This discussion was raised by Dr. ReneDave Tacba, DVM, a practicing veterinarian who asked a very common and valid question:
“If dentists are PRC-licensed professionals and don’t pay business permit fees, why are veterinarians required to have one?”
At first glance, it feels inconsistent. Both are licensed professionals. Both operate clinics. Both provide medical services. But legally, they are treated differently. The reason is not professional status. The reason lies in how the operation itself is classified by the local government unit.
What LGUs Actually Regulate
The Professional Regulation Commission licenses individuals to practice their profession. Local government units regulate establishments operating within their jurisdiction.
A PRC license allows a professional to practice. An LGU permit allows a place to operate. These two permissions are separate and serve different legal purposes.
Why Dental Clinics Are Often Exempt
Dental clinics are usually treated as extensions of personal professional practice. Income is mainly classified as professional fees. Most dental clinics do not primarily engage in retail sales, inventory-based operations, or multiple ancillary services.
Because of this, many LGUs require dentists to file a Mayor’s Permit but do not impose business permit fees. They are treated similarly to doctors and lawyers. Filing is required, but the clinic is not classified as a business.
Why Veterinary Clinics Are Classified as Businesses
Veterinary clinics are rarely limited to consultation alone.
Most clinics sell medicines and vaccines, maintain inventories, operate diagnostic services, provide confinement or boarding, and employ non-professional staff. These activities go beyond pure professional practice and fall under commercial operations.
Once a clinic combines professional services with product sales and ancillary services, LGUs classify it as a business establishment. Under the Local Government Code, businesses are subject to business permits and local taxation. This is why veterinary clinics are almost always required to secure business permits.
“But Veterinarians Are PRC-Licensed Too”
That is correct.
A PRC license authorizes the individual to practice the profession. It does not exempt the establishment from local business regulation. The person and the place are regulated separately, and both requirements can legally exist at the same time.
This Is Not About Professional Value
Requiring a business permit does not mean veterinarians are considered less professional than dentists. It reflects the broader operational scope of veterinary clinics. Veterinary practice sits at the intersection of medical service, public health, and regulated commerce, which naturally results in heavier local oversight.
Where the Real Problem Lies
Most frustrations come from inconsistent LGU interpretation. Some clinics are overcharged. Others are incorrectly classified as pet shops or retail outlets. These issues stem from implementation problems, not from the law itself.
Clearer classification and better LGU understanding are what the profession truly needs.
Bottom Line
Dentists are generally treated as pure professionals, which is why business permit fees are often waived. Veterinarians operate clinics that combine professional services with commercial activities, which is why business permits are required.
The difference is legal and operational, not personal or professional.
Clinic Spotlight
📍 D’Vet Animal Clinic
👨⚕️ Dr. ReneDave Tacba, DVM
📌 Poblacion, Mankayan, Benguet
📞 0930-399-6843 | 0930-399-2594
Serving the pets and animal owners of Mankayan, Benguet with dedicated veterinary care.
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