Citystate bank still operating sans permits
DAGUPAN’S OSBC CONFIRMS
THE Dagupan City government stood pat on its previous claim that the Citystate Savings Bank at the ground floor of the former MC Adore Hotel is operating without a business permit nor the prerequisite building permit for renovating the premises.
Carmen Olpindo, chief of the One-Stop-Business Center, told The PUNCH that the bank’s registration and payment of fees do not appear in any of their centralized computer files or records.
Olpindo, whose signature is affixed in all business permits, added that she cannot recall processing the bank’s application at anytime in the past.
”Wala siyang application, hindi siya naka-register. Kung nagbayad siya, ito ay naka-register,’ said Olpindo.
“The bank may have an application with the City Engineer’s Office but not in our office,” said Olpindo.
Earlier, City Administrator Farah Decano confirmed that to date, City Engineer Virginia Rosario has not issued any building permit to the bank, which has been operating since June this year.
Decano said Mayor Belen Fernandez has ordered Rosario to determine other violations of the bank when it constructed its office without a building permit.
A building permit is also required by the Dagupan Electric Corporation (Decorp) from applicants of power service.
However, in the libel case filed by the Citystate Savings Bank against Decorp’s Jojo Liwag and The PUNCH staff, the bank manifested in its complaint that Decorp has been accepting the bank’s payments for the consumption of the electric meter it used.
Decorp has not clarified its position on the bank’s claim since the libel case was filed.
Liwag earlier told local media that the bank is sourcing electricity from an old connection used by the police station that used to occupy the space.
Decano also clarified that neither the mayor has issued any business permit to the bank.
However, city hall observers are wondering why the bank is allowed to continue to operate by the city government if the bank has not complied with the city’s ordinances.
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