Bacolod pushes contactless processing of building permits to eliminate corruption

The Bacolod City government is pushing for contactless processing of building permits through the Office of the Building Official (OBO) for faster transactions and to eliminate corruption.

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said the system’s initial phase involves applications for “simple transactions”, particularly residential projects.

“We are starting with simple transactions, let’s say for residential projects. These are the ones we are giving an online system first,” Benitez said today.

Reports of applicants using fixers to speed up the processing and release of building permits have hounded the OBO in the past.

“Our purpose is to create contactless transactions. The applicant is only facing the computer or gadget, which cannot be corrupted. Our purpose is lesser contact with applicants to eliminate corruption,” he said.
The Integrated Business Permits and Licensing System, a software developed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology, allows for the electronic processing of applications for building permits and certificates of occupancy.

The city’s Management Information Technology and Computer Services headed by officer-in-charge Ramon de los Reyes presented an online process flow involving six steps that applicants can follow for contactless transactions with the OBO.

Benitez said the permit can be issued in “an ideal scenario of two days”, which means the applicant has complete requirements and the office has enough manpower to process the issuance of the permit.

It starts with Step 1 for online registration and application; Step 2, completeness check and verification; Step 3, simultaneous evaluation; Step 4, assessment of fees and generate order of payment; Step 5, payment; and Step 6, generate and issue.

OBO head Isidro Sun Jr. encouraged applicants of building permits to process the requirements on their own and ask for assistance if needed.

Sun said this year, the OBO expects to hit some P60 million in collection from permits this year.

“We expect to reach it. Right now, we have good income, the applications keep coming in,” he added.* (Nanette Guadalquiver)