THE Office of the Building Official (OBO) in Bacolod City has asked the assistance of the City Legal Office (CLO) regarding the liability of the Barangay 3 officials for the construction of the barangay hall without a building permit and a Certificate of Occupancy.
Engineer Isidro Sun Jr., head of OBO, said Tuesday, August 7, he already forwarded the documents to the CLO for the legal action against the Barangay 3 officials.
He said they served the notice of violation on July 27 and the village officials were given three days to report at OBO, but as of August 7, village chieftain Leonidas “Bob” Asan failed to communicate with them.
“We are waiting for them to comply and correct their violations. If you do not have a building permit, that is a violation and once you occupied a building, it’s also your responsibility to ensure it has an occupancy permit,” he added.
Barangay 3 officials violated Sections 301 and 309 of the National Building Code (PD 1096).
Section 301 stated that no person, firm or corporation, including any agency or instrumentality of the government, shall construct alter, repair, convert, use, occupy, move, demolish and add any building or structure or any portion thereof or cause the same to be done without obtaining a building permit thereof from the OBO assigned in the place where the subject building is located or to be done.
Section 309 also stated that no building or structure shall be used or occupied and no change in the existing use or occupancy classification of a building or structure or portion thereof shall be made until the Building Official has issued a certificate of occupancy therefore as provided in this Code.
A certificate of Occupancy shall be issued by the Building Official within 30 days if final inspection and submittal of a certificate of completion referred to in the proceeding section, it is found that the building or structure complies with the provision of this Code.
Sun said they are only requiring the village officials to comply the requirements and it’s not a ground to demolish the building.
“They should secure the documents here and we will inspect their building,” he said.
Asan had earlier said they failed to communicate with OBO because of their busy schedule, adding that they are willing to comply with their violations.
The barangay hall was constructed in 1998 and Asan was not aware that the building has no building permit and occupancy permit.