A CITY councilor said most business permits that were delayed are from "those who try to put up businesses in improper zones."
This is what the City Council's Committee on Trade and Commerce chair Bernard Al-ag said "based on his observations and from the complaints he received from his office".
"Example kining mga negosyante na gusto magtukod og factory unya naa siya sa residential zone, di gyud na ma-approve (Like businesses that wanted to build factories within residential zones, we cannot approve them), we're very strict about this," Al-ag said in an interview with dxGM Super Radyo Davao, June 7.
Other factors that delay business permits are those who would want to put up near conservation areas, like in Marilog and Paquibato areas.
He said some insist on putting up businesses near rivers, forests, residential areas, and the like, which are prohibited based on the city's Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Comprehensive Zoning Ordinances.
The city councilor added two main reasons why businesses had delays in processing their permits were proper zoning, and laws concerning the environment.
"Naa tay ginatawag na (We have the) Comprehensive Land Use Plan, diha gyud na magsugod ang atoang pagcheck sa atong negosyo kung pwede ba o dili (from this plan, we start checking applicants for businesses if their area is suitable)," Al-ag said.
"Ako po'ng awhag sa mga negosyante... before mo magpalit og property para sa inyong negosyo, icheck ninyo sa City Planning Office kung pwede ba diha inyong negosyo na inyong gusto (I encourage all businessmen that before buying a property for your business, check with the City Planning Office if it is suitable and compliant with the City ordinances and laws)," he added.
However, Al-ag said there is still a need to expedite business permit transactions, among other city permits.
Al-ag said as of the moment, the city government had benchmarked with the Valenzuela City local government unit (LGU) to see how digitalization works and how it can be applied also in Davao City.
"Nakita namo na posible ni siya, ang programa man sad gud ni [Davao City] Mayor [Sebastian] Baste Duterte is digitalization man gud, mao na ang atoang goal na mahitabo ni sya puhon (We have seen that it is indeed possible, with the digitalization program of Mayor Sebastian 'Baste' Duterte, our goal is to achieve this soon)," Al-ag said.
Notably, the ease of doing business had been long lobbied by the city government, local businesses and the Regional Development Council - Davao Region (RDC-Davao).
This includes digitalizing processing of permit renewals and other government transactions, which is under House Bill (HB) No. 7327 entitled, "An Act institutionalizing the transition of the government to E-Governance in the digital age, creating for the purpose the Philippine Infrastructure Management Corp. and appropriating funds therefore" was approved on its final reading in the Congress on March 6. ICE
