The newly-appointed city building chief has a reminder to all building permit applicants: never deal with fixers.
Architect Khash Toghyani, officer-in-charge of the Office of the City Building Official (OCBO), told applicants not to transact with fixers in processing building permit applications.
“One of the policies I made when I assumed office bawal ang fixers. In fact, in the application form naay nakabutang na no fixers. I’m very vocal about it kay bawal gyud ang fixers. Okay ra man unta kung nanginabuhi ni sila ug tarong, ang kasagaran ani sa ilaha, kabalo na sila na bawal, magbuhat gyud ug binuang ug pag naa kay problema dili na nimo makit-an. Wala man na silay mga Professional Regulation Commission card ug permit. So maglisod ta ug gukod ana nila,” he said over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Wednesday.
He advised the applicants to go through the process regardless of who it is or what the application is. He also assured that OCBO is more efficient now.
“I know there is room for improvement but I am saying it is better. I believe the professionals mas nakasabot sila kung unsa ang ginapangayo sa opisina,” he said.
He also urged applicants to send employees with technical know-how when transacting in OCBO. He said the majority of the people transacting in their office do not understand the policy.
“Wala sila usahay kasabot sa balaod. You have to understand na ang trabaho sa OCBO dili kami ang maghimo sa inyong mga plano we just check your compliance according to the National Building Code. Every structure nga imong itindog naa gyud nay engineer or architect,” he explained.
Toghyani emphasized that applying for a building permit is the work of engineers and architects.
“Kung magpadala mo ug tao sa opisina hilabi na kung ang inyong mga pangutana is regarding the technicalities of the project, kinahanglan ang inyuhang ipadala na mga tao sa opisina kana pud mga technical people,” he added.
He also said that OCBO is in the process of going digital.
“Hopefully, pag ma-launch na namo ang website it is going to be easier for everybody,” he said.
