OBO ‘strictly implements’ rainwater catchment policy

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City’s Office of the Building Official (OBO) clarified that it is strictly implementing policies on rainwater conservation.

Architect Florante Catalan, OBO chief, said residential and business establishments’ building and occupancy permits are not issued and renewed if they lack rainwater catchment facility.

“OBO is strictly enforcing the policy. The office does not release building permit if the establishment’s building permit application does not include water reservoir, and it does not issue occupancy permit if the building lacks the actual water catchment system,” he said.

An establishment sans the permits cannot operate, he said.

Catalan made the clarification after City Councilor Nestor Archival Sr. said business establishments and some city-owned buildings are not compliant with City Ordinance 2103 or the Rainwater Conservation Ordinance. The councilor earlier told OBO and the city’s Department of General Services to produce a list of non-compliant city-owned buildings.

Mayor Edgardo Labella also directed OBO to implement the ordinance.

CO 2103, which was passed in 2006, requires all establishments, including subdivisions, commercial, industrial, institutional, government offices and projects that cost over P250,000, to put up rainwater catchments.

Archival claimed the ordinance is “weakly” implemented and enforced despite the recurring water shortage and flooding woes.

The cisterns and rain catchment facilities are designed to recharge depleted aquifers, which are now threatened by seawater intrusion due to over exploitation of groundwater sources. They also serve as receptacle for excess rainwater flooding the city during heavy downpour.

Catalan belied Archival’s claim, stressing that the ordinance is “properly and well” implemented.

He admitted though that OBO was not able to check compliance of residential buildings in the city owing to lack of personnel. Cebu City has 80 barangays.

“To save water, residential owners are encouraged to have a rainwater catchment facility or water tank,” he added.

The installation of cistern tanks or rainwater tanks is also in accordance with City Ordinance 1711 or The Water Conservation and Flood Prevention Ordinance, which aims to help minimize flooding and to save potable ground water.

Those found non-compliant with CO 1711 will be penalized with a fine of more than P1,000 or an imprisonment of not more than six months.

It also states that failure to comply means that the city government shall withhold the issuance of building permit or occupancy permit.

As prescribed by the ordinance, a one cubic meter tank is required for every 15 square meters of roof area and deck in commercial, industrial and institutional building provided the same has a maximum of seven cubic meters of tank container.

One half cubic meter of tank or container is required for every 15 square meter of roof area and deck in residential building with a maximum of three cubic meter of tank or container.  KQD (FREEMAN)