Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada announced that to protect consumers, he has launched a renewed crackdown against businesses operating without permits from the city hall.
Estrada directed the city’s Bureau of Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) to join Task Force Manila Cleanup in road clearing operations.
“I have directed the Task Force, once they have finished clearing the illegal vendors, to randomly check the business permits of stores,” the mayor said.
“If the owners of stalls and stores cannot present their permits, we will close them,” Estrada added.
Three clothing stores on Pedro Gil were issued closure orders by city hall inspectors when they presented expired business permits.
Task Force Manila Cleanup also apprehended 15 illegal vendors; they were among the vendors who were driven away during a previous operation in the same area.
Acting on Estrada’s directive, Fortune Mayuga, officer-in-charge of the Bureau of Permits, said an average of five businesses are issued closure orders every day due to lack of or expired business permits.
“If the traders cannot go through the process of securing new permits, a closure order follows,” Mayuga explained.