The Office of the City Building Official (OCBO) warned Dabawenyos from hiring fixers and urged them to follow legal procedures instead, in complying with the requirements of the National Building Code when applying for building permits.
OCBO officer-in-charge Architect Khash Toghyani, during the Madayaw Davao program of 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) aired Wednesday, February 22, said OCBO does not make building plans but checks applicants’ compliance with the National Building Code.
He said that hiring fixers would further delay the process as they are not knowledgeable about the requirements for building permit applications.
“No fixers kay bawal man gyud. Vocal kaayo ko ana. Kasagaran kabalo sila nga bawal, magbuhat gyud binuang kung naay problema dili na makit-an (No fixers because it’s not allowed. I’m very vocal about that. Usually they know that it’s not allowed, they will still do something dishonest and if there is a problem, they can’t be found),” he said.
Toghyani, a former building inspector, also said that deploying “non-technical” people to process building permits is often the cause of the delay in the application process. “Gina-explain again and again, application for the building permit is the work of engineers. Kung duna mo’y pangutana about sa technicality of the project, kinahanglan ipadala pud technical people, dili pwede secretary o fixer nga dili ma-absorb kung unsa’y kinahanglan nga requirements (As I have explained time and again, application for the building permit is the work of engineers. If you have any question about the technicality of the project, technical people must also be sent, not a secretary or a fixer who can’t absorb what the requirements are),” he said.
Construction professionals, such as engineers and architects, according to him, are the best people to send to OCBO when inquiring about a building’s compliance and the needed requirements for a building permit.
A building permit, he said, is often released within 30 working days. The OCBO chief also said that aside from submitting complete requirements, building permit applicants must also check their compliance with the National Building Code, which an engineer or architect can better understand.
“Dili pasabot nga kumpleto imong requirements kay okay na dayon. We have to check the compliance. Kay kung pagbasa namo sa plano, duna’y mali, ibalik gihapon na sa inyoha (It doesn’t mean that your requirements are complete, it’s okay right away. We have to check the compliance. Because when we read the plan, if something is wrong, it will be returned to you),” Toghyani said, adding that their office strives to improve its services.
Unlike in the past when engineers and architects would queue as early as 5 a.m. outside the OCBO office, Toghyani said consultation desks with OCBO engineers, architects, and signatories have been set up in their office for easier access.
OCBO is also eyeing to digitalize its system for the convenience of building permit applicants.
He reminded Dabawenyos that a building permit is a way of seeking permission to build from the city government. It should be acquired before and not after building any structure. After securing a building permit and the construction proceeds as planned, OCBO will then issue a certificate of occupancy to check the building’s safety for occupants and if it followed the plan that the permit was issued. Otherwise, it would be illegal to occupy a building without a certificate of occupancy.
For inquiries, contact OCBO at telephone number (082) 291-6695 or email ocbo.davao@gmail.com.
You may also visit the official OCBO website https://ocbo.davaocity.gov.ph/index.php/services/. CIO
