OBO 2011 income marks P4M increase

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Office of the Building Official marks a P4 million increase in income last year attributed to the increase in the number of building permits the office has processed last year.

“Magsige gyud ta og increase every year kay nagkadaghan man ang construction of infrastructures diri sa Cebu City,” said Building Official Engr. Josefa T. Ylanan.

OBO earned P27, 333, 697.12 last year from 774 building permits processed; 503 occupancy permits; 203 fence permits; 706 mechanical permits; 5,386 electrical permits; 14 excavation permits; 80 demolition permits; five sidewalk enclosure permits; 55 streamer permits; 50 billboard and signboard permits; two change of use permits; 21 use permits and 2,424 businesses inspected.

The income is almost P4 million more than the income last year pegged at P23, 666, 170.18. In 2010, OBO only earned P7.6 million from building fees while last year, they earned P12.8 million for the same.

In 2009, OBO earned P22 million; P19.5 million in 2008; P11.6 million in 2007; and P13.6 million in 2006.

Ylanan said that last year, they processed over 1,000 applications for building permits but only over 700 pursued their applications. 

The rising number of constructions in the city varies from residential, commercial buildings, government buildings and the like.

Ylanan said they could process more if they have more manpower.

She explained that they lack manpower because her engineers are the same engineers of the Department of Engineering and Public Works since OBO is under DEPW.

Ylanan also clarified that some permits are delayed not because OBO is slow but because the applications are either incomplete in requirements, or for other reasons of delay on the part of the applicants.

“Madugay siguro mi kay gamay ang tawo and we always require what are those in the requirements. Bahala’g madugay basta kompleto gyud ang ilang requirements,” Ylanan said. Meanwhile, Ylanan said that the suspension on the construction of the front portion of a supermarket in Mambaling has been lifted after the owner and contractor promised that they will not cause traffic along that road. (FREEMAN)