By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA

The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has approved on first reading a proposed ordinance prescribing the guidelines for the issuance of special business permits (SBP) for small-scale businesses, including street vending.

Councilor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said many small-scale entrepreneurs struggle to secure business permits due to extensive requirements, leading to non-compliance and lost revenue for the city government.

“There is a need to establish a special business permit [SBP] that allows small-scale businesses, including street vending, home-based businesses, sari-sari stores, and ambulant vendors or peddlers, to operate legally under simplified registration requirements while ensuring regulatory compliance and fair revenue collection,” he said.

Sayson noted that this ordinance shall not apply to businesses operating under formal commercial establishments, franchises or enterprises exceeding the revenue per capitalization threshold stated herein.

He said the issuance of the SBP shall not be construed as granting ownership, tenancy or any legal right over the land, structure or location where the business is being conducted.

To encourage compliance, he said a grace period of six months from the effectivity of the ordinance shall be given for unregistered small-scale businesses, including sari-sari stores, home-based businesses, and ambulant vendors or peddlers to secure their SBP.

After the grace period, the penalties shall be applied — P500 for the first offense; P1,000 for the second offense; and P3,000 or imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both, at the discretion of the court for the third offense./MAP, WDJ