BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) rejected the request of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) to extend the deadline for filing business permits.
Councilor Al Victor Espino said during their regular session on Wednesday, February 19, the SP committee on laws, ordinances and good government he chaired was not keen on endorsing an approval for the said extension.
“It would be unfair to other businesses that had promptly processed their business permit renewals and new applications,” the councilor explained.
Earlier, the city government extended the operation of Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS) at the Bacolod City Government Center lobby for business permit renewals and new applications from January 21 to February 15 following the passage of a resolution by the SP.
On February 14, the MBCCI wrote a letter to acting mayor El Cid Familiaran, requesting an extension of the filing of business permits and the first quarter payment of business taxes until March 31, 2025.
MBCCI vice president for government affairs Frank Carbon said the extension would help ease the burden on businesses and reinforce Bacolod’s image as a business-friendly city.
Meanwhile, the City Treasurer’s Office said they already imposed a 10 percent penalty to business establishments effective February 17.
Data from the city’s Business Permits and Licensing Office showed that 19,900 business establishments were registered from January 2 to February 15./PN
