Local government units (LGUs) in the province of Antique are extending their deadline for the renewal of business permits upon the request of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to help business owners affected by the pandemic.

DILG Antique provincial director Cherryl P. Tacda said on Tuesday that there are three LGUs out of the total 18 in the province that already approved resolutions for the extension of the renewal of business permits while five have pending proposals before their municipal councils.

Renewal of business permits was scheduled from January 3 to January 17, 2022.

“The towns that have already approved resolutions for the extension are Sibalom, Sebaste, and Caluya,” Tacda added.

She said the towns of Belison, Tibiao, Hamtic, Valderrama, and Tobias Fornier have pending resolutions waiting to be tackled during the municipal council regular session this week.

Rodel Esler, Sibalom Municipal Economic Enterprise Development Officer (MEEDO), said in an interview that their Mayor Gian Carlo Occeña requested for an extension to the municipal council to help business owners in his hometown in their financial recovery.

“The Sibalom municipal council tackled the extension during their session on January 14,” he said.

He said that the Sibalom municipal council then approved a more than a month-long extension until February 20.

Tacda on Jan. 4 issued a provincial memorandum reminding the mayors on the proper assessment of the local business tax and enjoining them also to provide incentives such as an extension of the business renewal deadline.

The provincial memorandum was in reference with the DILG Advisory on December 24, 2021 enjoining the mayors to extend payment of regular fees and charges without surcharges or penalties as well as to provide other possible assistance for businesses. (PNA)