Tom agrees to idea of barcodes on biz permits

Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday was agreeable to a proposal to imbed barcodes on a city business permit to prevent its illegal reproduction or counterfeiting.

The Police Coordinating and Advisory Council recently broached the idea through a resolution, penned by Dr. Patricio Gabuya, city director of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

The PCAC raised this solution to help the city government deter the proliferation of fake business permits, of which several establishments were already closed for possessing such illegal documents.

Several city employees were also indicted for manipulating the issuance of such bogus permits for monetary consideration from willing businesses also.

Osmeña, in his regular press conference yesterday, said he is very open to the idea of barcodes on permits because such method would be an effective way to stop fake business permits.

"Good idea. I appreciate that. We will have our management team do it," Osmeña said, adding that he would instruct the team to study it and determine the possible costs of such undertaking. - Joeberth M. Ocao