Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2355 
Introduced by:  REP. SALVADOR A. PLEYTO, SR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The need to revise the Philippine Building Code, primarily Presidential 
Decree No. 1096 (PD 1096) enacted in 1977, stems from a convergence of 
factors driven by the Philippines' unique vulnerabilities and evolving global 
standards. While the current code has served its purpose, it is widely 
considered 
"outdated" 
and 
"obsolete" 
by 
experts, 
necessitating 
a 
comprehensive overhaul to ensure the safety, resilience, and sustainability 
of the built environment. 
The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the 
world, regularly battered by strong typhoons, earthquakes, and susceptible 
to volcanic eruptions, floods, and landslides. Notably, there is an active fault 
that has not generated any historical surface-rupturing events, which has a 
higher potential to generate a large earthquake, also known as “The Big 
One”, which can significantly affect the region and surrounding areas in the 
Philippines.  
PD 1096, despite some updates to its implementing rules and 
regulations (IRR), does not fully account for the escalating intensity and 
frequency of these natural hazards due to climate change. There's a critical 
need for updated provisions that integrate robust disaster resilience 
standards, including enhanced seismic design, improved wind and flood 
resistance, mandatory assessment of older structures, and inclusion of 
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) principles. 
The construction industry has seen significant technological progress 
since 1977. New materials, building techniques, and design philosophies 
have emerged that are not adequately addressed by the existing code. A 
revision would allow for the adoption of modern, efficient, and safer 
construction practices. 
July 28, 2025
10:00 am


Furthermore, the accelerating economic and physical development, 
coupled with rapid urbanization and population growth, has led to 
challenges such as overbuilding and urban congestion.  It is essential to 
create a more resilient, sustainable, and safe built environment that can 
withstand the challenges of natural disasters, accommodate technological 
advancements, support responsible urban development, and address the 
evolving needs of the Filipino people. 
Public safety is paramount, thus, the urgency of this measure cannot 
be understated.  Its immediate consideration and approval are hereby 
earnestly sought. 
SALVADOR A. PLEYTO, SR.       


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2355 
Introduced by:  REP. SALVADOR A. PLEYTO, SR. 
AN ACT 
REGULATING THE PLANNING, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, OCCUPANCY, 
MAINTENANCE, AND DEMOLITION OF BUILDINGS, PROMOTING 
BUILDING RESILIENCE AGAINST EARTHQUAKE, FIRE, FLOOD, 
LANDSLIDE, STORM, VOLCANO, AND MULTIPLE HAZARDS, ENACTING 
A NEW PHILIPPINE BUILDING ACT, THEREBY REPEALING 
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1096, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
CHAPTER I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “New 
Philippine Building Act.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Principles and Policies.  - The State shall 
safeguard life, health, property, and public welfare, consistent with 
principles of sustainable development. Towards this end, it shall be the 
policy of the State to provide, for all buildings and structures, a framework 
of minimum standards and requirements, mainstreaming disaster risk 
reduction and management, to regulate and control their location, planning, 
design, construction, occupancy, maintenance, and demolition. In pursuit of 
these policies, the State shall institutionalize a system that will provide for 
periodic review and flexible mechanisms in the updating of regulations and 
standards and will strengthen the participation of relevant stakeholders, 
taking into account the importance of allowing for continuing innovation in 
building design and construction. 


SEC. 3. Objectives of the Act. The objectives of this Act are as follows: 
 
(a) 
To provide for the minimum standards for the regulation of location, 
planning, 
design, 
construction, 
occupancy, 
maintenance, 
and 
demolition of buildings and structures, the establishment of a 
permitting process based on their classifications, and the setting of 
reference standards to: 
 
(1) Safeguard life and protect people from injury; 
(2) Ensure the health and well-being of the people who use them, 
without impinging on the safety of the general public or 
endangering the environment; 
(3) Protect property from physical damage; and 
(4) Reduce and manage hazards, exposures, and vulnerabilities, 
thereby minimizing disaster risk;  
 
(b) 
To promote the accountability of relevant stakeholders in ensuring 
enforcement of, and compliance with, this Act, rules and regulations, 
and reference standards;  
 
(c) 
To establish sustainability standards for buildings, mitigating any 
negative environmental, economic, and social impacts; and. 
 
(d) 
To craft administrative and legal remedies for the enforcement of related 
rights of persons, both natural and juridical. 
 
SEC. 4. Scope and Application. This Act shall cover all private and 
public buildings and structures, and their location, planning, design, 
materials, construction, use, occupancy, maintenance, addition, alteration, 
conversion, rehabilitation, relocation, repair, retrofit, and demolition. 
 
SEC. 5. Interpretation.  All doubts in the implementation or 
interpretation of the provisions of this Act shall be construed in a manner 
that is consistent with and promotes the policies and objectives of this Act.  
 
Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted to prevent local government 
units, pursuant to local autonomy, from enacting local ordinances relating 
to buildings or structures and their location and planning that will better 
safeguard life, health, property, and public welfare, consistent with the 
objectives of this Act.  
 
Local ordinances by local government units of contiguous jurisdictions 
shall be harmonized for purposes of buildings that may straddle territories 
of local government units. Provided, That before the effectivity of such local 
ordinance, consultation with and concurrence by the National Building 
Official (NBO), pursuant to Section 41 of this Act, shall be required through 


the review process to be specified in the rules and regulations of this Act.  
Provided, further, That such local ordinance shall be published in manners 
that are clear to all stakeholders, through measures that include but are not 
limited to those provided in Section 68 of this Act. 
 
SEC. 6. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act: 
 
(a) 
“Addition” refers to any construction which increases the height and/or 
floor area of an existing building or structure;  
 
(b) 
“All-hazards approach refers to a comprehensive and coordinated 
approach in taxonomy and characterization of hazards, both natural 
and 
human-induced 
including 
biological, 
environmental 
and 
technological, and approach in risk assessment and emergency 
planning such that the full range of potential threats are identified, 
associated exposures, vulnerabilities, and risks are mitigated, assessed 
and ranked, and emergency plans are imbued with elements that are 
shared among multiple hazards and elements that are unique to some; 
 
(c) 
“Alteration” refers to any construction in an existing building or 
structure involving changes in the materials used, partitioning, location 
or size of openings, structural parts, existing utilities, and/or 
equipment, but without increasing the building height or floor area;  
 
(d) 
“Ancillary Structure” refers to a structure intended to provide support 
to main buildings or structures, which may include: bank and records 
vaults; swimming pools; firewalls separate from the building or 
structure; towers; silos; smokestacks; chimneys; commercial or 
industrial fixed ovens; industrial kilns or furnaces; water or waste 
treatment tanks; septic vaults; concrete and steel tanks; booths, 
kiosks, and stages; tombs, mausoleums, and niches; and similar 
structures;  
 
(e) 
“Build Better” refers to planning, based on evolving or evolved disaster 
risks to finance, design, and build after a disaster or crisis, with 
consideration of the need to further strengthen disaster preparedness 
for response, take action in anticipation of events, and ensure that 
capacities 
are 
in 
place 
for 
effective 
response, 
recovery, 
and 
reconstruction;  
 
(f) 
“Building” refers to any temporary or permanent structure, anchored to 
the ground, for the shelter, enclosure, or support of persons, animals, 
plants, agri-fishery produce or products, goods, machinery, or chattels;  
 
(g) 
“Building Contract” refers to legally enforceable agreement, regardless 
of titles such as prime contract, subcontract, or deed of assignment, to 
carry out construction work, supply goods, and/or provide services; 
 


(h) 
“Building Contractor” refers to a person duly registered and licensed by 
the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board, to whom the contract is 
awarded to execute the construction;   
 
(i) 
“Building Owner” refers to a person who orders construction work for a 
building or structure by contract; or a person undertaking one’s own 
construction without engaging a Building Contractor therefor, as 
owner-builder; or a person holding the legal right of possession or title 
to a building or structure;  
 
(j) 
“Building Professional” refers to a person lawfully engaged in the 
design, construction supervision, or inspection of a building or 
structure, who is duly registered and currently licensed by the 
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), through a professional 
regulatory law for each profession, to provide such services;  
 
(k) 
“Building Site” refers to the lot of building location, which is defined by 
technical descriptions delineating boundaries of the property to be 
developed, over which the Building Owner has a title or legal right to 
build; for design purposes, the term shall also cover areas and spaces 
around the lot, the conditions of which bear on the operability and 
safety of the building or structure;  
 
(l) 
“Comprehensive Land Use Plan” (CLUP) refers to the document, 
formulated by the local government in consultation with its 
stakeholders, that defines or provides guidelines on the allocation, 
utilization, development and management of all lands within a given 
territory or jurisdiction according to the inherent qualities of the land 
itself and supportive economic, demographic, socio-cultural and 
environmental objectives; 
 
(m) “Construction” refers to any and all on-site work including but not 
limited to preparation, excavation, foundation, and assembly or 
installation of components, utilities, machinery, and equipment of a 
building or structure;  
 
(n) 
“Conversion” refers to a change in the use or occupancy of an existing 
building or structure or any portion/s thereof to another occupancy 
group or sub-group that has different requirements under this Act; 
 
(o) 
“Demolition” refers to the  dismantling, destruction, or removal of a 
building or structure, in whole or in part; 
 
(p) 
“Disaster Risk” means the potential disaster losses in lives, health 
status, livelihood, assets and services, which could occur to a 
particular community or a society over some specified future time 
period; 
 


