CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – A “deep understanding of [business] challenges.”
Thus, Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PamCham) past president Rene Romero called the withdrawal of the proposed ordinance requiring all business establishments in the city to hire security guards as a pre-requisite to the issuance of mayor’s permit.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks for your empathetic response to the concerns of the city’s MSMEs,” Romero said in his letter to the principal proponent of the proposal, councilor Redentor Halili, chair of the committee on peace and order and public safety.
“After listening to all the concerns…especially of the business sector, they feel [the proposed ordinance] is anti-business, it is arbitrary,” Halili said of the withdrawal.
“So, what will happen now and in the coming years, my concern will be some may get hurt [but] I don’t have [anything] to do with that. I did my job. I did my best, but my best was not good enough,” he noted, practically washing his hands of whatever adverse consequences that could arise.
Romero, on the other hand, said the outcome of the hearing “reinforces our commitment to collaborate closely with you in maintaining the city’s peace and order, and public safety.”
“Should the peace and order situation in the city deteriorate in the future, we assure you that we will proactively reach out to you and our local police to collaboratively address and resolve any emerging issues,” he assured Halili in his letter.
“Your decision not only addresses our immediate concerns but also sets a foundation for a stronger, cooperative relationship between us,” the letter ended, thanking anew the councilor for his “considerate and impactful leadership.”
It was Romero that consistently opposed the proposed measure from its inception in September last year calling it “anti-business” and warning that the micro, small and medium enterprises will be “most adversely impacted.”
