Quezon City improves business permit processing

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January 13, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government has rolled out a new business permit processing system to further reduce red tape and rationalize the assessment of new business applications.

Under the risk-based business permit processing system, businesses will be classified as low-risk, medium-risk or high-risk based on the nature of their operations and potential impact on health, public safety and the environment.

The risk classification will determine the timeline for the processing of applications, enabling the city hall to immediately process those identified as low-risk businesses “while giving more attention to higher-risk activities.”

“This system helps us move faster for low-risk businesses and be more careful where it really matters,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said in a statement.

Applications for new businesses and changes in line of business will be processed within three working days for low-risk, seven working days for medium-risk and 20 working days for high-risk.

Business permit renewals – regardless of risk level – will still be processed within three working days, provided that there are no pending issues.

According to city hall, the risk-based classification system will change how business inspections are done.

Except for those required by law, such as those related to fire safety, inspections will be conducted after the issuance of a permit.

“High-risk businesses are required to be inspected yearly while medium-risk shall be inspected once every two years. Inspection of low-risk businesses will be done once every three years,” the city government said.