(q) 
“Disaster Risk Reduction and Management” means the systematic 
process 
of 
using 
administrative 
directives, 
organizations, 
and 
operational skills and capacities to implement strategies, policies and 
improved coping capacities in order to lessen the adverse impacts of 
hazards and the possibility of disaster; prospective disaster risk 
reduction and management refers to risk reduction and management 
activities that address and seek to avoid the development of new or 
increased disaster risks, especially if risk reduction policies are not put 
in place; 
 
(r) 
“Exposure” refers to people, property, systems, or other elements 
present in hazard zones that are thereby subject to potential losses, or 
to the degree to which the elements at risk are likely to experience 
hazard events of different magnitudes;  
 
(s) 
“Fire Resistance Rating” refers to the time, in minutes or hours, that a 
building material or assembly can withstand a fire exposure as 
determined by generally recognized and accepted testing methods;  
 
(t) 
“Hazard” refers to a dangerous phenomenon, substance, human 
activity, or condition that may cause loss of life, injury or other health 
impacts, property damage, loss of livelihood and services, social and 
economic disruption, or environmental damage;  
 
(u) 
“Hazard Zone” refers to an area identified in generally recognized and 
accepted hazard maps as exposed to natural hazards, such as floods, 
wind storms, storm surges, landslides, volcanic eruptions, and 
earthquakes;  
 
(v) 
“Innovative 
Construction 
Technology” 
refers 
to 
a 
construction 
technology that is emerging or being reintroduced locally or nationally 
in the field of construction, with corresponding evidence of acceptable 
performance from laboratory tests, field tests, and/or analytical studies 
to comply with Chapter V and Chapter VI of this Act, rules and 
regulations, and reference standards;  
 
(w) “Locational Clearance” refers to the document issued by the planning 
and development officer of the local government unit certifying that the 
proposed construction has the appropriate traffic impact assessment 
(TIA), is located in an appropriate zone, and does not violate the 
Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), any zoning ordinance or 
regulation of the concerned local government unit, or other applicable 
laws, ordinances or regulations, which document is submitted to the 
Local Building Official in support of an application for a permit;  
 
(x) 
“Permit” refers to any of the permits that may be issued by the Local 
Building Official as set forth in this Act;  
 


(y) 
“Recognized Certifier“ refers to a person possessing experience in 
building assessment and other qualifications of a Building Professional, 
and recognized by the Office of the National Building Official to issue 
certificates to confirm that a building or structure that is more than 
fifteen (15) years of age meets the requirements of Chapter VII of this 
Act, rules and regulations, and reference standards as to structural 
stability and fire safety construction; 
 
(z) 
“Recognized Inspector” refers to a person possessing experience and 
other qualifications of a Building Professional, and recognized by the 
Office of the National Building Official, whose service is engaged by the 
Local Building Official to inspect buildings or structures in accordance 
with this Act, rules and regulations, and reference standards; 
 
(aa) “Recognized Structural Peer Reviewer” refers to a person possessing 
experience and  other qualifications of a Building Professional, and 
recognized by the Office of the  National Building Official to provide 
independent verification that the structural  design of a proposed or 
new building or structure complies with this Act, rules and  
regulations, and reference standards; 
 
(bb) “Recognized Testing Laboratory” refers to an establishment or 
institution recognized by the Office of the National Building Official to 
perform tests to determine if the building materials and components 
used in the construction of a building or structure comply with Chapter 
VI of this Act, rules and regulations, and reference standards; 
 
(cc) “Reference Standards” refers to technical standards that the National 
Building Official promulgates through rules and regulations in 
administering and enforcing this Act; for this purpose, consistent with 
Section 40, existing referral codes of Presidential Decree No. 1096 shall 
hereinafter be renamed and referred to accordingly as “reference 
standards;” 
 
(dd) “Rehabilitation” refers to the act or process of making possible a 
compatible use for an existing building or structure through repair 
and/or alteration while preserving those portions or features which 
convey its acknowledged heritage significance;  
 
(ee) “Relocation” refers to the transfer of an existing building or structure or 
portion/s thereof from original location or position to another, either 
within the same site or to a different one;  
 
(ff) 
 “Renovation” refers to any physical change made on an existing 
building or structure to increase the value or improve the quality 


and/or aesthetics, without addition to building height or floor area, or 
alteration of structural parts;  
 
(gg) “Repair” refers to remedial work done on any damaged or deteriorated 
portion/s of an existing building or structure to restore its original 
condition;  
 
(hh) “Retrofit” refers to the construction of any new element or system, or 
the alteration of any element or system, required to bring an existing 
building or structure, or portion thereof, into conformance with this 
Act, rules and regulations, and reference standards;  
 
(ii) 
“Special Site” refers to a site that requires special rules and regulations 
to mitigate potential adverse impacts of the site conditions;  
 
(jj) 
“Structure” refers to that which is built or constructed, an edifice, or 
building of any kind, or any piece of work artificially built up or 
composed of parts joined together in some definite manner, but shall 
not include streets, highways, bridges and viaducts, railroads, canals, 
river and shore improvements, dry docks, dams, irrigation, flood 
protection, tunnels, transmission towers and lines, and structures 
regulated by other national laws or competent national agencies;  
 
(kk) “Traditional Indigenous Family Dwelling” refers to a residential building 
or structure intended for the use and occupancy by the family of the 
owner only and constructed with native or local materials such as nipa, 
cogon, bamboo, log, lumber, or stone, the estimated total cost of which 
does not exceed the limit prescribed by the National Building Official 
through rules and regulations;  
 
(ll) 
"Vulnerability" refers to the characteristics and circumstances of a 
community, system or asset that make it susceptible to the damaging 
effects of a hazard; vulnerability may arise from various physical, 
social, economic, and environmental factors such as poor design and 
construction of buildings, inadequate protection of assets, lack of 
public information and awareness, limited recognition of risks and 
preparedness measures, and disregard for sound environmental 
management; and 
 
(mm) “Zoning” refers to the division of a city or municipality into districts, 
zones or sub-zones and overlay zones according to present and 
potential uses of land in order to maximize, regulate, and direct their 
use and development according to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan 
(CLUP); it is also concerned primarily with the use of land and through 
imposition of building heights, bulks, open space and density in a given 
area; 
 


 
Additional definitions shall be included in the implementing rules and 
regulations and with the reference standards; Provided, That these shall be 
non-redundant to, non-contradictory with, and only supplementary to, the 
definitions as used in this Act. 
 
CHAPTER II 
CLASSIFICATION OF BUILDINGS 
 
 
SEC. 7. Classification System.  A system of classification of buildings 
and structures in the Philippines as to: (a) type of construction according to 
fire resistance rating; (b) use or occupancy; and (c) required track of 
permitting process, is hereby adopted. 
 
SEC. 8. Buildings Classified by Type of Construction According to 
Fire Resistance Rating. The building or structure shall be classified 
according to fire resistivity and fire resistance rating consistent with 
Republic Act No. 9514, or the Fire Code of the Philippines, and its 
Implementing Rules and Regulations. 
 
SEC. 9. Buildings Classified According to Use or Occupancy. The 
building or structure shall be identified based on the use or occupancy and 
shall be classified as follows: 
 
Group A, Assembly occupancies, includes all buildings and structures, 
or portions thereof, used for gathering together of fifty (50) or more persons 
for any purpose, including but not limited to deliberation, worship, 
entertainment, eating, drinking, amusement, and awaiting transportation;  
 
Group B, Business occupancies includes those used for the transaction 
of business other than those covered under Group M, Mercantile 
occupancies, including the keeping of accounts and records and similar 
purposes for offices with less than fifty (50) occupants such as, but not 
limited to, offices of professionals, general offices, business process 
outsourcing, 
internet 
shops, 
massage 
parlors, 
beauty 
shops, 
and 
barbershops;  
 
Group D, Disaster response occupancies includes those permanent 
centers for refuge and emergency evacuation or for emergency operation; 
 
Group E, Educational occupancies includes buildings, or portions 
thereof, used for the gathering of group of six (6) or more persons for 
purposes of instruction, such as, but not limited to, schools, colleges, 
universities, academies, and kindergartens;  
 


Group F, Factory and Industrial occupancies, includes those used for 
operations including, but not limited to, product processing, fabricating, 
manufacturing, assembling and disassembling, mixing, packaging, finishing 
or decorating, repairing, and material recovery, including but not limited to 
factories of all kinds, laboratories, laundries, dry-cleaning plants, power 
plants, pumping stations, smokehouses, gas plants, refineries, creameries, 
and sawmills;  
 
Group G, Agricultural and Biological occupancies includes those used 
for 
the 
production, 
harvesting, 
processing, 
storage, 
manufacture, 
preserving, transporting, and distribution of agricultural and biological 
products or materials including, but not limited to, silos and its 
components, agricultural and biosystems machinery and equipment sheds, 
farm houses, green/screen houses, poultry houses, piggery houses, 
slaughterhouses, agricultural and biological products storage/warehouses, 
buildings and structures for poultry, livestock, fishery and forestry 
production and processing, kiln drying and lumber treatment structure, and 
structures for farm equipment, farm supplies, and agricultural waste 
utilization and management; 
 
Group I, Institutional occupancies are those used to house one or more 
persons under varied degrees of restraint or security where such occupants 
are mostly incapable of self-preservation because of security measures not 
under the occupants’ control (Sub-group ID), or government buildings and 
quarters rendering civic or public assistance and peace and order (Sub-
group IG), or those in which care or supervision is provided to persons who 
are mostly incapable of self-preservation without physical assistance 
because of age, or physical or mental condition or ability (Sub-group IH), 
such as health care and day care occupancies; 
 
