BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The Bacolod City Legal Office has issued a notice to vacate to the occupant of Center Remnant, a store that sells lace and buttons at the Central Market, after his application for a business permit was denied by the city government.
In a press conference yesterday, Regin David said his application to operate Market Block 136, where the Center Remnant stands, was denied after the city government claims that he is not a direct heir of the owner and has no business permit for 2018 and 2019.
Regin said he is the grandson of the late Rolando David Sr., occupant of Market Block 136 since the 1950s, and when his grandfather died on July 24, 2019, his heirs executed a declaration of heirship and waived their rights to the market block in his favor.
However, when he applied for occupancy, Regin said his application was denied. He filed a motion for reconsideration but before it was resolved, the CLO issued him a notice to vacate, he said.
He added his grandfather failed to renew the business permit for the past two years due to his old age and not for purposely defying the law.
While they have been dutifully paying the taxes for Center Remnant for years, Regin said their payment was not accepted in February.
When he inquired with the City Treasurer’s Office, he was informed that the block has a closure order.
He said he already delivered the payment for business permits for 2018 and 2019 to the Permits and Licensing Division but this was ordered returned by market superintendent Allyn Luv Zamora-Dignadice.
While his application for business permit was denied, Regin said his first cousin occupies Market Block 134 after claiming that the occupancy was awarded to her on October 5, 2019.
Regin insisted that his cousin was never involved in the business and has no letter from the CLO or local market committee to show to validate her occupancy of the store.
Regin appealed for intervention from Mayor Evelio Leonardia for the sake of the 11 workers who depend on the business to support their families. He said these workers are under their employ for 27 years.
He said the mayor has endorsed his letter to the CLO and the City Administrator’s Office.*
