Small businesses in Santa Cruz, Laguna who are now enduring the full impact of the current oil crisis have been given a new lifeline by the local government.
Two ordinances recently passed by the local council of Santa Cruz enabled small enterprises to continue their operations and provide for their families without the burden of paying for their local duties.
Municipal Ordinance No. 08-2026 provides for an exemption of small businesses, particularly sari-sari stores and eateries (carinderias) from local tax and business permit fees.
The exemption covers sari-sari stores and carinderias with a start-up capital of P10,000 and annual gross sales of not more than P150,000.
However, the exemption does not cover stores selling tobacco products and alcoholic drinks.
Meanwhile, Municipal Ordinance No. 14-2026 grants a three-year exemption from paying local business taxes for qualified stallholders and vendors inside the Santa Cruz Public Market.
The three-year exemption covers the years 2027 to 2029, according to the ordinance, and requires stallholders and owners to follow health, sanitation and safety regulations and fulfill all their financial obligations to the local government before the three-year tax holiday.
According to the Santa Cruz LGU, the tax holiday is meant to help small businesses to recover losses from the high costs of basic goods and commodities brought by the war in the Middle East.
These perks were also meant to boost the local economy amidst the current oil crisis and encourage small businesses to “legalize” their operations, particularly for vendors inside the Santa Cruz Public Market.
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