TACLOBAN CITY - The office of the Market Operations of Tacloban City has teamed up with the Business Permit and Licensing Division (BPLD) to conduct tax mapping activities at the city's Public Market, in an effort to raise market revenues and enforce the market code.

According to acting Market Superintendent Danilo D. Alajas, some 690 stalls at the central public market were subjected to tax mapping, and non-compliant stall owners will be asked to secure the proper business permits to continue to operate.

Alajas said that they are acting on reports that some of the stall owners only secured a market clearance but did not apply for a business permit.

He clarified that the market clearance is only a pre-requirement of a stall owner to be able to get a permit to operate.

About P1.5 million in possible revenue has been is lost in this fraudulent activity, the official added.

Once the tax mapping is completed, stall owners who were found to be delinquent will be issued notices, and if on the third occasion they still don't comply, their business will be ordered closed.

Meanwhile, the head of market operations also said they are lobbying for some necessary amendments to the city's outdated market code with the City Council to maximize the income of the public market. (Tacloban CIO)