A PROPOSED ordinance that would streamline the issuance of building permits in Cagayan de Oro City may be signed into law by April or May this year, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy’s finance advisor said.
“Based on the proposed ordinance, it will take three working days for City Hall to process and issue building permits for simple structures, (five to) seven working days for complex structures, and two weeks (or 15 working days) for highly technical structures,” said Glenn Bañez, Mayor Klarex’s finance advisor during last Thursday afternoon’s local media roundtable held in one of the city’s hotels.
Bañez said this as he reiterated that the ordinance will be deliberated on during public hearings to be held by the 20th City Council’s public works committee chaired by Councilor John Michael Seno starting tomorrow, Feb. 14.
“We hope (that we can secure) the council’s support to approve this ordinance which will (address the long delays) in the issuance of building permits,” Bañez said.
As of now, Bañez said it would take at least six months for City Hall through the Office of City Building Official (OBO) to approve a developer’s building permit.
“Instead of 24 to 37 documentary requirements (for complex to highly technical projects), we’ll reduce it (by prioritizing those that need to be approved first) so the developer or building owner can proceed to operate the business (within days),” Bañez said.
The key requirement, Bañez explained, will be for developers and building owners to sign an affidavit of undertaking requiring them to complete the rest of their documentary requirements within a month after approval of their building permit.
“The affidavit will be prepared by the City Legal Office,” he said, adding that it’s up to the OBO to monitor and ensure that the developers complete their requirements.
That way, Bañez said, business owners and developers can start to operate their businesses or work on their projects while completing their requirements.
“It’s also City Hall’s way of complying with the government’s ‘ease of doing business’ thrust and making it easier for the business community to operate while attracting more potential investors (to set up shop in) Cagayan de Oro City,” said Bañez, a former city treasurer.
Bañez and City Treasurer Jasmin Maagad said they are continually strategizing on ways to enhance City Hall’s services to the taxpayers and business owners as part of the Klarex administration’s development agenda.
“Mayor (Uy made it clear) that his administration wants to give back to the business community (by making it easier for them to avail of our services),” Bañez said. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)
