Mayor Joy Belmonte has urged the more than 70,000 business owners in Quezon City to immediately comply with the submission of regulatory requirements for Mayor’s Permit, whether new or for renewal, specifically those issued beginning January 1, 2019.
Belmonte issued the call after she was informed by Business Permits and Licensing Department officer-in-charge Marge Santos that almost 80 to 90 percent of business establishments in Quezon City have not yet fully complied with the required clearances.
It was the practice of the previous BPLD administration to allow businesses to submit requirements, such as locational clearances, fire safety inspection certificate, building permit, occupancy permit, sanitary permit and environmental clearances, within 30 days after the Mayor’s Permit was issued. If not, the permit will be cancelled.
Belmonte said she decided to shelve the previous practice as it could lead to a repeat of incidents such as the Ozone Disco and Manor Hotel fires.
“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,” Belmonte said.
Technically, Belmonte said existing permits should be considered revoked due to non-compliance, but the city government is giving business owners enough chance to comply before January 2020.
“This move also aims to make it easier for business owners to renew their permits next year,” said Belmonte, adding that she already ordered the BLPD to remind business owners about their clearance deficiencies.
The Quezon City government also assures the business community that it will further improve its processes in the application and release of clearances and permits in compliance with President Duterte’s call in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) to streamline all transactions in government and fast-track the release of business permits.###(QC Mayor Communication Group)
