by Aileen Refuerzo

 A stiffer fine is being sought here to penalize businessmen who continue to operate their enterprise without the necessary business permit.

Councilor Philian Louise Weygan-Allan proposed an ordinance amending existing tax measures to impose a P5,000 fine on business establishments that will operate for more than a year without securing a mayor’s permit.

As proposed, the penalty can be levied after an investigation conducted by the city treasurer’s office and the concerned barangay. In her proposed Tax Ordinance No. 15-2001, Weygan sought to amend section 3, section 2 of Tax Ordinance No. 2004-01 entitled “An Ordinance Providing a Set of Rules and Regulations Governing the Administration, Appraisal, Assessment, Levy and Collection of Realty Taxes, Business Taxes, Permit Fees, Building and Lot Rentals in the City of Baguio and such other Fees and Charges Therefor Pursuant to the Provisions of the Local Government Code 1991.”

Tax Ordinance Numbered 2004-01 amended certain provision of Tax Ordinance No. 2000-001 including Section 3, Section 2 F), Chapter I. Title I of Tax Ordinance Numbered 2000-001.

Under said measure, the city imposes a penalty of P1,000 fine or imprisonment against businesses operating without permits for not more than six months.

But Weygan said that the City Treasury Office observed that, despite the P1,000 fine, many businessmen continue to operate without the permit for more than a year, thus, the need to impose a stiffer penalty.
Weygan’s proposal has been approved on first reading and will be deliberated on by the city council on second reading after publication. *(PIO Baguio City/AR-PIA CAR)