TWO restaurants were ordered closed by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña for operating without a business permit from City Hall.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, August 2, Osmeña said he ordered the closure of the two business establishments even if one of the owners is close to him. He did not name the restaurants and the owners.
Osmeña said one restaurant has not renewed its business permit for five years. The other one did not secure a business permit at all since it started operating last year.
He said the owners violated the Cebu City's Revised Omnibus Tax Ordinance.
"Both are million-peso businesses, not carenderias. Per due process, the city treasurer gave two warnings over a span of months, and the City Legal Office issued a show cause order. Still no compliance," the mayor wrote in his post.
As stated in the closure orders, the owners of the two establishments were given notices to comply last June 1 and July 13, but they failed to correct the deficiencies noted by the City.
Another show cause order dated July 21 was also issued to them.
"I know that she is only a minority shareholder and has no power over the operation of the restaurant, but what's wrong is wrong. So now, closed. In fairness to her, she never asked for special treatment. I wouldn't have given it anyway. Fair is fair," he added. (RVC)