
“If you have a sari-sari store with a capitalization of around P50,000, you are not required to install CCTV for the processing of a business permit,” Gasataya said.
Earlier, Engineer Orlando Dalipe Jr., head of the OBO’s Annual Inspection Division, said the office would issue clearances only after establishments comply with Ordinance No. 600, prompting concerns among small business owners.
Over 10,000 business permit applications
Meanwhile, the mayor commended taxpayers for their strong participation in the city’s Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS) currently being held at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC).
Stela Rose Rayos, head of the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO), reported that as of January 9, the city recorded 10,148 business permit applications, a 44.18 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
Data from the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) showed that business tax collections from January 5 to 10 reached P39.36 million, significantly higher than the P27.29 million collected during the same period in 2025.
Rayos added that 520 mayor’s permits had already been issued within the same timeframe.
In 2025, the BPLO processed a total of about 24,000 business permit applications for the entire year.
To further accommodate business owners, the city council approved the extension of the BOSS operations and the deadline for the payment of business taxes, fees and charges until March 31, 2026.
The ordinance, authored by Councilor Caesar Distrito, grants a 10 percent discount on business permit fees for payments made on or before February 28.
Payments made from March 1 to March 31 will be accepted without penalties or surcharges, allowing businesses additional time to comply.
The BOSS, which occupies the BCGC lobby and second floor — including the processing of barangay clearances — started on January 5, and was originally scheduled to end on January 20./CJ, WDJ