According to Obo: Hundreds of construction projects lack permits

CEBU, Philippines — Hundreds of construction projects in Cebu City this year have no building permits and other necessary requirements.

This was according to Cebu City's Office of the Building Official, which disclosed that it has issued more than 700 notices for negligence on safety measures in construction sites from January to October this year.

OBO chief Florante Catalan said the majority of these violations are illegal construction of buildings as they do not have permits.

The OBO issued 278 notices for violating the National Building Code or Presidential Decree 1096 and 22 notices of suspension for committing grave violations of the said law, Catalan added.

Notices of illegal construction to firms are issued if they have not secured building permits and certificates of occupancy, use, and operation and posting them around the site.

Others also failed to implement safety precautions in project sites for the protection of their workers, inspectors, visitors, immediate neighbors, and pedestrians.

Notices of illegal construction and work stoppage orders are also issued to construction firms who commit grave violations, such as non-compliance with abatement or demolition order; and illegal changes in the existing use or occupancy without the appropriate certificates.

Other grave violations include abandoning excavation without any work being done on the construction site for a period of 120 days, and erecting, constructing, altering, repairing, moving, converting, installing or demolishing a private or public building or structure without the proper permit.

Catalan stressed that there is no reason anymore for these firms to ignore the city’s building policies as OBO already made its services much more convenient and accessible to the public.

“Amoang services sayon ra gyud kaayo (i-comply) ug paspas pa gyud, so walay rason nga mag construct mo diha nga dili mo mo secure og building permit,” Catalan said via the the City’s Sugboanon channel.

“Wala say rason nga mo violate mo aning National Building Code nga atoang gipatuman para malikayan ninyo ug malikayan sad namo nga moisyu mi og violation and suspension orders,” he added.

Violators are required to pay fines based on the gravity of their violations.

Those who commit light violations are required to pay P5,000; P8,000 for less grave violations; and P10,000 for grave violations.

Aside from the fines, OBO Safety and Inspection Division head, Engr. Rozien Rivera, said that their permits could also be revoked if these firms just ignore OBO’s notices.