Isko Moreno: Manila malls with illegal merchants will be closed down

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno answers questions during a press conerence on Tuesday, July 9, 2019. (File photo by CATHY MIRANDA / INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippine — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Wednesday threatened to shut down malls with businesses that do not have permits to operate.

Moreno personally conducted an inspection at Lacson Underpass in Quiapo on Tuesday night and found that of the 20 merchants he randomly checked, two have no business permits to present.

But the vendors claimed their permits are with the administration of Victory Mall.

According to Moreno, “it does not work that way.”

“Lahat ng mall na matatagpuan namin na nagungupahan sa inyo ay walang business permit, pati mall niyo isasara ko, because you are coddling illegal vending or illegal transaction of business in your premises. You will be held liable,” Moreno said in a press conference.

A Commission on Audit report also revealed that more than 1,400 business establishments in Manila are operating with permits. This, Moreno said, deprives the local government of additional sources of revenue.

Moreno warned that only one chance will be given to merchants operating without an appropriate permit to be able to operate.

“We are going to look at the records of the Commission on Audit to see where these business establishments are,” Moreno said.

“Who are continuing to do business without a permit? Buti pa ang mga vendor nagbabayad pa ng etneb, sila hindi. Nasa mall pa sila. It doesn’t make sense. Hindi ko maintindihan,” he added. /kga