The city engineer’s office of Dumaguete City has vehemently denied insinuations made by a member of the City Council about unverified “under the table” considerations for an applicant to secure a building permit on time.
City Engr. Edwin Quirit said Friday an existing process flow is implemented at the city engineer’s office in acquiring a building permit.
The problem with some business establishments is that they want shortcuts by ignoring guidelines under the national building code, he said.
When refused requests for extensions that are not allowable, or to do away with setback requirements, these applicants sometimes seek the help of public officials to facilitate approval of their applications, he added.
Quirit challenged anybody in the City to file complaints against erring City Engineer’s Office officials and staff, and to substantiate claims of alleged “under the table” deals.
Quirit stressed that the Office of the Building Official is the last person to sign the application for building permits, and that he wouldn’t even know if certain application papers are under process until they reach his table for final evaluation and signing.
Under the guidelines, the first stage would be to ask for a locational clearance from the City Planning Office. Next is compliance of the Fire Code. Then on to the City Engineer’s Office where at least five individuals are tasked to evaluate the papers from sanitary and plumbing, electrical, mechanical, structural, and to the head of the Building Code section before the final evaluation and signature of the building official.
Quirit, however, would not confirm nor deny if the so-called “under the table” consideration has happened along the way; definitely, he said, not in his office.
He further said it would be fair to everybody if allegations are substantiated and to give the concerned individual his day in court.
Councilor Lilani Ramon had earlier called for an investigation, together with the internal audit, on allegations of “under the table” transactions in the City Engineer’s Office, even if such reports are unverified.
She recounted that a restaurant owner asked her why it took him three months to process his application for a building permit, given all the documents, land title, tax declaration, among others.
Ramon said she called the attention of the inspector, and the following day, the establishment was inspected.
The finance committee chairman of the City Council is alarmed over the number of complaints received by her office about certain officials in the City Engineer’s Office who seem to be making it hard for the public to secure a building permit.
Thus, the creation of the Office of the Building Official directly under the office of the City Mayor, aimed at ensuring speedy processing and approval of permits after complying with all the requirements of the National Building Code.
Ramon said with the creation of the OBO, it will unload the City Engineer of additional burden as ex-officio building official, which is on top of his usual duties and responsibilities, and to focus on infrastructure projects and other programs.
Engr. Quirit said he welcomes the idea and looks forward to such creation. (Juancho Gallarde/PNA)
