Talisay creates City Architect’s Office

CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City Council approved on final reading a proposed ordinance that seeks to create the Office of the City Architect, which will implement programs for architectural planning and design. 

However, opposition Councilor Danilo Caballero is opposed to it for the reason that it is a replica of an existing office and considers it a waste of government funds. 

“It’s a duplication of another department and would mean more expenses and appropriation for the government,” Caballero said.

Caballero said there is already an Office of the Building Official (OBO) and the City Engineering Department that deals with architectural planning and design.

“Why are we creating another office when the OBO and the City Engineering can perform their duties and responsibilities? Are they complaining? Wala man ta makadungog nga dili nila makaya ang ilang trabaho,” Caballero said. 

But Councilor Joseph Bernard Odilao, the proponent of the ordinance, said the creation is necessary since the population in the city is growing and therefore necessary to create an office that will take charge of architectural planning and design.

Odilao said it will make plans for the delivery of basic services and provide adequate facilities relative to architectural planning and design. 

Odilao clarified that the new office will be separate from the City Planning and Development Office and City Engineering’s Office as soon as the city council adopts an ordinance formalizing the creation of the new office.

Under the ordinance, the city architect will prepare and recommend architectural designs for the local government unit (LGU), including the renewal of slums and blighted areas, land reclamation activities, greening of land, and appropriate planning of marine and foreshore seas.

Moreover, the office is also tasked to review and recommend to the city mayor architectural plans and designs submitted by the government and non-government entities or individuals, particularly those for undeveloped, underdeveloped, and poorly-designed areas.

It also said OCA will also coordinate with government and non-government entities and individuals involved in the aesthetics and in the maximum utilization of land and water areas within the jurisdiction of the LGU, compatible with environmental integrity and ecological balance.  (FREEMAN)