LBC branches in Cebu City will be served notices today or tomorrow reminding them to have blue guards secure their establishments or risk having their business permits revoked.
City Legal Officer Jerone Castillo showed reporters a copy of the draft “Notice to Institute Security Measures, Explain, and Revoke Business Permits”.
Mayor Michael Rama who was in Manila yesterday said he would sign the notices as soon as it reaches his office today.
“Failure to provide security measures for their employees and transacting public is a ground for revocation of their business permit,” Castillo said.
Several LBC branches were the recent target of robberies in Cebu City, many of which security guards or functioning CCTV cameras.
There are 33 LBC branches in the city of which 13 are located inside malls, base don City Hall records.
Juanita Paires, head of the city’s tax mapping division, said the notices will be sent out to the different LBC branches in the city after being signed by the mayor.
Ten field personnel will do site visits to check if LBC branches comply.
LBC management will be asked first to explain in writing why their business permit should not be revoked within three days of the notice.
Under the terms of the business permit, Section 2 says it remains valid “unless revoked by the city mayor for violation of the conditions upon which it is granted, or if facts prohibited by law or city ordinances are being committed under the protection of such license.
Rama earlier expressed alarm over the impact of the series of robberies on the image of Cebu City as an investment destination.
Rama said he wanted to set a poilcy requiring all business establishments in the city, especially those engaged in handling money, to hire security personnel.
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