Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan speaks in a press conference on Wednesday, August 21 at the Marina Seaview Restaurant in Barangay Pusok. CDN Digital photo | Rosalie Abatayo
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines — Requiring the approval of the city council for the issuance of permits for foreshore businesses runs contrary to the Ease of Doing Business Law.
This was cited by Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan as he announced in a press conference on Wednesday, August 21, 2019, his veto on City Ordinance No. 15-001 or the Ordinance on Municipal Waters Use.
Sponsored by Councilor Ricardo Amores, the ordinance required that a Resolution of No Objection from the city council should be among the requirements for the issuance of permits for businesses that make use of the municipal waters within the city’s jurisdiction.
The city council passed the ordinance last July 25, 2019.
Chan also sent his letter of veto to Vice Mayor Celedonio Sitoy last August 13.
Under the ordinance, the businesses that would need an SP resolution to be granted permit are foreshore lease, fishpond lease, reclamation projects, port or wharf development and jetty or small port constructions.
“For business entities, no business permit or mayor’s permit shall be issued without such valid Resolution of No Objection from the Sangguniang Panlungsod and for private use, no development permit can be issued without the corresponding resolution,” Section 3 of the ordinance states.
But according to Chan, the additional requirement would only burden businessmen and prolong the process of business permit application.
The Ease of Doing Business Law simple requires that simple transactions should be completed in 3 to seven days.
President Rodrigo Duterte, in his recent State of the Nation Address, also directed local chief executives to streamline the processes and requirements for the issuance of business permits.
Chan added that prolonging the processes in the business permit application may trigger practices of corruption especially that businessmen would want quick resolutions to their requests.
A review from the council, Chan said, is no longer necessary for the said businesses since there are separate national line agencies that give their permits as a requisite for the issuance of business permits.
Reclamation projects and foreshore lease requires clearance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) while fishpond lease requires permit from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. /bmjo