Oro green building code to include social housing costs

A TECHNICAL working group has been tasked to refine a proposed local ordinance based on Presidential Decree (PD) 1096 or the Philippine Green Building Code, an administration official said last Thursday.

“Xavier University submitted its recommendations and proposal for the localization of the Green Building Code. (A few years ago), XU and City Hall signed an agreement to conduct a study on the localization of the Green Building Code….the draft ordinance from the Office of the Building Official (OBO) and we discussed some concerns to improve the ordinance,” said Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya.

In an interview, Nacaya, who chairs the 20th City Council’s committee on planning, research, and development, said among the concerns on the proposed local Green Building Code was the absence of provisions on socialized housing and high-end projects.

“The previous study covered only what was mentioned in the National Building Code (hence the technical working group),” Nacaya said.

Nacaya said the technical working group will deliberate on issues like the cost of socialized housing projects that are compliant with the Green Building Code yet remain affordable for the beneficiaries.

“(Based on) what was mentioned by (the City Housing Urban Development Department), they already have a housing design incorporating the rainwater catchment that costs P580,000,” Nacaya said.

The 580,000 ceiling was the maximum amount set by the Housing Land Use and Regulatory Board for socialized housing units in the country, Nacaya said.

He said the requirement to install rainwater catchment should be mandated in all housing projects across the board.

“Chudd said there are building materials in the market that can meet our green building requirements,” Nacaya said.

As such, Nacaya said the technical working group will study proposed incentives for developers and building owners compliant with the local green building code.

“In the previous decade, we’ve experienced frequent flooding and in the development of the city’s upland area, more houses will be built…thus we need to require rainwater catchments (to reduce the outflow of rainwater in the downtown area),” Nacaya said. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)