The Pasay City Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) has ordered the permanent closure of Wowee Market, a privately owned public market along Taft Avenue in Barangay 97, Pasay City for lack of business permit.
According to the BPLO, the closure was implemented on Friday, Dec.19, following repeated violations committed by the market’s owner, identified as Yok Tin Tan So. Based on the issued closure order, the establishment consistently failed to comply with essential regulatory requirements to operate legally.
City authorities noted that Wowee Market lacked several vital documents, including building permit, occupancy permit, and sanitation permit, all of which are mandatory for business operations.
These alleged failures were cited in the BPLO’s recommendation for closure after determining that the violations were recurrent and unresolved.
Records further showed that the owner had been issued multiple Notices to Comply starting December 2024, with the most recent notice dated June 25, 2025. Despite these warnings, the owner allegedly failed to submit the required documents and did not take corrective action to secure the appropriate business permit.
The owner also reportedly filed a court case against Pasay City officials, seeking to compel the BPLO to issue a business permit for the market. However, the court denied the motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO), allowing the city government to proceed with enforcement actions.
Due to the continued non-compliance, the city government issued the closure and cease-and-desist order, immediately halting the market’s operations.
City officials emphasized that Wowee Market will not be allowed to resume operations until all regulatory requirements were fully met and a valid business permit granted.
Meanwhile, the city government also issued a strong warning to all business owners and operators within the city, stressing that the local government is firm and serious in enforcing regulations related to business permits and compliance with city ordinances.
