• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
An ordinance prescribing the guidelines for the issuance of a special business permit for small-scale businesses, including street vending, home-based businesses, sari-sari stores, and ambulant vendors or peddlers in Bacolod City, was passed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City on first reading Wednesday.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said the City Government of Bacolod recognizes the significant role of small-scale businesses, including street vending, home-based businesses, sari-sari stores, and ambulant vendors or peddlers in providing goods and services to communities, especially in informal and densely populated areas.
Many small-scale entrepreneurs struggle to secure business permits due to extensive requirements, leading to non-compliance and lost revenue for the city government, it said.
The ordinance will apply exclusively to small-scale businesses operating within Bacolod City with gross sales/ receipts not exceeding P250,000 per year and an initial capitalization not exceeding P150,000.
The issuance of a special business permit (SBP) will not be construed as granting ownership, tenancy, or any legal right over the land, structure, or location where the business is being conducted, it said.
The local government reserves the right to revoke or deny renewal of the SBP if the business is found to be operating on land where the owner or government prohibits such activities, the ordinance said.
The grounds for revocation of the SBP are as follows: misrepresentation or fraud, violation of public order and safety regulations, operation outside designated vending zones or routes pursuant to C.O. No. 1009, and unauthorized transfer, or misuse of SBP.
A minimal processing fee of P1,000 will be charged for the issuance of the SBP.
To encourage compliance, a grace period of six months from the effectivity of the ordinance will be given for unregistered small-scale businesses, including sari-sari stores, home-based businesses, and ambulant vendors or peddlers to secure a SBP. After the grace period, penalties will be imposed.*
