Dizon orders review of building code

CEBU, Philippines —  Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon has ordered a long-overdue review of the country’s National Building Code, nearly five decades after it was first enacted.

Under Special Order No. 155 issued on April 7, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reconstituted the National Building Code Review Committee (NBCRC) to assess and recommend updates to the existing framework.

The code, formally known as Presidential Decree No. 1096, was enacted in 1977 and last underwent a major update to its implementing rules and regulations in 2005.

Dizon designated Public Works Undersecretary for Planning, Public-Private Partnerships, and the National Building Code Development Office, lawyer Nicasio Conti, as chair of the NBCRC, with Undersecretary for Technical Services and Operations for External Convergence Projects, engineer Lara Marisse Esquibil, as vice chair.

The committee has been tasked to evaluate concerns raised by professional and technical groups and recommend appropriate actions on issues involving the decades-old code and its 2005 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (RIRR).

Dizon said the review is necessary to ensure that building regulations remain relevant amid evolving construction practices and safety standards.

“Kailangan naman talagang may periodic review ‘yan eh… matagal na, baka lampas 20 years na,” Dizon told The STAR, referring to the last major update in 2005.

The NBCRC will also examine proposed amendments prepared by the National Building Code Development Office and the Philippine Association of Building Officials, and draft recommendations for Congress to support possible legislative changes.

The move signals a broader push by the DPWH to modernize infrastructure policies, particularly as the country faces increasing urbanization, climate risks, and evolving engineering standards.

Officials said updating the code is critical to ensure safer, more resilient, and future-ready buildings across the Philippines. (CEBU NEWS)