Group M, Mercantile or Commercial occupancies includes those used 
for the display and/or sale of merchandise, and involves stocks of goods, 
wares, and merchandise incidental to such purposes and accessible to the 
public, with less than fifty (50) occupants, such as but not limited to 
showrooms, stores, markets, malls, and restaurants; 
 
Group R, Residential occupancies includes those in which sleeping 
accommodations are provided for normal residential or dwelling purposes 
and include all buildings designed to provide sleeping accommodations, for 
example the socialized (Sub-group RS) and economic (Sub-group RE) 
housing covered by Batas Pambansa Blg. 220, or residential board and care 
buildings that are used for lodging and boarding of four (4) or more 
residents, not related by blood or marriage to the operators or owners, for 
less than fifty (50) total occupants; 
 
Group S, Storage occupancies includes all buildings or structures 
utilized primarily for the storage or sheltering of goods, merchandise, 
products, or vehicles;  
 


Group U, Utilities and Miscellaneous occupancies includes those with 
an ancillary character such as, but not limited to, those enumerated in 
Section 6 (g) Ancillary Structure, or those which cannot be properly 
classified in any of the other occupancy groups in this Section, such as, but 
not limited to billboards and commercial signboards; and 
 
Group Z, High-Hazard occupancies means those with storage and 
handling of flammable, highly combustible, highly infectious, or other highly 
hazardous materials that would constitute a physical or health hazard, in 
quantities in excess of those allowed by regulations.  
 
The National Building Official may determine, through implementing 
rules and regulations, sub-groups within Group A to Z. Any other use or 
occupancy not mentioned specifically under this Section, or about which 
there is any question, shall, upon approval by the National Building Official, 
be included in the group which it most nearly resembles based on the 
associated hazard or risk to life, health, property, and public welfare.  
 
In addition to permanent centers for refuge and evacuation as in Group 
D, any building, structure, or portion thereof may be designated as a 
temporary evacuation center provided it complies with the specific rules and 
regulations promulgated by the National Building Official. 
 
When a building or structure is of mixed occupancy or used for more 
than one occupancy, the whole building or structure shall be subject to the 
most restrictive requirement pertaining to any of the occupancy groups 
found therein, except when a minor use does not occupy more than ten 
percent (10%) of the area of any floor or as otherwise provided in applicable 
rules and regulations for mixed occupancy or use.  
 
For each group or sub-group of use or occupancy, the National Building 
Official shall promulgate specific rules and regulations and reference 
standards in accordance with this Act. 
 
SEC. 10. Buildings Classified According to Required Track of 
Permitting Process. Buildings and structures shall be classified based on 
the required track of permitting process as follows: 
 
(a) 
“Simple (Track T1) Structures” are buildings or structures belonging to 
sub-group/s under Group R, Residential, either traditional indigenous 
family dwellings regardless of number of floors, or individually 
constructed dwellings for up to three (3) families, with maximum total 
gross floor area limit for each case as prescribed by the National 
Building Official through rules and regulations, but shall exclude such 
structures under any government-approved mass housing project 
developed by the government, non-government organization, or private 
developer. These Simple (Track T1) Structures shall comply with 


Simplified Reference Standards as prescribed by the National Building 
Official under a simplified track of permitting process. Provided, that 
mass housing development structures by subdivision and condominium 
developers under Batas Pambansa Blg. 220, to the extent that these 
structures are comparable in simplicity with Simple (Track T1) 
Structures, shall have a similarly simplified track of housing permitting 
process in coordination with Housing One-Stop Processing Centers 
(HOPCs) according to promulgated specific rules and regulations and 
reference standards under this Act. 
 
(b) 
“Regular (Track T2) Structures” are buildings or structures that do not 
fall under either one of the classifications of Simple (Track T1) 
Structures and Special (Track T3) Structures. Regular (Track T2) 
Structures shall require the regular track of permitting process. 
 
(c) 
“Special (Track T3) Structures” are buildings or structures that are 
distinguished by special physical attributes in terms of size, span, or 
form, very advanced structural calculation method, and/or by nature of 
use or occupancy. These structures shall be any of the following: 
 
(1) buildings and other structures exceeding seventy five (75) meters 
in height or a higher height threshold as prescribed based on rules 
and regulations by the National Building Official; 
 
(2) long span structures exceeding thirty (30) meters in span or a 
longer span threshold as prescribed based on rules and regulations 
by the National Building Official;  
 
(3) buildings and other structures with two (2) or more floor levels, 
and in any single floor level exceeding twenty five thousand 
(25,000) square meters of gross floor area;  
 
(4) 
buildings and other structures with gross floor area exceeding forty 
thousand (40,000) square meters; 
 
(5) 
underground or underwater structures; 
 
(6) 
facilities belonging to Group D, Disaster response occupancies;  
 
(7) 
agricultural and biosystems buildings belonging to Group G, 
Agricultural and Biosystems occupancies; 
 
(8) 
hospitals belonging to a sub-group under Group I, Institutional 
occupancies, that need to provide higher than the minimum level 
of services in terms of functional capacity as classified by 
competent national agency on healthcare facilities;  
 
(9) 
facilities belonging to Group Z, High-Hazard occupancies;  


 
(10) structures that have non-regular structural form as classified in 
structural reference standards; and 
 
(11) buildings and other structures using very advanced structural 
calculation method in design as classified in structural reference 
standards. 
 
Accordingly, the special track of permitting process for these Special 
(Track T3) Structures shall require a peer review of the structural stability. 
The terms of reference of the peer review shall be clear and acceptable to 
both the original professional and the peer reviewer, and conforming to this 
Act, its rules and regulations, and reference standards. 
 
For buildings and structures that have non-regular structural form 
(sub-class (10) in this Section) or using very advanced structural calculation 
method in design (sub-class (11) in this Section), the peer review shall be 
conducted by an Accredited Structural Peer Reviewer duly qualified for such 
specific sub-classes, respectively.  
 
Provided, that prior certification for innovative construction technology 
according to Section 29 of this Act shall be deemed to satisfy the 
requirement of structural peer review.  
 
Provided further, that the Office of the National Building Official shall 
establish and/or accredit competent government agencies in charge of 
certification of innovative construction technologies as provided for in 
Section 29. 
 
The act of reviewing does not pass on the responsibility and the liability 
of the Building Professional for design to the Accredited Structural Peer 
Reviewer on the structural integrity of the building, without prejudice to 
administrative charges under applicable professional regulations.  
SEC. 11. Buildings and Structures. For purposes of this Act, 
structures shall include buildings, ancillary structures, and other structures 
as defined in this Act. 
SEC. 12. Requirements for Each Type of Construction According to 
Fire Resistance Rating. The National Building Official shall prescribe 
standards for each type of construction according to fire resistivity and fire 
resistance rating as allowed under this Act correspondingly for each group 
or sub-group of use or occupancy, and promulgate rules and regulations 
and reference standards therefor, in general terms of structural system, 
exterior walls and openings, interior walls and enclosures, floors, exits and 
stairs construction, and roofs, among other elements. 
 


SEC. 13. Changes in Use or Occupancy and/or Type of 
Construction According to Fire Resistance Rating. No change shall be 
made in the use or occupancy and/or type of construction according to fire 
resistivity and fire resistance rating of any building or structure which 
would place the building or structure in a different occupancy group or 
different type of construction, unless such building or structure is made to 
comply with the requirements for the new occupancy group or type of 
construction; provided, that the change may be approved by the Local 
Building Official upon determination that the new use or occupancy and/or 
type of construction poses less risk to life, health, property, and public 
welfare, according to rules and regulations promulgated by the National 
Building Official. 
 
CHAPTER III 
LOCATION AND ZONING REQUIREMENTS 
 
 SEC. 14. General Requirements for Location and Zoning. The site 
upon which will be located any building or structure, including associated 
parks or open spaces, shall be sanitary, hygienic, and accessible, and shall 
not pose high hazard for the intended use or occupancy, as determined by 
competent and appropriate authorities and certified through a locational 
clearance and other clearance/s or certificate/s as prescribed by applicable 
laws and regulations.  It shall not obstruct existing easement or right-of-way 
of the national government and all local government units, as well as 
departments, regulatory agencies, instrumentalities, government owned and 
controlled corporations, and implementing units of the same, in accordance 
with existing laws and rules and regulations. 
 
SEC. 15. Protection of the Site Environment. Any proposed 
construction, including its location and use, shall take into account the 
environment and its conservation and protection. It shall not gravely affect 
the heritage and environmental significance of the site; and shall neither 
harm nor aggravate the state of the neighborhood, environment, and natural 
resources surrounding it. No construction, its location, and use shall be 
allowed without complying with the applicable heritage, environmental, and 
natural resources laws and regulations, as determined by competent and 
appropriate authorities and certified through a locational clearance and 
other clearance/s or certificate/s as prescribed by applicable laws and 
regulations. 
 


SEC. 16. Protection of the Public. Any proposed construction shall 
neither cause harm to the general public nor infringe on public spaces. 
 
