An official of the Business Bureau of Davao City affirmed that the restaurant sector continues to be vibrant after the Covid-19 pandemic based on data.
“After the pandemic, it’s very good to note the restaurant sector in Davao City is alive and kicking and their operations are vibrant. Since the data will speak for it,” Maribel Paguican, officer-in-charge of the Business Bureau told Edge Davao.
Paguican reported that from the period of January to November 26, 2024, the Business Bureau processed 1,241 applications from the registered business establishments and out of this it already issued 1,083 while 158 are on process.
“Some of them naa lang gamay na problema with other regulatory offices. But since they already applied and paid we considered them in operation,” she said.
Paguican said the mentioned number will contribute to what they are claiming that the restaurant sector continues to thrive in Davao City.
Paguican also emphasized that they considered the place a restaurant when food is being cooked inside.
“We have a definition of a restaurant. If the food will be cooked that is considered a restaurant. We wish to further have the definition na ma-polish because there are ang ilahang area gamay kaayo but since ginaluto ang pagkaon they are still categorized as a restaurant,” she said.
Paguican said the Business Bureau continues to coordinate with the City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) on giving relief to resto owners for the sector to continue to thrive.
“We already discussed with the City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) nga fine dining gyud basta restaurant. We will define more ang atong restaurant to give more relief and relaxation for those very small na ingon ani na sector na qualify as a restaurant. Maayo ang atong partnership with the CTOO and we talk more often kung paano matabangan ang sector para sa kalambuan sa sector,” she said.
Paguican said that among the requirements that need to be complied with by the restaurant owners is the implementation of the Septage and Sewerage Management Ordinance of Davao City, also known as Ordinance No. 0363-10, which requires owners of commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings to have an operational wastewater treatment facility.
“Ang isa sa ilang mga hangyo is to suspend the implementation (ordinance) so they were given before of another extension kay medyo bug-at ang compliance ani nga ordinance like onsite treatment sa water facilities, medyo bug-at gyud siya and the city has seen sa kabug-aton sa pag comply. So, we sit down and talk with them,” she said.
Paguican said the city did not require the restaurant owners to be in full compliance with the said ordinance since 2010.
“Ato lang gina-categorize kung kinsa lang gyud tung dapat mag-comply,” she said.
She also said even the City Health Office (CHO) is extending leeways in their requirement to the restaurant owners for them to comply.
“We don’t want the sector to die because their number is our number. Kung ato silang tuk-on, wala mi output. As much as possible the office that would want them to stay alive kami tu nga office. We reach out also with other offices na directly regulating them kay mag discuss mi kung unsa ma-extend para sa ilaha,” Paguican added.
