Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has approved the letter-request of Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña dated Jan. 22, 2026, for a same-day release of temporary business permits in compliance with Executive Order No. 048, series of 2026, that streamlines applications for business permits.
The vice mayor asked that the requirement for notarization of the application form and undertakings under oath be removed, provided that all required taxes, charges, and fees have been fully paid.
In a Facebook post, Osmeña wrote that many people in City Hall had made a sideline of charging up to P400 in notarizations which were not legally required.
“This places an unnecessary and unfair burden on our taxpayers,” he wrote.
“I am happy to announce that Mayor Nestor has agreed to stop this practice effective immediately. The City Government’s job is to make your life easier, not harder. So that’s what we’ll do!” Osmeña said.
In a separate Facebook post on Jan. 24, Mayor Archival said they just wanted businesses to do well and good in Cebu City.
“Because when businesses thrive, our city thrives. This is part of building a smarter, more sustainable, and more inclusive Cebu City,” he said.
In a statement released by the Cebu City Public Information Office, the initiative aims to reduce processing time, cut red tape, and support entrepreneurs, particularly small and medium enterprises, by allowing them to operate legally while completing other regulatory requirements.
City officials assured that the implementation of the same-day release policy would be coordinated with concerned departments to ensure proper compliance and smooth execution.
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