SEC. 17. Requirements in Hazard Zones and Special Sites. The 
Building Owners and Building Professionals shall ensure that every 
proposed construction, its location, and use, will not increase the 
vulnerabilities of the people who will occupy the building and their 
neighborhood on account of the hazard zone or special site. Within hazard 
zones as established in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and/or 
hazard maps published by the national government, risk mitigation and 
adaptation requirements and/or measures shall be incorporated in the rules 
and regulations and reference standards as promulgated by the National 
Building Official. 
 
SEC. 18. Resilience. Buildings and structures damaged by a disaster 
or crisis shall adhere to principles of building better in post-disaster or post-
crisis recovery and reconstruction.  
 
The National Building Official shall cause to integrate disaster risk 
reduction and management measures in the rules and regulations and 
reference standards for planning, design, and reconstruction of buildings 
and structures. 
  
The National Building Official shall promulgate specific rules and 
regulations and reference standards for temporary post-disaster or post-
crisis structures. 
 
CHAPTER IV 
DESIGN REQUIREMENTS 
 
SEC. 19. General Requirements for Design. The design of all 
buildings and structures shall comply with the requirements prescribed by 
this Act, rules and regulations, and reference standards. Provided, That 
there shall be specific levels of standards and technical requirements for 
socialized housing (residential occupancy Sub-group RS) and economic 
housing (residential occupancy Sub-group RE) structures as provided by 
Batas Pambansa Blg. 220, and low-cost housing (Residential Occupancy 
Sub-Group RL) covered by Presidential Decree No. 957 as formulated by the 
Department 
of 
Human 
Settlements 
and 
Urban 
Development 
and 
recommended through the Building Regulations and Standards Council  
(BRSC). Provided further, That Group G, Agricultural and Biological 
occupancies shall consider biosystems design requirements for the 


protection of persons, animals, crops, and the environment, and ensure 
optimum production, worker’s safety, and biosecurity of plants and animals. 
 
Buildings and structures on or in special sites shall consider special 
design requirements and risk mitigation measures called for by the specific 
site conditions. 
 
Reference standards shall comprehensively and consistently address 
the technical details and other technical analyses, as appropriate, according 
to the system of classification of buildings and structures, that are required 
to carry out the objectives of this Act and as such shall be recognized by and 
enumerated through its implementing rules and regulations. 
 
SEC. 20. Strength and Stability. All buildings and structures shall be 
designed to be structurally adequate in strength and stability against 
anticipated combinations of loads and effects so as to safeguard people and 
property from physical harm or damage.  
  
Subject to the provisions of Articles 684 to 686 of Republic Act No. 386, 
or Civil Code of the Philippines, on lateral and subjacent support, the design 
and quality of materials used structurally in excavation, footings, and in 
foundations shall conform to prescribed reference standards and accepted 
engineering practice. 
 
SEC. 21. Protection from Fire. All buildings and structures shall be 
designed to safeguard persons and properties from any harm or damage 
caused by fire in accordance with the Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008 
and its Implementing Rules and Regulations. 
 
All fire safety constructions as defined by the Fire Code of the 
Philippines of 2008 shall be designed in accordance with specific rules and 
regulations and reference standards under this Act. 
 
SEC. 22. Protection from Moisture and Surface Water. All buildings 
shall be designed to provide adequate resistance to penetration by, and the 
accumulation of, excessive moisture and surface water. 
 
SEC. 23. Protection from Other Hazards. All buildings and structures 
shall be designed to safeguard persons and properties from other site-
specific multiple hazards. 
 


SEC. 24. Safety of Users or Occupants. All buildings and structures 
shall be designed to safeguard their users or occupants from harm, injury, 
or loss, including, but not limited to, safeguarding against accidental falls 
from windows, balconies and the like, in manners compatible with fire safety 
construction, and promoting occupational safety and health, and in 
accordance with Batas Pambansa Blg. 344 or “An Act to Enhance the 
Mobility of Disabled Persons by Requiring Certain Buildings, Institutions, 
Establishments and Public Utilities to Install Facilities and Other Devices”. 
 
SEC. 25. Ingress, Circulation, and Egress. Safe access into, 
circulation within, and egress from the buildings, including emergency exits, 
shall be provided for persons and vehicles, including, but not limited to, 
persons with disabilities, complying with mandatory requirements of 
applicable laws such as Batas Pambansa Blg. 344. 
 
SEC. 26. Energy and Water Efficiency. The design of buildings and 
structures shall include, wherein required, practices and technologies that 
maximize efficiency of use of energy and water.  
 
The National Building Official shall promulgate specific rules and 
regulations applicable to buildings and structures exceeding a threshold 
total gross floor area, depending on the classification of use or occupancy. 
 
SEC. 27. Services and Facilities. All building services and facilities, 
their equipment and installations, shall be designed to be adequate, safe, 
and efficient, to promote the well-being of the users or occupants and the 
general public. Constructability and ease of maintenance of the services and 
facilities shall be highly considered in the design.  
 
As required by the occupancy group, buildings and structures shall be 
designed to provide services and facilities including but not limited to the 
following: light; air circulation and ventilation; water supply; rainwater 
management; drainage; wastewater disposal; sewage disposal; solid waste 
management; pest and vermin control; power and fuel supply; information 
communication technology facilities; conveyance and parking facilities; fire 
lane and fire hydrants; and other services and facilities for persons with 
disabilities, complying with mandatory requirements of applicable laws. 
 
Provided, that the carriageways, sidewalks, and all parts of the road 
right-of-way for public roads adjoining a building site shall not be used to 
meet the requirements of parking facilities for the building as required by 
this Act, rules and regulations, and reference standards.  Provided further, 
that queuing areas, driveways, ramps, entrances to, and exits from parking 


facilities for a building shall neither encroach on the road right-of-way nor 
obstruct the movement of pedestrians and vehicles on the public roads 
adjoining the building. 
 
Provided finally, that information communication technology facilities 
such as, but not limited to, in-building physical infrastructure and fiber-
optic cabling for high-capacity and high-speed requirements shall be 
mandatory in new buildings owned by the national government and all local 
government 
units, 
as 
well 
as 
departments, 
regulatory 
agencies, 
instrumentalities, and implementing units of the same, and their existing 
buildings that are subject to major renovation works. 
 
 
CHAPTER V 
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS 
 
SEC. 28. General Requirements for Construction. The construction 
of all buildings and structures shall comply with the requirements 
prescribed by this Act, rules and regulations, and reference standards. 
 
The use of materials, pieces of equipment, plants, and tools, and 
selection of personnel shall conform to reference standards on materials, 
methods, and practices, in order to ensure quality of material and quality of 
workmanship. Builders shall promote quality of construction as one of the 
essential links to the reduction of the vulnerability of the building or 
structure to hazards. 
 
SEC. 29. Innovative Construction Technologies. All innovative 
construction technologies used in building construction shall comply with 
any special tests or requirements as prescribed by the National Building 
Official pursuant to the policies and objectives of this Act. These 
technologies shall be installed by qualified personnel and supervised by 
technically competent professionals.  
 
The proponent of such innovative construction technology may apply 
for a certification by the competent national agency according to the rules 
and regulations prescribed by the National Building Official. Buildings and 
other structures using an innovative construction technology with prior 
certification shall be deemed to satisfy the requirement of structural peer 
review. 
 
Provided, that innovative technologies appropriate for socialized and 
economic housing, as covered by Batas Pambansa Blg. 220, shall be subject 


for accreditation by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban 
Development. 
 
Provided further, that the Office of the National Building Official shall 
establish and accredit another competent national agency to be in charge of 
accreditation of innovative technologies, including so-called smart and/or 
green technologies, that are for applications other than socialized or 
economic housing. 
 
Provided finally, that nothing in this Act shall be interpreted to prevent 
the National Building Official, in cooperation with other concerned agencies, 
from causing the establishment and accreditation of a unified competent 
national agency to be in charge of accreditation of innovative technologies 
for various construction applications. 
 
SEC. 30. Safety and Protection During Construction. All buildings 
shall be constructed or demolished without causing any harm or injury to 
the construction workers and the public. 
 
SEC. 31. Protection of Property During Construction. All and any 
public or private property above or below the ground shall be protected from 
any damage by any work being done under the permit. The protection shall 
be maintained while such work is being done and shall not obstruct the 
normal functioning of any such property. 
 
 
SEC. 32. Phased or Incremental Construction. All uncompleted 
portions of buildings subject to phased or incremental construction shall be 
protected and shall not pose harm to the public. Any additional or 
incremental work shall not compromise the safety and well-being of the 
users or occupants. 
 
 
SEC. 33. Construction and Demolition Waste Management. All 
buildings shall be constructed with proper management of construction and 
demolition waste. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
BUILDING MATERIALS 
 
SEC. 34. General Requirements for Materials. All building materials 
and components shall comply with the requirements prescribed by this Act, 
rules and regulations, and reference standards. 


 
The use of building materials and components must be safe for the 
health of users or occupants and must not cause any substantive negative 
impact to the environment such as, but not limited to, air, water, and soil.  
 
Provided, that product standards promulgated by competent national 
agency shall be harmonized with or incorporated together with the reference 
standards under this Act. 
 
SEC. 35. Selection of Materials. Building materials and components 
shall be selected following a set of criteria including but not limited to 
strength, fire resistivity, moisture resistance, durability, and sustainability, 
according to rules and regulations and reference standards promulgated by 
the National Building Official. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
OCCUPANCY, MAINTENANCE, AND ABATEMENT OF BUILDINGS 
 
 
SEC. 36. General Requirements for Occupancy, Maintenance, and 
Abatement. All Building Owners shall use and maintain the building in 
accordance with the requirements prescribed by this Act, rules and 
regulations, and reference standards. The use and maintenance of the 
building must be safe for the health of users, occupants, and the general 
public, and shall not cause any substantive negative impact to the 
environment such as, but not limited to, air, water, and soil. 
 
