Inside the Office of the Building Official | Photo courtesy of Cebu City PIO
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City’s one-stop shop at the Cebu City hall will start tomorrow, September 4, 2023, according to the city’s public information office (PIO).
Cebu City PIO said in a report that contractors would not have to undergo a ‘long process’ in getting their construction and building permits, and other certificates at the city hall.
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One-stop shop
The Office of the Building Official (OBO) initiated the one-stop shop to improve the process in securing a construction permit and other certificates, according to the report.
Architect Florante Catalan, OBO head, said that Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama directed him and other department heads that he would no longer prefer physical interactions for construction permits.
Catalan said in the report that Rama wanted to have a faster transaction in application as the mayor wanted the applicant to have their permit in less than an hour.
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Online Service Task Force
With this, the Online Service Task Force, spearheaded by the OBO was formed.
Once the one-stop shop is finally set, the applicants will only need to comply with the following:
- Submit the required documents
- Pay the fees and charges; and
- Obtain the permits, certificates, and clearances
Catalan also said that the one-stop shop concept was not new.
DILG memo
According to the joint memorandum circular by the Department of Interior and Local government, dated January 4, 2018, the one-stop shop for construction permits (OCSP) is a mechanism of coordination among the OBO and other offices.
Based on the memorandum, the other offices included the Zoning, Assessor’s, Treasurer’s, and other concerned offices at the local government.
The OBO head has also coordinated with the city’s Human Resources Development Office in enrolling his assigned personnel in the use of digital signatures to avoid delayed applications when the department head authorized to sign would be absent.