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[av_heading heading=’No occupancy permit, no business – OBO ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY MAE SINGUAY
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BACOLOD City – Business establishments without an occupancy permit cannot operate, the Office of the Building Official (OBO) stressed.
Penalties await those that will defy this policy, said OBO head Isidro Sun Jr.
Sun claimed to have received reports of such establishments at the downtown area.
With limited manpower, the OBO struggles to keep up with the number of buildings being constructed in the city, and may have missed some establishments during inspections, Sun admitted.
But the architects and engineers of the businesses’ buildings know whether or not the structures are ready for operation, he said.
An occupancy permit is mandated by Republic Act 6541, or the National Building Code of the Philippines.
A business owner who operates without an occupancy permit will be issued a notice and fined P8,000, Sun said.
After three notices and the owner has not yet acquired the permit, they will be referred to the City Legal Office, where they may face charges, he said.
Some businesses cannot easily get an occupancy permit due to the changes they have to apply to their building plans in compliance with industry standards. Sometimes, this is unavoidable, said Sun. Others may just find the fine “too measly,” he added.
The OBO has only two engineers in charge of building inspection.
Considering the reports that some businesses operate without an occupancy permit, it is possible the engineers overlooked some newly built buildings, Sun said./PN
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