Two high-end apparel stores and an international perfume shop located at the luxury resort hotel Okada Manila in Entertainment City were padlocked by the Parañaque City government over the weekend.
For non-payment of business fees and permits for the past years, ordered closed were Tommy Hilfiger, an American premium clothing company; and Joe Fresh, a fashion brand and retail chain. Their products also include footwear, beauty and cosmetics.
Also shut down was Jo Malone London, a British perfume and scented candle brand, located at the ground floor of Okada Manila.
Lawyer Melanie Soriano-Malaya, chief of the city Business Permits and Licensing Office, said the three retail stores have failed to settle their annual business permit obligations despite receiving demand letters earlier this year.
Two weeks ago, upon orders of Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, the BPLO simultaneously closed 33 erring Chinese-run restaurants and businesses found operating without business permits and violating several city ordinances.
Most of them are located along Quirino Avenue and the boundaries of Barangays Baclaran and Tambo, where restaurants catering to Chinese workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators are located.
Soriano-Malaya clarified that the three Okada tenants did not violate any city ordinances. However, the shops failed to renew their respective business permits, mayor’s permits, and pay their tax arears for the past two years.
“This is to show that the Olivarez administration is serious in cracking down on erring establishments and delinquent taxpayers, either local or (owned by) foreign investor-businessman in the city,” she pointed out.
“Walang palakasan o favoritism dito,” said Soriano-Malaya. “As long as they neglect paying their annual business dues, ipapasara namin ang negosyo nila sa lungsod kahit sila ay negosyanteng nagmula sa China, America, Canada o Iceland.”
Olivarez warned seven more Chinese-run restaurants located in Multinational Village in Barangay Moonwalk to voluntarily close their respective establishments after they found out during surveillance that they violated several city ordinances.
Earlier, BPLO inspectors padlocked Shangyin Restaurant; YY Shabu Shabu and Grill; Sticklove Restaurant; Parkson Mart, a convenience store; LSSA Entrance Food Mart; and All Things Supermart, all located in Multinational Village.
City hall officials also discovered that the Chinese nationals working as restaurant cooks, waitresses and staff are without any valid work permits and using Filipino dummies to operate their businesses.