SEC. 37. Maintenance, Inspection, and Assessment of Buildings 
and Reporting to the ONBO. All buildings shall undergo regular 
maintenance 
and 
inspection 
in 
accordance 
with 
each 
building’s 
maintenance strategy. There shall be rules and regulations to guide the 
preparation, approval, and implementation of appropriate maintenance 
strategies for buildings and structures, promulgated by the National 
Building Official. The Building Owner shall perform periodic maintenance 
and inspection; the Local Building Officials and/or Accredited Inspectors 
shall conduct inspection as appropriate according to rules and regulations.  
The Office of the National Building Official shall establish a system for 
monitoring, reporting, and evaluating maintenance and inspection activities.  
 
The Office of the National Building Official shall assist Building Owners 
of structures falling within the classification Simple (Track T1) Structures 
and Regular (Track T2) Structures in conducting a simplified or regular 
inspection of their buildings.  
 


For buildings and structures with occupancies falling under Group A, 
Group D, Group E, or Group Z, there shall be periodic inspections by Local 
Building Officials and/or Accredited Inspectors subject to specific rules and 
regulations promulgated by the National Building Official.  
 
The Office of the National Building Official shall coordinate with 
relevant government agencies that regulate business operations in buildings 
and structures: structural stability clearance from the Office of the Local 
Building Official shall be a prerequisite for the issuance or renewal of 
business permits or permits to operate, for new occupancy or occupancy 
after 15 years from the date of completion of the building or structure.  
 
Mandatory inspection and assessment by an Accredited Certifier as to 
structural stability and fire safety construction shall be commissioned by 
the Building Owner at the 15th year from date of completion of the building 
and every 15 years thereafter in the case of Special (Track T3) Structures. In 
cases of addition, alteration, conversion, rehabilitation, relocation, repair, 
and/or retrofit requiring more recent structural stability assessment and 
corresponding certification and clearance, the date of reckoning of 15 years 
for purposes of this Section shall be counted from the completion date of the 
latest building permit that involved the most recent structural stability 
clearance under this Act.  
 
The National Building Official shall promulgate rules and regulations 
and reference standards for mandatory inspection and assessment of 
buildings as to structural stability and fire safety construction, specific to 
the various building classifications; provided, that Accredited Certifiers need 
not be engaged for Simple (Track T1) Structures and Regular (Track T2) 
Structures. Provided further, that Accredited Certifiers need not be engaged 
for simple mass-housing-development structures. 
 
The National Building Official shall promulgate specific rules and 
regulations for mandatory inspection and assessment of all buildings as to 
structural stability and fire safety construction after regional catastrophic 
events such as, but not limited to, widely destructive earthquakes and 
typhoons. The determination of an event that is catastrophic as to warrant 
mandatory assessment of all buildings in a geographic area shall be made 
by the National Building Official in consultation and coordination with other 
government agencies.  
 
The Office of the National Building Official through the Offices of the 
Local Building Official shall maintain a computerized national database of 
permits and other periodic data about all buildings and structures, 
including but not limited to reports on maintenance, inspection, and/or 
assessment. The information contained in the database shall be used by the 
national and local agencies in relation to disaster risk reduction and 
management; provided that, such information shall be made available to the 


public for awareness and preparedness subject to the Data Privacy Act, or 
Republic Act No. 10173. 
 
SEC. 38. Special Provision for Buildings Completed More than 15 
Years Prior to the Effectivity of this Act. To ensure the safety of the 
people and to reduce risks, Special (Track T3) Structures and buildings and 
structures with occupancies falling under Group A and Group E, that were 
completed in 2005 or earlier, are mandated to have an assessment of the 
design based on the requirements in Chapter IV of this Act as specified in 
rules and regulations, as to structural stability and fire safety construction, 
and the Building Owners are to submit the certifications or findings of 
appropriate Building Professionals, serving as Accredited Certifiers, to the 
concerned Local Building Officials regarding the state of such buildings and 
structures and their safety and/or need for retrofit. 
 
Within three (3) months from the effectivity of this Act, the Department 
through the Office of the National Building Official, in consultation with 
relevant agencies and stakeholders, shall implement a phased approach to 
prioritize compliance of Building Owners of both public and private 
buildings in hazard zones, such as but not limited to those near earthquake 
fault lines or in coastal zones affected by sea level rise, or in hazard zones or 
areas otherwise identified in hazard maps, or those used for assemblies in 
large numbers and/or by vulnerable users or occupants. 
 
The National Building Official, in coordination with other concerned 
agencies, shall develop and administer incentive schemes, such as those 
allowed by the disaster risk reduction and management funds, to support 
immediate voluntary retrofit by the Building Owners requiring modifications 
for the safety of the users or occupants and/or the general public. 
There shall be specific implementing rules and regulations governing 
the authorities, 7 responsibilities, and liabilities, including any transfer 
thereof, in case of retrofitting works. 
 
SEC. 39. Abatement of Dangerous and Ruinous Buildings. When 
any building or structure is found or declared to be dangerous or ruinous, 
the Local Building Official shall order its repair, vacation, or demolition 
depending upon the degree of danger to life, health, property, and public 
welfare. This is without prejudice to further action that may be taken under 
the provisions of Articles 482 and 694 to 707 of the Civil Code of the 
Philippines and other existing laws. 
 
For purposes of this Section, dangerous or ruinous buildings are 
buildings or structures determined by the Local Building Official to be 
structurally unstable; or not provided with safe egress; or which constitute a 
fire hazard; or are otherwise dangerous to human life; or which in relation to 


existing use, constitute a hazard to life safety, health, or public welfare 
because 
of 
inadequate 
maintenance, 
dilapidation, 
obsolescence, 
or 
abandonment; or which otherwise contribute to the pollution of the site or 
the community to an intolerable degree. 
 
Abatement and/or rehabilitation of buildings and structures covered 
under Republic Act No. 10066, or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 
2009, shall be coordinated with the National Commission for Culture and 
the Arts (NCCA) prior to any action of abatement. 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
ADMINISTRATION 
 
SEC. 40. National Building Official (NBO): Powers, Obligations, and 
Functions. The Secretary of the Department shall have the duty to ensure 
that all laws relating to building design and construction are faithfully 
executed and is primarily charged with the administration and enforcement 
of the provisions of this Act, rules and regulations, and reference standards. 
 
The Secretary shall ensure harmonization of rules and regulations and 
reference standards between government-funded and non-government 
funded buildings and structures, consistent with the objectives of this Act. 
 
As the National Building Official, the Secretary shall have the following 
general powers, obligations, and functions: 
 
(a) 
Issue and promulgate rules and regulations to implement the 
provisions of this Act, upon recommendation of the Building 
Regulations and Standards Council, and ensure compliance with 
policies, plans, standards, and guidelines formulated. The Building 
Regulations and Standards Council shall be formed in accordance with 
the provisions of this Act; 
 
(b) 
Approve and/or take final action on changes and/or amendments to 
reference standards based on recommendations of the Building 
Regulations and Standards Council. For this purpose, existing referral 
codes shall hereinafter be renamed and referred to accordingly as 
“reference standards”; 
 
(c) 
Appoint Local Building Officials, in manner as provided for by this Act, 
and exercise supervision and control over them as the National 
Building Official; 
 
(d) 
Designate Local Building Officials, in manner as provided for by this 
Act, and exercise supervision and control over them as the National 
Building Official; 
 


(e) 
Create the Office of the Local Building Official in case of clustered 
municipalities, as set forth in this Act, and exercise administrative as 
well as technical supervision and control;  
 
(f) 
Appoint the Regional Building Appeals Boards, as provided for by this 
Act, and exercise administrative supervision over them; 
 
(g) 
Prescribe and fix the schedule of fees, appeal bonds, and other charges 
that the National Building Official and Local Building Officials shall 
collect in the exercise of their regulatory functions; 
 
(h) 
Inspect at reasonable times any building or structure, covered by this 
Act, rules and regulations, and reference standards; provided, that in 
case of a single-family dwelling, an inspection must be upon the 
consent of the occupant or upon lawful order from the proper court; 
 
(i) 
With due process, issue appropriate orders, including cease and desist 
order and demolition order, against any person or entity to prevent 
injury to the public and compel compliance with the provisions of this 
Act, rules and regulations, and reference standards;  
 
(j) 
With due process, impose fines, penalties, and other administrative 
sanctions for failure or refusal to comply with, or violation of any 
provision of this Act, rules and regulations, and reference standards, or 
any order, instruction, or ruling; 
 
(k) 
Enlist the aid and support of, and/or deputize any and all enforcement 
agencies of the government in the implementation of his powers and 
functions under this Act, rules and regulations, and reference 
standards;  
 
(l) 
Delegate applicable powers, obligations, and functions to the Local 
Building Officials 10 as deemed necessary; and 
 
(m) Exercise such other powers and perform such functions as may be 
needed to carry out the objectives of this Act, rules and regulations, 
and reference standards. 
 
SEC. 41. Building Regulations and Standards Council (BRSC). A 
Building Regulations and Standards Council is hereby created to assist the 
National Building Official in reviewing and recommending rules and 
regulations and reference standards to accomplish the objectives of this Act. 
 
