Belen moves for closure of bank at MC Adore
HOW is it possible that a bank can operate at the ground floor of the former MC Adore Hotel without a business permit nor a building or renovation permit from the city government? And how is it able to operate without a legal power connection?
This question was posed by Acting Mayor Belen Fernandez when she saw the City State Savings Bank formally opening its services to the public while she was conducting an inspection of the Malimgas Public Market last week.
Fernandez, mayor-elect, is now consulting with lawyers, including the City Legal Office, on what actions should be taken against the bank for its flagrant violation of city laws and in the light of decision of Regional Trial Court Judge Mervin Jovito Samadan of Branch 40 declaring the resolution that authorized outgoing Mayor Benjamin Lim to negotiate the sale of MC Adore as null and void.
Fernandez said she intends to order the closure of the bank, reportedly a subsidiary of the company that bought MC Adore for P119 million.
She has already directed the city treasury office to send a notice to the bank to inform it of its violation.
NO PERMITS
Fernandez immediately called the One-Stop Business Center (OSBC) upon seeing the bank’s opening for operation, and she received the confirmation that no business permit was issued to the bank.
At the same time, City Engineer Virginia Rosario also confirmed that the bank has not been granted a building permit or a renovation permit for its facilities.
Rosario said she already wrote the bank to warn against its violation and also pointed out the uncertainty of the stability of the whole MC Adore structure.
She said she will send a second letter to inform the bank that her office can no longer act favorably on its application for a building permit in view of the recent court decision.
Fernandez also noted that the bank has no service connection with the Dagupan Electric Corporation so it is clearly tapping electricity from an adjacent establishment.
NON-DAGUPAN BUSINESSMEN
She criticized the Lim administration’s ultra-lenient policy on non-Dagupan businessmen while being harsh on locally-grown traders.
“If you recall, they did the same thing before with three beach resorts in Bonuan Binloc that built their structures even on part of public domain and were allowed to operate even without business permits,” she said. “They, too, were given certificates by the city hall enabling then to secure electricity,” Fernandez added.
“Today, how can a bank, which is only less than 50 meters away from city hall escape the eyes of Mayor Lim or even City Administrator Vlad Mata unless they officially tolerated it themselves?” she added.
“We need investors in Dagupan but before they can start their businesses, they must comply with all the requirements under our laws like everyone else,” the mayor-elect said.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
