No more provisional business permits in Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government will no longer issue provisional business permits to applicants who fail to submit the necessary clearances needed for their operation.

Mayor Joy Belmonte yesterday said she will shelve the previous practice of allowing businesses to submit requirements up to 30 days after the issuance of the mayor’s permit.

Belmonte, citing a report from business permits and licensing department officer-in-charge Margarita Santos, said almost 80 to 90 percent of businesses in the city have yet to fully comply with the submission of the required clearances despite the 30-day deadline.

Documentary requirements include locational clearances, fire safety inspection certificate, building permit, occupancy permit, sanitary permit and environmental clearances.

The mayor gave Quezon City businesses until January next year to address their deficiencies.

“We do not want another Ozone or Manor Hotel where many people died because the city failed to fulfill its duty of ensuring that businesses are compliant with the National Building Code as well as fire safety, sanitary and environmental regulations,” she said.

“This move also aims to make it easier for business owners to renew their permits next year,” she added.

The mayor earlier committed to implement reforms to facilitate faster processing of applications for business permits in the city.

She expressed support for the challenge of President Duterte to local governments to release clearances and permits for businesses in three days.