Cebu City goes digital in building permit processing

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City’s Office of the Building Official (OBO) has launched last week its integrated system, which offers digital processing of building permit applications.

OBO Head Architect Florante Catalan, in a press statement, said the system’s version 2 requires applicants’ digital copies of the building permit for faster transaction.

“I encourage them to submit a CD (compact disc) or USB (universal serial bus) for the digital copy of their plans and other documents. This will allow us to simultaneously check their applications,” Catalan said.

The development came after Mayor Edgardo Labella’s directive to shorten the processing time.

Labella earlier said the building permit application should be processed within 45 days to have a “business-friendly” transaction.

In his inaugural speech, Labella said there are businessmen in the city who are “suffering blockage of another kind” owing to the process of seeking approval of building and business permits.

The mayor urged concerned offices to follow laws in processing and releasing of building and business permits just like the cities of Mandaue and Talisay that have already adapted the digital system.

In his official Facebook page, the mayor expressed elation following reforms, including easing transaction processes at OBO.

In fact, a certain Architect Armund Claro, in his FB post, commended the city and OBO for a faster transaction.

“They completely checked it within three working days, all my plans and detailed drawing, design analysis and all documents both architectural and engineering design,” Claro said.

Labella, during the July 15 flag raising ceremony, also said OBO was able to process the building permit of a giant developer in just three days.

The firm’s application had been pending for a year at OBO.

With the digital innovation, Catalan vowed that the processing of building permit applications will be convenient and efficient.

He said his office is also processing the backlogs. From January to July, 378 applications are yet to be processed, while 266 permits are still pending.

Since January this year, OBO has acted on 524 permit applications. (FREEMAN)