(a) 
Members. The Building Regulations and Standards Council shall be 
composed of the following: 
 
(1) Undersecretary for Technical Services of the DPWH as Chair; 
 


(2) Undersecretary of the Department of Human Settlements and 
Urban Development (DHSUD) for technical services or planning as 
Vice-Chair; 
 
(3) Commissioner of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in 
charge 
of 
supervision 
of 
regulatory 
boards 
of 
building 
professionals; 
 
(4) Chief of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP); 
 
(5) Undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in 
charge of supervision of product standards and/or contractor 
accreditations; 
 
(6) Undersecretary of the Department of Science and Technology 
(DOST) for scientific and technological services; 
 
(7) Undersecretary of the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources (DENR) for planning and policy making regarding 
environmental concerns; 
 
(8) Undersecretary of the Department of Health (DOH) for public 
health services; 
 
(9) Director of the Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering 
(BAFE); 
 
(10) President of a national association of local building officials; 
 
(11) President of a national association of building developers and/or 
subdivision and housing developers, national association of 
building owners, national association of building managers, or 
national association of building administrators; 
 
(12) President of a PRC-accredited national professional organization of 
building professionals; 
 
(13) President of a national association of building contractors; 
 
(14) High-ranking regular faculty member from a recognized higher 
education 
institution 
involved 
in 
the 
training 
of 
building 
professionals; and 
 
(15) Representative-at-large coming from any concerned sectors whose 
participation is deemed by the National Building Official as timely 
and complementary to those of other members enumerated. 
 


From a list of nominees submitted by their respective sectors, all 
representatives from the private, academic, or non-government sectors, 
enumerated above from (8) to (12), shall be appointed by the National 
Building Official for a term of three (3) years; provided, that each said 
member, during his/her term in the Council, shall remain a certified 
member-in-good-standing of the association, organization, or institution 
that has been originally represented. In case of substitution or replacement 
of a member representing a specific sector, the new member shall serve for 
the remainder of the three-year term.  
 
For these sectors enumerated above from (8) to (12), a different 
association, organization, or institution other than the one currently 
represented shall be given preference by the National Building Official in the 
next full three-year term appointment, in order to practice a rotation of 
representation from among the various associations, organizations, or 
institutions in each sector. 
 
The representatives-at-large, enumerated above as (13), shall serve ex-
officio if an officials and representatives of a government agency, or shall 
serve for a term of three (3) years without immediate reappointment within 
one (1) year if coming from the private, academic, or non-government 
sectors. 
 
In the absence or temporary incapacity of the Undersecretary for 
Technical Services of the Department, the Undersecretary of DHSUD shall 
act as the Chair of the Council.  
 
In the absence or temporary incapacity of the Undersecretary for 
Technical Services of the Department and the Undersecretary of DHSUD, 
the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Undersecretary for Technical Services of the 
Department shall act as the Chair of the Council. 
 
A simple majority of the members of the Council shall constitute a 
quorum. The presence of either the Chair or Vice-Chair of the BRSC is 
indispensable in counting the quorum.  
 
(b) 
Duties and Responsibilities. The Building Regulations and Standards 
Council shall have the following duties and responsibilities: 
 
(1) 
Review existing rules and regulations and existing referral codes, 
renamed as reference standards under this Act, and/or formulate 
new ones in line with the provisions of this Act and rules and 
regulations, including but not limited to the guidelines on the 
process of reviewing local ordinances that are subject for 
concurrence by the National Building Official;  
 
(2) 
Formulate and recommend policies and strategies, for design and 
construction, with reference to global standards, and taking into 
account local conditions;  


 
(3) 
Formulate a system of accreditation of qualified Building 
Professionals as Accredited Certifiers, Accredited Structural Peer 
Reviewers, 
and/or 
Accredited 
Inspectors, 
and 
qualified 
establishments or institutions as Accredited Testing Laboratories; 
 
(4) 
Collect relevant information, conduct research, and support 
studies on all matters relating to design and construction, such as, 
but not limited to, the performance and results achieved of the 
standards 
in 
mainstreaming 
disaster 
risk 
reduction 
and 
management 
in 
building 
planning, 
design, 
construction, 
occupancy, and maintenance; 
 
(5) 
Submit recommendations, including rules and regulations and 
reference standards, to the National Building Official for approval; 
 
(6) 
Submit an annual report to the National Building Official; and 
 
(7) 
Perform such other functions that the National Building Official 
may authorize or assign as may be necessary in carrying out the 
objectives of this Act. 
 
(c) 
Technical Working Groups (TWGs). To support the BRSC in the 
performance of its duties and responsibilities, the National Building 
Official shall constitute Technical Working Groups (TWGs) composed of 
relevant stakeholders. 
 
(d) 
Secretariat. The BRSC shall have its Secretariat personnel separate 
from the Office of the National Building Official, to assist in the 
operation of the Council and TWGs. 
 
(e) 
Procedures. The National Building Official, in consultation with relevant 
stakeholders, shall prescribe, based on rules and regulations, the 
procedures of the Building Regulations and Standards Council, 
ensuring the periodic review of reference standards every five (5) years 
and the participation of the relevant stakeholders including, but not 
limited to, building officials, building developers, building owners, 
building managers or administrators, building professionals and 
professional organizations, building contractors, and higher education 
institutions, in setting performance standards for design and 
construction.  
The National Building Official shall issue every five (5) years, or more 
frequently as needed, updated reference standards. 
 
(f) 
Budget. The BRSC budget shall be included in the annual budget of the 
DPWH. 
 


SEC. 42. Office of the National Building Official (ONBO). The Office 
of the National Building Official, within the Department, is hereby created to 
provide sufficient technical, legal, administrative, and support personnel to 
the National Building Official in the exercise of his powers and the 
performance of his duties.  
 
This Office, headed by a Director, who shall be a registered and 
currently licensed professional, be member of good standing of the duly 
accredited national organization of the profession, and have at least ten (10) 
years of diversified and professional experience in building design, 
construction, and regulation, shall be placed under the supervision of the 
Undersecretary for Technical Services. It shall comprise highly qualified 
personnel eligible to act as building professionals, scientists, or technicians 
who possess diversified and professional experience in the field of building 
design and construction, and lawyers. 
 
The Office of the National Building Official shall provide assistance to 
the National Building Official in the institutional strengthening of Offices of 
the Local Building Official, capacity building of Local Building Officials, data 
management, monitoring and evaluation, and establishing and maintaining 
linkages with concerned institutions. A mandatory continuing education 
and training program shall be pursued for the Local Building Officials and 
their staff, as well as the staff of the Office of the National Building Official. 
 
The Office of the National Building Official shall coordinate the Regional 
Building Appeals Boards. 
 
The Office of the National Building Official shall formulate plans, 
programs, and projects on building planning, design, construction, 
occupancy, and maintenance pursuant to this Act in consideration of global 
best practices and the exposure of the country to multiple hazards. It shall 
plan and implement a computerized national database of buildings and 
structures, for purposes of Section 37 and other provisions of this Act and 
rules and regulations. It shall also be in-charge of the implementation of a 
system of accreditation of qualified Building Professionals as Accredited 
Certifiers, 
Accredited 
Structural 
Peer 
Reviewers, 
and/or 
Accredited 
Inspectors, and qualified establishments or institutions as Accredited 
Testing Laboratories. 
 
Provided, that existing offices, bureaus, divisions, or units of the 
Department with functions, duties, and responsibilities relative to 
regulations and standards for building design and construction shall 
transition and transfer such functions, duties, and responsibilities to the 
Office of the National Building Official that are within the mandate of the 
latter. 
 
SEC. 43. Regional Building Appeals Boards (RBABs). A Regional 
Building Appeals Board with appropriate personnel is hereby created in 


Regional Offices of the Department and placed under the administrative 
supervision of the National Building Official; provided, that an RBAB may be 
created by the National Building Official to serve a group of adjacent regions. 
The RBAB shall be chaired by a member of the Philippine Bar, and assisted 
by two technical personnel of the Department sitting as the other members 
of the Board and by support staff, all of whom are appointed by the National 
Building Official. It shall have exclusive appellate jurisdiction to review 
decisions of the Local Building Officials, or resolve appeals and/or 
complaints after the same shall have been acted upon, or not given due 
course, by the respective Local Building Officials within their region. In case 
of appeal for reconsideration by an aggrieved party on the same matter, the 
decision of the RBAB shall be subject to review by the National Building 
Official pursuant to Section 60 of this Act. 
 
SEC. 44. Offices of the Local Building Official (OLBOs) and Local 
Building Officials (LBOs). Cities and first-class municipalities shall create 
and operate a separate Office of the Local Building Official headed by a Local 
Building Official who shall be appointed by and accountable to the National 
Building Official. The Local Building Official shall be appointed by the 
National Building Official from a list of at least three (3) qualified 
recommendees of the mayor, subject to civil service law and rules and 
regulations. The Local Building Official shall be responsible for carrying out 
the provisions of this Act, rules and regulations, and reference standards 
within the territorial jurisdictions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the 
National Building Official shall have complete supervision and control over 
the Local Building Official. 
 
