BAGUIO CITY — The City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), in a forum with the city council recently, clarified that businesses within residential zones must comply with the requirements set forth by the city’s zoning ordinance in order to legally operate, the city council information office said on Thursday.
The discussion was prompted by a complaint of a resident of Pinget Barangay who was issued a notice of violation for operating a milk tea and pizza store without a required business permit.
As per inspection of the CPDO, the milk tea and pizza store is located in a low density residential zone or R-1.
According to the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance of the City of Baguio (Ordinance 51-2001), home occupation for the practice of one’s profession or for engaging in an in-house business is allowed in areas classified as R-1 but with conditions.
One of the conditions is that a micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) shall not occupy more than 30% of the floor area of a dwelling unit and that there shall be no change or alteration in the outside appearance of the dwelling unit.
The said store, however, is not within a dwelling unit but is located instead on the second floor of the property owner’s parking space.
The CPDO’s findings also indicated that the store is within the area that is a subject of a petition for segregation from the Buyog Watershed.
The store owner was ordered to suspend its business operation and was given five days to process his business permit.
CPDO representative James Cosep said the store owner had been advised to relocate his business.
Cosep also said that one of the conditions for the proposed segregation of the area from the Buyog Watershed is that the residents must maintain their structures only for residential purposes, as agreed upon in 2016 by the city government, the Baguio Water District, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the United Pinger Homeowners’ Association.
For her part, Permits and Licensing Division representative Geraldine Angulo said the issuance of business permits depends on the approval of all concerned offices.
The applicant must also obtain a barangay clearance from the concerned barangay, health clearance from the City Health Services Office, building clearance from the City Buildings and Architecture Office, sewerage and parks clearance from the City Environment and Parks Management Office, and fire safety clearance from the Baguio Fire Station aside from the locational zoning clearance issued by the CPDO.
Angulo said 132 businesses in Pinget Barangay were issued business permits while 59 were given notices of violation.
Meanwhile, Councilor Benny Bomogao urged the CPDO to be “less restrictive” and to suggest amendment of the local laws if possible in favor of the businesses in the city.
“We should be looking forward to making our city business-friendly. Let us relax our rules. Help us amend our ordinances so that our city will thrive,” Bomogao said.
IN PHOTO: The population of Pinget Barangay according to the 2020 Census is 7,774, representing 2.12% of the total population of Baguio. (Photo courtesy of Cris delos Santos Biala)
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