Construction sector booms

CEBU, Philippines —  Despite the economy getting affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters, construction of more buildings in Cebu City continues.

According to records of the city’s Public Information Office (PIO), the number of individuals obtaining building permits from the Office of the Building Official (OBO) has increased since December 2021.

Building Official Florante Catalan said most projects are for the establishment of condominiums. He said the speedy process in obtaining a permit is one factor that encourages applicants.

“Ang mga investors, ang mga developers, paspas na gyud kaayo na sila magkuha sa ilang mga applications, mag-apply kay lipay man sila sa atong services. Wala naman tay corruption, wala nata anang hinay-hinay, wala na ta anang dugay-dugay, diba? Unsa pa may dugayan?” Catalan said.

The speedy issuance of permits is reportedly the result of OBO’s new system.

“One day lang mo-process og building permit… Naggamit ta og system nga gitawag nato og OBO IS Version 3. Pasabot ana, inig-submit nimo diri, pwede gani ka mag-file sa imong application online. Not necessary nga moari pa ka diri. Usa ka adlaw, human na. Pwede gani nimo huwaton,” Catalan said.

Based on OBO records, at least 468 applied for a building permit in the last six months, starting in December 2021. Of this number, 395 applications were approved.

“For fencing permit, 17 unya ang na-approved ana is 10. Ang kanang wala pa na-approve, naa pa nay mga deficiencies for them to comply kay di man gud pwede siya nga aprobahan lang nga dili siya ma-comply ba,” Catalan said.

“So, ang numbers lang if imohang kwentahon, more gyud ang applications. Maski  naa pay pandemic, naa gihapon siyay nag-apply,” he said.

Meanwhile, OBO has already collected half of their annual collection target of P100 million, something that Catalan also attributes to the efficient process.

“From January 2022 to present, ang atong nakuha na nga income sa OBO is naa na sa mga P52 million na. Wala pa kaabot og katunga sa tuig nakuha na nato,” Catalan said.

“If paspas ang imohang processing, paspas pod sila makabayad sa ilang permits, paspas pod ang ang income nga makuha nato. Pero og dugay-dugayon nimo, hinayon nimo, daghan kaayo ka og kuti, dugay sila makabayad, dugay sila ka-comply, hinay ang income,” he said.  – JMO (FREEMAN)