Oro council gives firms more time

By NITZ ARANCON
and LITO RULONA
Correspondents

THE city council on Monday extended the deadline for the renewal of business permits here to Feb. 28.

The approval of the extension, through Ordinance 13183-2017, came three days after the deadline on Friday.

The ordinance was authored by Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya.

The extension was endorsed by Councilor Edna Dahino, chair of the city council’s committee on finance, budget and appropriations, after Mayor Oscar Moreno received a request for more time from local business groups.

Councilor George Goking said local business leaders sought an extension given last week’s floods that resulted in millions of pesos in business losses.

“We found out that the request of the business sector is valid,” said Dahino.

Those who voted for the approval of the extension were councilors Teodulfo Lao Jr., Reuben Daba,  Enrico Salcedo, Romeo Calizo, Ma. Lourdes Gaane, Zaldy Ocon, Dahino, Goking and Nacaya.

No one voted against its passage but councilors Leon Gan, Lordan Suan, and Yam Lam Lim abstained.

Gan said he was no opposed to the extension but “what is there to  extend… nga ang deadline sa renewal sa business permit milapas na man niadtong  Jan. 20?”

He said the ordinance should have been approved before the date of expiration.

“Angayan unta nga dili na lamang lugwayan ang period but to cancel the imposition of any penalty. Gawas og wala pa mahuman pwede na dayun lugwayan,” he said.

Nacaya said Gan’s argument was flawed. “Kon pabor sa katawhan ang pag-approve sa usa ka bala-od, mahimo kana…”

Nacaya pointed out that the extension was a response to the call of the city’s business community.

Lao, for his part, said he voted for the extension because the things that Gan have said were not in the Local Government Code.