THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is requesting the Cebu City Government to waive some payments for government projects.
In a letter from the DPWH to the City Council dated Nov. 13, 2019, DPWH District Engineer Florida Nuñez is asking the City to waive the zoning fees and locational clearance fees.
If the City grants the agency’s request, Nuñez said the DPWH’s projects will be finished per targeted physical accomplishments and the agency can avoid the issuance of variation orders of some of its government contracts.
Nuñez said when the National Government allocates funds for the DPWH’s projects, the payments for local taxes such as locational clearance and zoning fee are not included in the budget. The local fees affect the agency’s budget, she said.
“These additional charges (from) the local government unit would greatly affect the physical targets of our projects,” wrote Nuñez in the letter. “The allocated amount for these government-owned projects does not include the allocation for any local taxes, such as the locational clearance or zoning fee.”
Nuñez wrote the letter after the DPWH paid around P130,000 for permits and clearances in building two four-story school buildings with eight classrooms each. These structures will rise in the Talamban Elementary School and the Talamban National High School.
Aside from the zoning permits, she stated that the DPWH is also required to pay the hauling, working and excavation permits when the agency constructs roads and bridges and implements flood-control projects. The agency is also required to get a fire safety permit from the Bureau of Fire Protection.
Mayor Edgardo Labella said the request of the DPWH needs a thorough study, adding he will have the City Legal Office (CLO) evaluate it.
The City Council referred the letter to the City Planning Office and the CLO for further studies. (JJL)