By Ahikam Pasion/PNA
DAGUPAN CITY — The One-Stop Business Center (OSBC) here has deferred its tax mapping activities this holiday season and has instead focused on gearing up for the processing and renewal of business permits next year.
“We will resume the tax mapping by January 2019 in order to check the business registration compliance of every business establishment in the city. This is in order for the people not to speculate that local government units’ workers are asking ‘Christmas gifts’ this season,” OSBC head Randolf Ubando said in an interview Tuesday.
He said the office is instead busy preparing for next year’s activities.
Mayor Belen Fernandez met bookkeepers in the agency to identify issues and concerns regarding the processing of business permits, he added.
“Regulatory offices like the city engineering office, bureau of fire protection, city health office, planning and development, and even the treasurer’s office were invited in order to discuss necessary concerns for 2019,” he said.
Permits of any kind, however, will not be processed this month.
Meanwhile, the OSBC reminded business establishments of the penalties to be imposed on them if they were unable to renew their permits.
“Establishments will suffer two-percent monthly interest and a separate 25-percent surcharge in business tax,” Ubando said.
The deadline for renewal of business permits would be on February 20 next year.
He also reminded new business owners to undergo the pre-assessment requirement.
“Through the pre-assessment requirement, we would be able to identify possible lacking requirements in order for them to save time,” he noted.
The OSBC warned to deny applications lacking requirements.
“This is in accordance with Mayor Belen’s ‘no corruption’ war cry. We need to strictly impose this,” Ubando added.