BACOLOD City — Business owners in this city will have more time to secure and renew their permits without penalties after the Sangguniang Panlungsod approved an ordinance extending the deadline for business permit and license applications until March 31, 2026.
Stela Rose Rayos, head of the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO), said the city is currently conducting the Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS) at the lobby of the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) for the issuance and renewal of Mayor’s Permits for 2026, which runs from January 5 to January 20 only.
However, the City Council, during its regular session on Wednesday, unanimously approved on first, second, and third and final readings the measure granting the request of Mayor Greg Gasataya to allow payments made after the regular deadline to be accepted without penalties or surcharges.
Under the ordinance, businesses that pay on or before February 28, 2026 will still enjoy a 10 percent discount on business permit fees. Meanwhile, payments made from March 1 to March 31, 2026 will be processed without additional charges, easing the burden on business owners who need more time to comply.
The move is intended to provide relief to the business sector, especially small and medium enterprises, while maintaining orderly compliance with local regulations.
Councilor Caesar Z. Distrito, the author of the ordinance, said the extension strikes a balance between supporting businesses and sustaining the city’s revenue collection.
“This measure removes the pressure of penalties and gives business owners ample time to comply, while still encouraging early payment through incentives,” Distrito said.
The city government urged business owners to take advantage of the extended deadline and complete their permit transactions within the prescribed period to avoid last-minute congestion.
The extension of the business permit deadline is implemented annually in the city through the passage of a similar measure by the City Council./PN
