Mandaue dad gets tough on builders

CEBU, Philippines - It’s only in Mandaue City where most contractors and developers don’t bother to secure building permits when putting up buildings for the reason that the penalty imposed on violators is ridiculously small.Mandaue City Councilor Demetrio “Jun” Cortes has had enough, apparently.

Now his proposed resolution would authorize the city to oblige all contractors and developers who have projects in the city to secure building permits first from the Office of the Building Official before starting anything.

His proposal covers construction, alteration, repair or demolition of any kind of building.

Violators will be fined P3,000 up to P5,000.

The proposal also includes a jail term of not less than 10 days but not more than 30 days or both.

Cortes said complaints from the OBO had prompted him to craft the proposal.

“Kon magpadayon sila kay gigamyan ra sa penalty ato unya ning patas-an aron maundang na ang maong practice,” Cortes said.

Last month, OBO officials stopped an ongoing construction of a department store in barangay Casuntingan, Mandaue City after they found out that the contractor lacked a permit for it.

Cortes’s draft ordinance was approved Wednesday on first reading. (FREEMAN)