The Bacolod City government has started processing the issuance of business permits yesterday at the City Hall and Permits and License Division head Ardis Jaculina is encouraging the public to apply for renewal before the Jan. 20 deadline.

Jaculina, however, said the BAYS Center is still being cleaned up of effects of the flood but may be ready by Monday. She said they are now installing the facilities for the business applicants and are preparing to install the wireless router that will connect the computers at the BAYS Center to that at the City Hall.

Based on the Revenue Code and the Local Government Code, the deadline for the renewal of business permit is Jan. 20.

However, at demanded by the situation, the Mayor may recommend extension of the renewal of the business permits for the approval of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

She added that she is encouraging the business sector and individual business applicants to apply for renewal as early as possible to avoid any inconvenience. After the deadline business permit applicants will be charged a surcharge of 25 percent of the total amount they have to pay.

Jaculina said the city issued a 13,522 business permits as of December 31, 2006 compared to 12,681 in 2005, or at an increase of about 1,000.

She attributed this to the process offered by the city that makes applying for business permit more convenient, specifically the one-stop-shop installed by the city at the BAYS Center.

Jaculina also said that, although SM City Mall was given by the city a 5-year tax holiday, its 200 to 250 concessionaires will be paying the usual business regulatory fees and business taxes.

She said this will be a big leap for Bacolod, since these businesses are starting to process their business applications as SM will not accept lessees without business permits.

These are factors that will contribute to the increase in the collection of Bacolod City this year, and definitely to the increase of the business permits population, she added.

Jaculina also said one sure factor for the increase in business applicants and investors in the city is that they are naturally friendly and serve with a smile.

She said Bacolod was adjudged the Most Business Friendly City in the Visayas last year by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and had been rated in terms of investment procedure and the incentives given to the business sector.

The city also received the ANVIL Award for its procedure in the one-stop-shop, she said.*CGS

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