Mayor Nestor Archival has ordered faster processing of business permit renewals in Cebu City by strictly enforcing provisions of the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.
In Memorandum No. 2026-00165 dated March 10, 2026, Archival directed the city’s Business Permit and Licensing Office to implement Section 17 of the law’s implementing rules to speed up the issuance of the required Fire Safety Inspection Certificate (FSIC).
Under the directive, the Bureau of Fire Protection must submit to the city government either the required FSIC or a negative list of establishments with unresolved fire safety concerns within three working days from the time a business files its permit renewal application.
The negative list will identify establishments with pending fire safety compliance issues. Businesses not included in the list will be considered compliant and may proceed with the renewal of their permits.
The memorandum also provides a safeguard intended to prevent delays in the renewal process. If the Bureau of Fire Protection fails to submit either the FSIC or the negative list within the prescribed three-day period, the business will be deemed to have a temporarily valid FSIC, allowing the city government to process and release the renewed business permit.
The directive states that the temporary validity will be without prejudice to any future action the Bureau of Fire Protection may take should fire safety violations later be discovered.
Archival said the measure is part of efforts to align the city’s procedures with the national government’s policy of improving efficiency in public service delivery while ensuring that fire safety standards remain enforced.
The memorandum has been issued for the guidance and compliance of concerned offices in the Cebu City government. (LLP)
