A coffee shop in Manila lamented having spent over P100,000 to renew its business permit in the city.
El Latte Coffee, a small cafe business in a condominium on Taft Avenue, shared that it has been dealing with a “staggering” increase in its operating fees.
“This is the reality many business owners in Manila are dealing with. Every year, we’re hit with another fee, another permit, another requirement, another inspection, another expense,” it said in a post on Tuesday, August 4.
“We’re expected to keep paying, keep complying, and keep our mouths shut because what choice do we really have? If we don’t comply, we risk delays, penalties, or even being unable to operate,” the cafe added.
“In our case, the increase has been staggering. What was around P20,000 in 2025 has become P106,000 in 2026. On top of that, our garbage collection fee jumped from around P1,000 to nearly P60,000. How is a small business expected to absorb increases like that?” it continued.
Earlier this year, members of the private sector condemned the significant increase in Manila’s garbage fee collection, with some claiming their fees have gone from P3,500 to P48,000.
Manila City Treasurer Paul Vega said the adjustment was based on a comprehensive study aimed at aligning charges with current waste generation and service costs. He added that the rates were last updated in 2013.
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Meanwhile, El Latte Coffee said it had to “make painful decisions” to cope with rising operating costs, including reducing its operating days, adjusting staff schedules, increasing its prices and absorbing some costs to keep the business afloat.
“They’re decisions we’re forced to make. Meanwhile, government fees and charges never seem to stop. Instead of making it easier for entrepreneurs to survive, it often feels like we’re being squeezed even harder,” the cafe said.
“I’ve watched amazing coffee shops close their doors—not because they lacked customers or passion, but because the numbers simply stopped making sense. Rent, utilities, wages, taxes, permits, inspections, and countless other operating expenses keep increasing while profit margins continue to shrink,” it added.
The cafe also raised concerns about the impact of a business closing down, saying it could result in employees losing their jobs, families losing their source of income and communities losing the businesses that have supported them for years.
“How many more cafés, salons, restaurants, and family-owned businesses have to close before someone realizes that entrepreneurs don’t need more financial burdens—we need a fighting chance to survive,” it said in a comment.
The cafe urged the city government to adopt policies that would make it “easier” for small businesses like theirs to survive.
“Consider reviewing the sharp increases in local fees, reassessing how charges are computed, streamlining permits and inspections, and creating relief or incentives for micro and small enterprises that are barely breaking even,” it said in another comment.
“Small businesses are the backbone of the local economy. When we close, jobs disappear, investments are lost, and entire communities feel the impact,” the business added.
“We’re not asking to avoid our responsibilities. We’re asking for fairness, transparency, and policies that recognize the reality that many entrepreneurs are no longer trying to grow—they’re simply fighting to survive. Please give Manila’s small business owners a fighting chance,” it said.
El Latte Coffee is a cafe that serves caffeinated and non-caffeinated beverages, as well as snacks and meals. Its menu includes drinks such as the Salted Caramel Matcha Float, Coconut Matcha, Biscoff Banana Pudding Latte, Tiramisu Latte, and Lychee Yakult.
