HLURB 7 and 8 offices to merge by May

CEBU, Philippines - Effective next month, the regional field offices of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) 7 and 8 will be merged into one office, called the HLURB Central Visayas Office. This is in line with the implementation of Government Rationalization Program or Executive Order 366.

Alipio Bacalso Jr., HLURB 7 Technical Services Head, said the HLURB is now preparing to transfer to a new and bigger office to accommodate the staff of HLURB 8. The new HLURB Central Visayas Office will be located in Club Ultima at Fuente Osmeña.

The merger of the two offices means that those from Tacloban will have to travel to Cebu to transact business with HLURB, which has the twin roles of enhancing and reinforcing rational housing and real estate service delivery via a triad of strategies namely policy, planning and regulation.

HLURB 8 Technical Services Head Fedelino Guillermo said this move will greatly affect their clients in region 8, especially the individual building applicants and small developers.

“(Imagine,) those in areas without CLUP (Comprehensive Land Use Plan) will have to spend for travel to Cebu just to apply for applications that would cost them only P1, 000,” he told The Freeman.

All development and constructions on land of towns and cities without CLUP will have to get the approval of the HLURB. This function however has been devolved to local government units with CLUP.

Bacalso said applications for license to sell, among others, can be faxed to the office. However, the checking of requirements such as the certificate of title and planning will have to be done in person in the office.

The merger of HLURB 7 and 8 regional offices is one of the results of the government’s rationalization program, which is aimed at making government focus its efforts on vital and core functions and enhance effectiveness and efficiency of public service. It is function-based and seeks to refocus resources to priority areas.

The rationalization includes all departments of the executive branch and the agencies and government-owned companies and corporations attached to them. Excluded in the order are police, military, teachers and health workers.