Council OKs move to waive LGU fees

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has concurred with the waiving of zoning and clearance fees needed in getting building permits for government projects.

However, the projects would still require a clearance and would have to undergo inspection to be able to get the permit.

Only the payment of fees will be waived.

Earlier, Florida Nuñez, District Engineer of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), wrote a letter to the City Council last November 13 requesting for the waiving of the zoning and locational clearance fees for government projects undertaken by DPWH.

Her letter was then referred to the Cebu City Legal Office, which said that Mayor Edgardo Labella may waive the zoning and locational clearance fees for government projects.

During the Sangguniang Panlungsod session, Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr. inquired whether the projects will still go through inspection despite the waiving of clearance fees.

“If we are going to forego the clearance, what will happen to the projects? Does that mean our engineers cannot inspect or padayon gihapon inspect? Because if we will not be paying clearances, in other words, dili na moagi sa Cebu City,” said Gabuya.

Councilor Raymond Garcia said that the projects would still require the clearances, and go through inspection.

“They still have to get the clearance, but they don’t have to pay the fees considering that they are government projects,” said Garcia.

Nuñez, in the letter, said that the allocated amount for government-owned projects does not include the allocation for local taxes such as the locational clearance or zoning fee.

When allocating funds for DPWH’s projects, the national government does not include the additional charges the local government units may impose.

In accordance with Presidential Decree (PD) 1096, or the Building Code of the Philippines, fees and charges may be collected in order to obtain a building permit from the Office of the Building Official.

The code states that it requires every person, firm, or corporation, including any agency or instrumentality of the government, to obtain a building permit for any construction, alteration or repair of any building or structure.  GAN (FREEMAN)