QC gov’t extends validity of business permits, clearances for six months

Mayor Joy Belmonte (in black-colored blouse) and Vice Mayor Gian Sotto in a meeting with small-scale businessmen. Contributed photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government has extended the validity of business permits and ancillary clearances for six months or until July 20, 2022.

Mayor Joy Belmonte said the local government unit issued Ordinance No. SP-3084 which extends the validity of Sanitary Permits, Environmental Clearances, Tourism Accreditation Certificates, DPOS Security Clearances, Traffic Clearances, Liquor Permits, Market Clearances/Certificates, and Veterinary Clearances that are supposed to have expired on January 20.

Permits and clearances expiring after July 20, 2022, but before October 20, 2022, were also extended, she added.

Belmonte said the City Council led by Vice Mayor Gian Sotto approved this new ordinance in consideration of SP-3067- S-2021 which earlier extended the deadline for the payment of business taxes, fees, and charges from January 20, 2022 (First Quarter) and March 20, 2022 (Second Quarter) to July 20, 2022 (Third Quarter).

Mayor Joy Belmonte (center) and Vice Mayor Gian Sotto in a meeting with small-scale businessmen. Contributed photo

Previously, businessmen are unable to renew their business permits and clearances without paying their tax dues in the last quarter ended. For example, a business with a permit expiring 2nd quarter of 2022 would be required to pay tax dues for the 1st quarter of 2022 (the quarter just ended) before renewing their permit.

“This would render the objective of the deadline extension for tax payments irrelevant,” explained Majority Leader Franz Pumaren.

Belmonte said this extension of the tax payment deadline is a manifestation that the city government understands the predicament of businessmen after more than two years of lockdowns imposed by the national government amid the COVID-19 pandemic.