Zarraga mayor fined for delay in business permit

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Office of the Ombudsman has found Mayor Ma. Jofel Marañon-Soldevilla of Zarraga, Iloilo administratively liable for violating the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 for failing to promptly act on a contractor’s business permit application.

In a decision dated July 23, the Ombudsman imposed a fine equivalent to six months of Soldevilla’s basic salary after finding “substantial evidence” to hold her liable for violating Republic Act No. 11032.

The 15-page ruling also issued a stern warning to Soldevilla that similar conduct in the future would be dealt with more severely.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Christopher S. Solas, owner of CSS Construction Services, who applied to renew his business permit in April 2023 after submitting all required documents and paying the necessary fees.

When Solas followed up in July, the Business Permits and Licensing Office informed him that his application was pending the mayor’s signature.

Instead of approving the permit, Soldevilla required Solas to submit a list of accomplishments for his projects from the Department of Public Works and Highways.

She also demanded a completion certificate for his projects in Antique and Leganes, Iloilo.

Solas argued that these additional requirements were not listed in the 2022 Citizen’s Charter and questioned why the local government accepted his payment if the permit would not be granted.

He said Soldevilla returned his documents without a formal denial or explanation, prompting him to file a complaint before the Ombudsman.

“Almost three months had passed since complainant (Solas) processed/submitted the requirements and made the payments for the renewal of his business permit, without any appropriate action thereon by respondent (Soldevilla),” the decision stated.

The Ombudsman found no valid reason for the delay, noting that the application did not require council approval and was not affected by any disaster.

It said the delay was solely due to the mayor’s demand for additional documents that were not legally required.

“(Soldevilla) could not provide any reason for why she did not just approve or deny Solas’ application within the period and in the manner prescribed under R.A. 11032,” it added.

While the 2023 Citizen’s Charter contained updated requirements, the Ombudsman noted it was not yet in effect when Solas filed his application.

It emphasized that if the mayor had legitimate grounds to deny the application, she should have issued a written denial within the prescribed time to allow the complainant to seek appropriate legal remedies.