Mandaue to sue businesses that disregard closure order

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City government yesterday warned it will take to court establishments that had been ordered closed due to lack of permits if these reopen and do business again.

The warning came after city legal officer Giovanni Teneiro learned that some of these establishments, located along M.C. Briones Street in barangay Guizo, opened for business immediately after a closure order was served early this week.

In the case of the Cebu Golf Academy, its business permit was revoked after residents in the neighborhood complained about golf balls hitting their houses and people.

Tenerio warned that the city could drag stubborn establishments to court for violation of the Revenue Code of the City.

"Maluoy ta mokiha nila apan kon magmagahi sila I have no other choice but to charge them in court," Teneiro said.

Teneiro denied the city was running only after small establishments, citing the Cebu Golf Academy as an example.

He said he is new in the job and has just inherited everything from his predecessor.

He said when he assumed office last March, the closure orders against these establishments were already prepared and he was just implementing it.

He also denied allegations the city gave these establishments a hard time when they applied for business permits.

The last time these businesses secured permits from the city was in 2000 yet.

Teneiro said that for an establishment to be granted a business permit, it has to present a tax declaration or lot title if it owns the land it is occupying or a lease of contract from the owner of the land.

But in the case of these establishments, they cannot meet this requirement because the lot they are occupying belongs to the national government, he said.

He said one cannot do business on a government lot unless there is a law that says otherwise.

Teneiro has advised the owners of these establishments to transfer their businesses to the city public market but they refused to heed his call.

Teneiro also learned that aside from doing business most of them have also been living there, and have a portion of their establishments rented out to other small businesses. (FREEMAN)