Depending upon their needs and in order to improve their frontline 
services, second- to sixth-class municipalities may create and operate a 
separate Office of the Local Building Official upon request to and approval 
by the National Building Official. These municipalities, if adjacent and 
accessible to each other, may also opt to request the National Building 
Official to create and operate an Office of the Local Building Official to serve 
the clustered municipalities, which office shall be under the National 
Building Official. This cluster Office shall be located at a municipality within 
the cluster as determined by the National Building Official. Each cluster of 
municipalities may recommend to the National Building Official the 
appointment of one Local Building Official for such cluster from a list of at 
least three (3) qualified recommendees of the mayors of the cluster, subject 
to civil service law and rules and regulations. 
 
Absent a request to and/or approval by the National Building Official 
for either a separate or a cluster Office of the Local Building Official, the 
municipal engineers of the second- to sixth-class municipalities shall be 
designated by the National Building Official to act, in concurrent capacity, 
as the Local Building Officials in their respective territorial jurisdictions. For 
purposes of this Chapter and this Section, the Office of the Municipal 


Engineer in such second- to sixth-class municipalities shall be referred to 
also as Office of the Local Building Official. 
 
Staff of the Offices of the Local Building Official shall include highly 
qualified personnel eligible to act as building professionals in the various 
professions. Provided, that Local Building Officials and their staff shall not 
exercise 
private-sector 
practice 
of 
their 
30 
respective 
professions 
concurrently with the government service.  
 
The local government unit concerned shall provide the funding for and 
operate the separate Office of the Local Building Official, provided, that the 
Office of the National Building Official shall fund and operate cluster Offices 
of the Local Building Official. On the other hand, the Office of the National 
Building Official shall fund and operate cluster Offices of the Local Building 
Official. The sharing and use of fees and fines among the offices shall be in 
conformity with Section 46 of this Act. 
 
SEC. 45. Special Jurisdictions. There shall be Local Building Officials 
for special jurisdictions such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), 
the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), the Department of 
Agriculture (DA), and other government agencies, in each case as explicitly 
provided for by the applicable laws, who shall regulate the design and 
construction of buildings or structures under their jurisdiction and/or their 
registered locators and enterprises. These Local Building Officials in special 
jurisdictions shall likewise be designated by and accountable to the National 
Building Official.  
 
Said Local Building Officials shall be designated by the National 
Building Official from a list of at least three (3) qualified recommendees of 
the head of their agency, subject to civil service law and rules and 
regulations. 
 
Special jurisdictions shall consistently implement Section 54 and the 
rest of this Act, rules and regulations, and reference standards as 
promulgated by the National Building Official. 
 
SEC. 46. Sharing and Use of Fees and Fines. Consistent with the 
provisions of this Act that the National Building Official through the 
Department shall exercise supervision over all Local Building Officials, an 
appropriate share of revenues relative to this Act shall be remitted to the 
national office for use as maintenance and other operating expenses of 
national and regional bodies in the performance of their functions, duties, 
and responsibilities under this Act. 
 
Out of the total collection derived from fees, permit fees, fines, and 
other charges, the Office of the Local Building Official shall retain fifteen 
percent (15%) thereof and deposit in a special account created by the Local 
Treasurer, to answer for its maintenance and other operating expenses. The 


Office of the Local Building Official shall cause to remit five percent (5%) to 
the National Building Official. The remaining eighty percent (80%) shall 
accrue to the general fund of the local government unit or the agency with 
special jurisdiction, which created and operated the Office. 
 
However, in the case of the cluster Office of the Local Building Official, 
it shall retain fifteen percent (15%) thereof and deposit in a special account 
created by the Local Treasurer, to answer for its maintenance and other 
operating expenses, cause to remit sixty five percent (65%) to the National 
Building Official, and cause to divide the remaining twenty percent (20%) 
between or among the clustered municipalities in proportion to the total fees 
and fines originating from each municipality, and to accrue to their 
respective general funds. 
 
The share of income to be remitted to the National Building Official 
shall be used to cover honoraria for the BRSC Secretariat, BRSC TWGs, 
RBABs, and other operating expenses of the BRSC, ONBO, RBABs, and 
cluster OLBOs. 
 
Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, the National 
Building Official is hereby authorized to prescribe the procedures for the use 
of the fifteen percent (15%) retained for the Office of the Local Building 
Official. Such income may be used to cover necessary operating expenses 
including the purchase of equipment, supplies, and materials; expenses for 
travel; continuing education and training programs; engaging Accredited 
Inspectors and Accredited Structural Peer Reviewers; obligation expenses 
including attorney’s fees and other legal expenses, including sheriff’s fees as 
well as hazard pay for employees and/or authorized representatives of the 
Office of the Local Building Official when the cause is in line with the 
performance of duties; and payment of other prior years' obligations not 
adequately funded, subject to existing budgetary and auditing rules and 
regulations. 
 
SEC. 47. Qualifications of Local Building Officials. No person shall 
be appointed as a Local Building Official unless the person possesses the 
following qualifications: 
 
(a) 
A Filipino citizen and of good moral character;  
 
(b) 
A duly registered and licensed architect or civil engineer;  
 
(c) 
A member of good standing of the duly accredited professional 
organization of architects or of civil engineers for not less than ten (10) 
years; and 
 
(d) 
Has at least ten (10) years of diversified and professional experience in 
building design and construction. 
 


Municipal engineers appointed by their mayors and who shall 
concurrently be designated by the National Building Official as Local 
Building Officials, shall comply with the qualifications prescribed for their 
positions as municipal engineers in the Local Government Code. 
 
The Local Building Official for a special jurisdiction shall comply with 
the qualifications prescribed for the position by the specific law that is 
applicable to said special jurisdiction. 
 
Provided, that Local Building Officials are preferably Career Executive 
Service Officers. 
 
SEC. 48. Powers, Obligations, and Functions of Local Building 
Officials. In addition to the other powers, obligations, and functions 
mentioned in this Act, the Local Building Official shall have the following 
general powers, obligations, and functions: 
 
(a) 
Approve applications for, and issue, reject, suspend, or revoke permits 
within their territorial or special jurisdictions; for this purpose, the 
Local Building Official shall base the decision upon the completeness 
and integrity of the application documents supported by the 
appropriate certifications of Building Professionals and clearances from 
relevant government agencies, in accordance with this Act, rules and 
regulations, and reference standards; 
 
(b) 
Hear and decide cases filed by parties on complaints related to the 
permitting process;  
 
(c) 
Enter any building, structure, or its premises at reasonable times to 
inspect and determine compliance with the requirements of this Act, 
rules and regulations, and reference standards, as well as the terms 
and conditions of the permit/s issued; provided, that in case of single-
family dwelling, an inspection by the Local Building Official and/or 
Accredited Inspector must be upon the consent of the occupant or upon 
lawful order from the proper court; 
 
(d) 
Engage qualified and nationally-accredited Building Professionals as 
inspectors and/or structural peer reviewers; 
 
(e) 
With due process, order the work stopped and prescribe the terms 
and/or conditions for the work to be allowed to resume, or issue any 
appropriate order, including cease and desist order and demolition 
order, when any construction is found to be contrary to the provisions 
of this Act, rules and regulations, reference standards, and the terms 
and conditions of the permit/s issued; 
 
(f) 
With due process, order the discontinuance of the use or occupancy of 
any building or structure, or a portion thereof, found to be used or 


occupied contrary to the provisions of this Act, rules and regulations, 
and reference standards, and/or the terms and conditions of the 
permit/s issued; 
 
(g) 
Keep a permanent record and accurate account of all fees, fines, and 
other charges fixed and authorized by the National Building Official to 
be collected and received under this Act; 
 
(h) 
Validate and submit data on a computerized national database of 
buildings and structures, for purposes of Section 37 and other 
provisions of this Act and rules and regulations; 
 
(i) 
Submit an annual situational report to the National Building Official; 
and  
 
(j) 
Exercise such powers and perform such other functions needed to 
assist the National Building Official in carrying out the objectives of this 
Act, rules and regulations, and reference standards. 
 
In the exercise of the abovementioned powers, obligations, and 
functions, the local building official shall comply with the prescribed 
timelines and other provisions of  Republic Act No. 9485 or the Anti-Red 
Tape Act, as amended by Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing 
Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act, and their 
implementing Rules and Regulations. 
SEC. 
49. 
Responsibilities 
of 
Building 
Owners. 
To 
promote 
accountability, Building Owners and Building Owner-Builders shall be 
responsible for their compliance with the provisions of this Act, rules and 
regulations, and reference standards. These responsibilities shall include 
but not be limited to: 
 
(a) 
Providing and/or submitting true and correct information and 
documents in support of their application for permits and their 
prerequisite certifications and clearances; 
 
(b) 
Adhering to the plans and specifications; 
 
(c) 
Complying with the terms and conditions of the permit issued, and 
other prerequisite certifications and clearances; 
 
(d) 
Maintaining the building consistent with its maintenance strategy and 
conducting periodic inspection in accordance with this Act, rules and 
regulations, and reference standards; 
 
(e) 
Engaging the services of Building Professionals and/or Building 
Contractors for any proposed construction, as may be required by this 
Act, rules and regulations, except for Simple (Track T1) Structures; and 


 
(f) 
Engaging the services of Building Professionals or Accredited Certifiers 
for the assessment of structural stability and fire safety construction of 
the building, as may be required by this Act, rules and regulations, 
except for Simple (Track T1) Structures and Regular (Track T2) 
Structures. Provided, that Building Professionals or Accredited 
Certifiers need not be engaged by individual unit owners for simple 
mass-housing-development structures. 
 
Offer to transfer ownership, or actual transfer of ownership, involving 
owners of subdivision projects shall be made pursuant to Presidential 
Decree No. 957, or the Subdivision and Condominium Buyers’ Protective 
Decree. 
 
