By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA

The Bacolod City government has urged business owners possessing expired, incomplete or non-existent permits to immediately secure all requirements before resuming business operations.

The call comes after the city government ordered the closure of seven commercial establishments for operating without valid business permits.

Levy Pangue, head of the City Legal Office’s (CLO) enforcement team, said that, while the city remains supportive of entrepreneurship and economic growth, the recent closures should never come at the expense of fairness and the rule of law.

“We cannot allow a system where the diligent are disadvantaged while those who bypass our ordinances operate freely,” Pangue said.

He noted that closure orders were issued for violations of Section 65, Article 20 of City Ordinance No. 565, or the Revised Revenue Code of Bacolod City.

The enforcement action was carried out following comprehensive mapping operations and recommendations from the Bacolod Permits and Licensing Division.

The closure orders were implemented by the Business Permits and Licensing Office in coordination with the CLO, following Mayor Greg Gasataya’s directive to intensify the city’s campaign against unlawful business practices and protect the interests of legitimate and law-abiding taxpayers.

Pangue said the establishments cited for violations, including the non-renewal of permits and non-payment of fees, were ordered to cease operations until they fully comply with all legal requirements.

They also failed to secure the required building and occupancy permits.

Among those ordered closed was a commercial building housing four tenants, three of whom were operating without permits.

He added that enforcement operations will continue in the coming weeks to monitor compliance and ensure that all commercial establishments in the city operate safely, fairly and legally./MAP, WDJ