The Permits and Licenses Division of the Bacolod City Mayor's Office is encouraging taxpayers to renew their business permits on time to avoid penalties.

Division chief Ardis Jaculina yesterday said the deadline for the renewal of Mayor's or business permits is on January 20, although by tradition, it is usually extended to Jan. 31 with the approval of the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod, without surcharges or interest. Taxpayers who fail to renew their business permits after the deadline will be charged a 25 percent surcharge, she said.

Jaculina is also requesting all businesses, accounting offices, bookkeepers and individual taxpayers to bring and present their 2005 Mayor's or business permit to avoid delay. She said that although the city has installed a one-stop-shop to reduce processing time, the failure of the taxpayers to bring their 2005 Mayor's permit cause delay in the process of the renewal of business permits.

Jaculina said there are about 13,000 business permits due for renewal this year and she is expecting 9,000 to 10,000 by Jan. 31. She said renewal of business permits started Jan. 2.

Meanwhile, Jaculina said the German Technical Cooperation and a group from Ateneo Manila will arrive in Bacolod on Wednesday to award the proposed project of the city through Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia. The GTC has granted the Leonardia administration a P285,000 assistance through hardware, software and training of frontliners.

Bacolod and Ormoc are the only two local government units given such grants.*CGS

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