King recognized as acting OBO chief as Catalan retains plantilla position

CEBU, Philippines — Architect Ann Ruby King was formally recognized as Cebu City’s acting Building Official under Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Special Order No. 187, while Architect Florante Catalan continues to hold the permanent plantilla post as local department head pending a Civil Service Commission ruling.

The transition was set in motion by Mayor Nestor Archival’s Memorandum No. 2026-00367 dated June 10, 2026.

In the directive, Archival authorized City Administrator Engr. Robert Tan to intervene in the Office of the Building Official (OBO) to resolve “an operational impasse created by DPWH Special Order No. 187.”  He emphasized that uninterrupted public service and the protection of public records must be guaranteed.

Archival instructed Tan to “ensure the formal local integration and seamless execution of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Special Order No. 187 to preserve the statutory validity of all building clearances issued within this jurisdiction.”

He further ordered Tan to “directly supervise the immediate inventory, verification, and administrative safeguarding of all pending public records, permit applications, physical assets, database credentials, and digital signature tokens within the OBO to prevent any operational disruption or data compromise.”

Archival also directed him to “issue the necessary departmental memoranda, operational guidelines, and transition protocols to ensure that all local government personnel under the OBO structure fully conform to national statutory designations and maintain continuous public service.”

Acting on the order, Tan issued his Memorandum dated June 11, 2026. He invoked Archival’s directive and Section 480 of the Local Government Code to implement DPWH Special Order No. 187.

“This administrative intervention is executed in the interest of public safety, institutional stability, and local economic continuity,” Tan said in the memo.

Along with this, Tan declared: “Architect Ann Ruby S. King is hereby recognized and operationally installed to exercise full administrative management, leadership, and operational oversight as Building Official, pursuant to DPWH Special Order No. 187, effective immediately.”

Tan noted that King had submitted written correspondence signifying her readiness to assume statutory functions, and that the transition was being executed with the on-site attendance and guidance of DPWH legal counsel.

Tan’s memorandum also clarified Catalan’s standing.

“For the record, and in strict compliance with civil service laws on security of tenure, Architect Florante S. Catalan retains his permanent appointment status, rank, and compensation as a local Department Head under Plantilla Item No. 1161, pending a definitive clarification or final ruling from the Civil Service Commission regarding the current statutory overlap of national and local designations.”

He explained that the realignment was “an extraordinary administrative remedy mandatory to clear the critical regulatory permit pipeline, maintain public service, and protect public records.”

The memorandum also laid down detailed operational guidelines. It ordered that “all OBO division chiefs, section heads, technical evaluators, inspectors, and administrative staff shall extend full professional cooperation and technical support to Architect Ann Ruby S. King.”

The memorandum further stated that, to preserve the legal integrity of public applications, all official business, evaluations, and pending clearances shall be routed directly through her office for appropriate action and statutory signature under Presidential Decree No. 1096.

System administrators were directed to provide King with “the necessary administrative system access, digital credentials, database privileges, and active application files required to perform her duties.”

Custodial control of historical archives, plantilla assets, and physical office keys was to remain with Catalan.

Tan stressed that “in strict adherence to national mandates and prevailing jurisprudence (Tapay v. Cruz, G.R. No. 84701), only permits, certificates, and clearances bearing the statutory signature of the designated Building Official pursuant to DPWH Special Order No. 187 shall be recognized as valid, enforceable, and authorized by the City Government of Cebu.”

“Any delay, willful neglect, or failure to cooperate with this transition, or any act resulting in the disruption of the regulatory pipeline or the compromise of public records, shall be dealt with strictly under civil service regulations governing insubordination, neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service,” Tan warned.

In DPWH Special Order No. 187, issued on May 21, 2026, King had been designated as acting Building Official. (CEBU NEWS)

Catalan earlier argued that DPWH’s authority applies only when the position is vacant. In an interview with The Freeman yesterday, Catalan confirmed that he received the memorandum last Thursday but noted that his lawyer had advised him not to issue any comment for now.

Still, Catalan said he was amused by the situation, remarking, “Murag Senate!” in apparent reference to recent leadership discussions in the Senate