Baguio: At least 1,080 business establishments in the city are facing closure for operating without permits or violating sanitation regulations, an official said.

According to Philippines News Agency, Geraldine Angulo, acting head of the Permits and Licensing Division under the City Mayor's Office, stated that approximately 60 percent of the closure orders involve businesses operating without permits or are non-compliant with sanitation standards. The majority of the affected establishments include tank fabrication shops, brick-making businesses, auto repair shops, eateries, sari-sari (retail) stores, and one junk shop.

The violations were uncovered during inspections in 50 villages from January 1 to July 3. Among the cited violations were operating without a business permit and violating Tax Ordinance No. 2000-001 and Presidential Decree No. 856, known as the Sanitation Code of the Philippines. Specific issues included improper garbage disposal, poor housekeeping, clogged drainage canals, debris accumulation, encroachment on public roads, and construction materials obstructing streets. Some establishments were also found to be selling products or offering services not covered by their business permits, and they were advised to apply for additional business lines to comply with regulations.

Angulo noted that 27 establishments immediately corrected the violations after being notified, while 17 complied after closure orders were issued. Another 18 had already ceased operations before the closure orders could be served. The city government intensified enforcement of business and sanitation regulations in the last quarter of 2025 to promote fair trade and protect public health and safety.

Inspection efforts were expanded, particularly among food establishments, following a viral video showing a rodent in a pot of soup served at a buffet restaurant. Angulo emphasized that the local government will continue conducting inspection and closure operations in more barangays as part of its intensified campaign to improve sanitation, ensure business compliance, and maintain public order throughout the city.

Earlier, the city's sanitation division of the Health Services Office conducted training and briefings for business owners on the sanitation code, emphasizing pest control as a requirement for the issuance of business permits.