A ONE-STOP shop for construction permit is being proposed to hasten applications and lessen corruption, a Davao City councilor pushed.
Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang filed an ordinance institutionalizing the Davao City Construction Permit One-stop Shop, which will cover simple applications for building permits and certificate of occupancy whose floor shall not exceed 1,500 square meters. It was passed on second reading on Tuesday, March 10.
The ordinance also states that applications will cover the following: single dwelling residential building of not more than three floors/story; commercial buildings of not more than two floors/storey; renovation with a mall with issued building permit; and warehouse storing non-hazardous substance.
Offices such as the Office of the City Building Official (Ocbo), City Assesor’s Office (CAO), City Treasurer’s Office (CTO), other concerned local government departments and offices, and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) will be placed under the one-stop shop.
Dayanghirang said the ordinance recognizes the need to ensure that the processing, inspection, approval and release of construction or building permits and certificates of occupancy in the city are without delay.
In terms of processing time, the councilor said it will be faster as the as evaluation of building permit will have a maximum period of five days; while BFP will conduct the fire safety evaluation of three days.
“Once this will be implemented, this would reduce an elbow room of possible fixing,” he said on Wednesday, March 11, during the 19th City Council Media Briefing at the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
He also said this is in compliance with Republic Act (RA) 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 that was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte. It aims to reduce processing time of transactions, simplify steps for securing documentation requirements, interconnectivity infrastructure development, and creation of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta), among others.
Dayanghirang said the one-stop shop would also decongest some local offices, especially in Ocbo.
“We need to look at other areas. I would like to suggest that Ocbo would scout for a bigger office,” the councilor said.
He added due to the congested space, applications have been pending and delayed, opening the room for fixers.
Meanwhile, Dayanghirang said they are still scouting for a location for the one-stop shop, once the ordinance will be passed on third and final reading next week. (RGL)