Bacolod City Issues 50 Closure Orders, Shuts Down 19 Businesses for Operating Without Permits

INQUIRER FILES BACOLOD CITY — The Bacolod City government has served closure orders on 50 business establishments and shut down 19 as it intensifies its crackdown on firms operating without the required permits. The campaign, ordered by Mayor Greg Gasataya, aims to ensure a level playing field for businesses that comply with local laws, according to a statement issued Friday (July 17) by the Bacolod City Communications Office (BCCO). City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chiu said the initiative seeks to protect law-abiding entrepreneurs from unfair competition. READ: Three cities, one victory: Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod power Visayas property growth A joint task force composed of the City Legal Office (CLO), Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO), Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO), and Bacolod Traffic and Transport Management Department (BTTMD) began serving closure orders on Thursday. The enforcement followed a month-and-a-half grace period after notices to comply were first issued on May 29. Business owners were given time to secure the necessary permits before closures were enforced under Section 65, Article 20 of City Ordinance No. 565, or the Revised Revenue Code of Bacolod City. On the first day of operations, two inspection teams closed 19 establishments and retail stalls, mostly located inside a major mall in the Upper East area and around Villa Angela East Block and Marketplace. The task force also shut down a well-known grocery store and a major home improvement retailer for operating without the required permits. The crackdown continued on Friday with the closure of a popular restobar along B.S. Aquino Drive after it allegedly failed to secure the necessary permits despite receiving two notices to comply. While enforcing the law, the city is also helping businesses regularize their operations. Gasataya recently issued Executive Order No. 81 creating the Bacolod Business Investment Assistance Desk to help business owners and investors process permits, occupancy clearances, zoning requirements, and other regulatory documents. Chiu said the city has already seen positive results, with nine previously closed establishments allowed to reopen on Friday after their owners signed formal undertakings to comply with the requirements. The businesses were granted a 15-day grace period to continue operating while completing the processing of their permits with the assistance of the new business desk. The CLO and BPLO will continue serving the remaining closure orders in the coming days. The city government urged all unregistered businesses to immediately secure the required permits and comply with local regulations, warning that enforcement operations will continue against violators. /das