ILOILO City — With government work suspensions cutting short processing days and Dinagyang Festival 2026 preparations stretching the capacity of local entrepreneurs, Mayor Raisa Treñas has endorsed a proposal to extend the deadline for business permit renewal to January 31, 2026, without penalties, to ease compliance pressures at the start of the year.
Under the city’s Revised Local Revenue Code, business owners are required to renew permits by January 20 to avoid penalties.
However, Treñas said the shortened number of working days caused by the suspension of government office operations late last year, coupled with intensive preparations for Dinagyang, warranted a temporary adjustment of the deadline.
“I have endorsed to the Iloilo City Council the extension…so that there will be no penalties,” the mayor said.
Treñas pointed to Memorandum Circular No. 111 issued by the Office of the President on December 18, 2025, which suspended work in government offices during the holiday period, significantly reducing the time available for processing business permit renewals.
The mayor also noted that many businesses, particularly those in tourism, food, retail, and services, have been heavily focused on operational preparations for the Dinagyang Festival, limiting the time they could devote to administrative compliance.
Treñas urged business owners to take advantage of the proposed extension and complete their renewals on or before January 31 to avoid penalties, which include a 25 percent surcharge and a two percent interest per month on unpaid taxes.
To ensure smoother transactions, she said the city government has implemented measures to make the renewal process more accessible. Aside from Iloilo City Hall, payments may be made at offsite payment centers located at The Atrium, Marymart Mall, Festive Walk Mall, and SM City Iloilo./PN
