SPEEDY PROCESSING OF CITY PERMITS OBSERVED

December 23, 2022 Metro BLISTT

The city government made headway in processing applications for building permits and business permits, according to Mayor Benjamin Magalong. Magalong and City Building Official Johnny Degay told the Baguio City Council last December 19 that the City Buildings and Architecture
Office (CBAO) is now compliant with the 3-7-20 day rule as mandated by the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 (Republic Act No. 11032) in terms of issuing building permits.

The 3-7-20 day rule was established by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) through Memorandum Circular No. 2020-02. This refers to the prescribed processing time of simple transactions (three days), complex transactions (seven days), and highly technical transactions (20
days).Magalong said the processing time for the issuance of building permits used to take months due to non-compliance of applicants.

To remedy this, the CBAO negotiated with the Department of Public Works and Highways Central Office to reduce the requirements for building permit applicants. The mayor said the CBAO will start expediting the processing of building permits of the following properties (in this order): structures without building permits but with land titles; structures without building permits but with notices of awards; structures without building permits with pending notices of awards; and
other structures without building permits due to various circumstances.

Meanwhile, Elias Aoanan, representative of the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), said their office is implementing Resolution 118- 2022 which grants amnesty to businesses in the city that are not compliant with the National Building Code and the zoning ordinance. The CPDO processes the application of non-compliant applicants for locational clearances as long as the
applicant provides an affidavit of undertaking. A locational clearance is a prerequisite in obtaining a building permit and business permit.

As stated in the affidavit of undertaking, the applicant should secure a building permit within 135 days from the issuance of a business permit. Magalong said all these adjustments are made in order
to ease the burdens of residents as the city continues to recover from the effects of the COVID-
19 pandemic.

SP/Jordan G. Habbiling