No permit for businesses with violations

City department heads had agreed not to issue business permits to establishments with violations of zoning ordinance, building code and other laws, local or national unless these infringements are rectified.

City Administrator Bonifacio Dela Peña said there have been businesses granted licenses in the past despite non-compliance to city and national laws.

He said owners of these erring enterprises are now complaining and are even castigating the departments concerned for refusing to renew their permits. 

In the Management Committee meeting last March 22, the city department heads agreed that it is high time to adopt a stand to disallow these businesses until they correct their violations or deficiencies.

“Being granted permits before despite these violations is not an assurance that they will be allowed now.  We have to implement the laws and they have to abide by them so we can put things in their proper order,” Dela Peña said.

Dela Peña said his office and the City Planning and Development Office under CPDO Coordinator Arch. Donna Tabangin will be on hand to attend to concerns of businessmen in said situation.

“We are willing to hear you out, enlighten and possibly suggest solutions on how the violations can be rectified.  Our offices will be open to help them out,” he said.

Some of the problems appear to have arisen from the fact that a large part of the structures in the city were built without a zoning clearance, thus, are non-compliant to the city’s Zoning Ordinance of 2001 and 2011 based on the recent audit conducted by the CPDO.

The office is now conducting barangay and sectoral consultations to ensure inclusive planning in updating the city’s land use and zoning master plans.

“This is to ensure that the plans are downloaded to the community and that all residents, entities who plan to purchase properties and develop and the barangay officials are properly informed about the allowable developments in the City,” Tabangin said. – Aileen P. Refuerzo