OBO makes certificate easy to get

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City building owners no longer have an excuse for failure to secure a certificate of occupancy as the Office of the Building Official (OBO) is already making it very easy to get.

The certificate of occupancy is necessary for building owners to ensure that the office or residence they constructed is safe for occupancy and has complied with the National Building Code and other city ordinances.

“Di ka maka use sa structure sa building, bisa’g nahuman na ka diha tanan if di ka mokuha og certificate of occupancy. If mopuyo ka diha, that’s illegal, that’s a violation,” OBO chief, Architect Florante Catalan, stressed over the city’s Sugboanon channel.

The certificate is also important for commercial building operators seeking business permits.

“For commercial building operators, para tagaan mo og business permit, mag-apply mo kay kung wala mo’y certificate of occupancy, di mo pwede mag operate sa business,” added Catalan.

Along with this, Catalan assured that building owners can now secure their COs within the same day they applied for it provided all requirements have been accomplished.

“Just three simple steps, ma claim na nila ilang certificate of occupancy,” Catalan said.

These three simple steps include the submission of application with the attached requirements to OBO and payment of fees at the OBO’s cashier and the claim of one's CO itself.

Engineer Joshua James Ng, OBO Processing and Evaluation Division chief, disclosed that building operators can simply download the forms for CO at the city’s official website.

“We always recommend to them (building owners and/or operators) to visit the online portal because it is hassle-free and more convenient,” Ng said.

Unified application for CO and certificate of completion forms can also be downloaded and filled on the website.

Other requirements for the CO that building operators need to secure are: approved permits and clearances, latest Professional Tax Receipt and Professional Regulation Commission identification card of professional, pictures of the building/structure, construction logbook, clearance certificate from the City Treasurer’s Office, as-built plans and after inspection deficiencies.

As OBO makes things easier for building owners, building owners are warned of face penalties including paying a P8,000 fine for not securing such a certificate.