BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6 has constructed several government buildings in this city without the required permits, the City Council discovered.
The City Council denied the application for a building permit for a newly-built P4.91-million multi-purpose building in Barangay San Isidro, La Paz district, as the building had already been completed by the time the application was submitted.
During a session on April 10, the council noted that the DPWH did not apply for building permits before constructing the multi-purpose building.
The Office of the Building Officials (OBO) confirmed that DPWH-6 is required to secure permits and is not exempt from this requirement.
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The council’s engineering, construction, and public works committee sought legal advice regarding these lapses.
Another multi-purpose building constructed by DPWH-6 in Barangay Desamparados in Jaro district also lacked the required permits. An OBO inspection revealed that part of the building encroached on a barangay road, leading to instructions for DPWH-6 to rectify the issue.
During a committee hearing on April 16, representatives from DPWH-6 and the contractor explained their failure to secure electrical, plumbing, and building permits before construction.
The committee stated that OBO could declare the multi-purpose building in Barangay San Isidro an illegal structure and unfit for occupancy. Committee members expressed concern that the project could be a waste of public funds if deemed illegal.
DPWH-6 began constructing the multi-purpose building in Barangay San Isidro on May 12, 2023, and San Isidro Barangay Capt. Felicitas Hortillosa accepted the project upon its completion on Aug. 23, 2023.
OBO suggested re-inspecting the building to determine compliance with the National Building Code of the Philippines before declaring it illegal. Penalties and fines were recommended for DPWH-6.
The council’s engineering, construction, and public works committee also requested a list of all DPWH-6 projects in Iloilo City since 2022 and recommended passing a resolution urging all barangay captains in the city to secure a barangay resolution before signing acceptance reports from DPWH-6./PN