Offer to transfer ownership, or actual partial or full transfer of 
ownership, involving owners of condominium projects shall be made 
pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 957, or the Subdivision and 
Condominium Buyers’ Protective Decree, and to Republic Act No. 4726, or 
the Condominium Act, as amended. 
 
SEC. 50. Responsibilities of Building Professionals. To promote 
accountability, the various Building Professionals, all of whom are registered 
and currently licensed by their respective professional regulatory boards 
under the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), shall be responsible 
for the accuracy of their work and their corresponding certifications.  
 
Provided, that every registered and licensed professional shall only offer 
and provide work that is contemplated in the applicable professional 
regulatory law. 
 
Provided further, that the implementing rules and regulations shall 
recognize and enumerate the various State-regulated professions from 
among which may come the building professionals 
 
(a) 
Design professionals shall be responsible for the correctness and 
consistency of their design and the preparation of duly signed and 
sealed drawings, technical specifications, calculations, designs, and 
analyses. They are not precluded from conducting inspection of the 
construction work or building or structure to check and determine 
adherence to the plans and specifications of the work as submitted with 
the permit application; provided, that in case of single-family dwelling, 
an inspection must be upon the consent of the occupant or upon lawful 
order from the proper court. 
 
(b) 
Professionals in charge of construction shall be responsible for the 
correctness of construction, including correctness of materials used, 
procedures followed, and temporary works carried out in compliance 
with construction methodologies and standards; for compliance with 


safety 
and 
health 
requirements; 
and 
for 
proper 
construction 
supervision at the site works. They shall undertake the full-time 
inspection and supervision of the work, and keep at the work site at all 
times a logbook wherein the actual progress of work including tests 
conducted, weather conditions, and other pertinent data are recorded. 
They shall be responsible for the consistency and integrity of the 
documents such as logbook and as-built plans. They shall also be 
responsible for the submission of the said documents, all duly signed 
and sealed, upon completion or stoppage of construction, to the Local 
Building Official. 
 
(c) 
Other professionals engaged to perform specific tasks, such as 
accredited 
certifiers, 
structural 
peer 
reviewers, 
and 
accredited 
inspectors, shall accomplish their assigned tasks with the highest 
degree of professionalism, reasonableness, and moral standards, and 
shall act within the bounds of the authority delegated to them. 
 
SEC. 51. Responsibilities of Building Contractors. To promote 
accountability, Building Contractors shall adhere to the duly signed and 
sealed drawings, technical specifications, and construction procedure, as 
prepared and certified by the Building Professionals and relied upon by the 
Local Building Officials in the issuance of the permit. They shall also adhere 
to the additional details, issued during construction, conforming to the 
submitted documents. Building Contractors shall possess a valid license 
from the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB), and comply 
with all other relevant laws, rules and regulations, including those 
pertaining to the safety and health of construction workers, in addition to 
protection afforded to them by labor laws. As principals, they shall be 
solidarily responsible for the acts and omissions of their representatives, 
agents, subcontractors, and/or employees in relation to construction. They 
shall engage Building Professionals in-charge of construction. 
 
Every building contractor shall ensure that its PCAB license is valid 
from start to 19 completion of construction of the project and shall provide 
the Building Owner a certified true 20 copy thereof or with proof of its 
authenticity and validity. 
 
CHAPTER IX 
PERMITS AND INSPECTIONS 
 
SEC. 52. Types of Permit. The Building Owner of any proposed 
construction or existing building or structure must secure the appropriate 
permit from the Local Building Official, prior to the start of such work or 
occupancy: 
 
(a) 
Building Permit – a permit for the construction of building or structure 
or any addition, alteration, conversion, rehabilitation, relocation, repair, 
or retrofit of such;  


 
(b) 
Ancillary Permit – a permit for the construction of ancillary structures 
as defined in this Act;  
 
(c) 
Excavation Permit – a permit for construction involving the removal of 
soil or rock from a site to form an open face, hole, or cavity using tools, 
machinery, or explosives;  
 
(d) 
Demolition Permit – a permit for demolition of a building, structure, or 
portion thereof including that which will be removed in the course of an 
on-going construction; and 
 
(e) 
Occupancy Permit – previously termed Certificate of Occupancy; a 
permit for the full use or occupancy of a building or structure, or a 
partial permit for use or occupancy of portion or portions thereof prior 
to the completion of the entire building or structure, or a temporary 
permit for temporary use or occupancy thereof prior to the completion 
of the entire work covered by the permit; provided, that such portion or 
portions shall be used or occupied safely and that the Local Building 
Official shall set a time period during which the partial permit or 
temporary permit shall be valid in accordance with rules and 
regulations.  
 
The National Building Official may prescribe in the rules and 
regulations such other permits as it may deem necessary in accordance with 
objectives of this Act. Provided, that for mass housing development 
structures by subdivision and condominium developers under Batas 
Pambansa Blg. 220, to the extent that these structures are comparable in 
simplicity with Simple (Track T1) Structures, there shall be the Mass option 
for permits to be processed in coordination with Housing One-Stop 
Processing Centers (HOPCs) according to promulgated specific rules and 
regulations and reference standards under this Act. 
 
No permit shall be required for minor constructions, repairs, or 
demolitions, as prescribed in the rules and regulations, insofar as these 
shall not violate any objective or provision of this Act; provided, that the 
rules and regulations shall stipulate reportorial requirements, excluding any 
fees, in order to keep the building records updated and accurate. 
 
SEC. 53. Detailed Classification of Buildings for Permitting 
Purposes. The National Building Official shall prescribe the requirements 
for and procedure in securing the different types of permit, as may be 
appropriate, based on the classification of buildings in Section 10 of this 
Act. The procedures to be laid out by the National Building Official shall 
include:  
 
(a) a simplified track of permitting process for Simple (Track T1) Structures;  
 


(b) a regular track of permitting process for Regular (Track T2) Structures; 
and  
 
(c) a mandatory structural peer review of the stability for Special (Track T3) 
Structures.  
 
The organizational structure of each Office of the Local Building Official 
laid out by the National Building Official, based on rules and regulations, 
shall take these three (3) tracks of permitting processes in consideration. 
Provided, that there shall be full coordination with Housing One-Stop 
Processing Centers (HOPCs) according to promulgated specific rules and 
regulations and reference standards under this Act. 
 
To aid the simplified permitting process, the National Building Official 
shall cause, through Simplified Reference Standards, the detailed 
documentation and region-wide or nation-wide information and education 
campaign on the proper siting, design, and construction of Simple (Track 
T1) Structures including Traditional Indigenous Family Dwellings. 
 
SEC. 54. Application for Permit. Any person desiring to apply for the 
appropriate permit shall file a duly accomplished permit application form 
with the Local Building Official of the local government unit, cluster thereof, 
or special jurisdiction where the building or structure, proposed or existing, 
is located.  
 
In case of expired or revoked permit, the Building Owner may apply for 
a renewal of permit in accordance with the prescribed rules and regulations. 
 
The 
National 
Building 
Official 
may 
require 
the 
payment 
of 
corresponding fees according to a schedule provided in the rules and 
regulations and shall prescribe such other standard requirements to be 
submitted with the duly accomplished permit application; provided, that no 
application fees shall be required for Simple (Track T1) Structures.  
 
Together with duly accomplished permit application form/s, the 
applicant shall submit:  
 
(a)  documents relating to ownership of building site that support the 
authority to order construction work for a building or structure and to 
hold legal right of possession or title to a building or structure;  
 
(b)  relevant clearances from other agencies, such as but not limited to fire 
safety evaluation clearance or fire safety inspection clearance from the 
Bureau of Fire Protection;  
 
(c)  documents relating to building use or occupancy, location, plans, 
specifications, and maintenance strategy; and  
 


(d)  estimated construction cost. According to the permit being applied for 
and the classification of building or structure involved, whether (Track 
T1), Regular (Track T2), or Special (Track T3) Structure, the National 
Building Official, through rules and regulations, shall require specific 
parts of building plans, specifications and related documents to be 
submitted as evidence of compliance with this Act, rules and 
regulations, and reference standards.  
 
The National Building Official, through rules and regulations, shall 
require specific parts of building plans and specifications to be prepared, 
signed and sealed by appropriate Building Professionals; provided, that 
various building professionals may be appropriately authorized according to 
their respective professional regulatory laws to prepare, sign, and seal 
certain parts, sheets, or pages of building plans, specifications, and related 
documents. Provided further, that every registered and licensed professional 
shall only offer and provide work that is contemplated in the applicable 
professional regulatory law. 
Consistent with Section 37 and the mandate of the Office of the 
National Building 6 Official through the Offices of the Local Building Official 
to maintain a computerized 7 national database, the State shall prioritize 
the enabling of electronic filing and transaction of 8 application for permit. 
 
SEC. 55. Processing of the Permit Application. Pursuant to Republic 
Act No. 9485, or the Anti-Red Tape Act as amended by Republic Act No. 
11032, or Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery 
Act, within a reasonable time from the filing of the duly-accomplished permit 
application, payment of fees as applicable, and compliance with other 
standard requirements to be determined by the National Building Official, 
the Local Building Official shall give due course to the application and issue 
the permit applied for upon satisfaction of the completeness and integrity of 
the application documents supported by the appropriate certifications of 
Building Professionals and clearances from relevant government agencies, in 
accordance with this Act, rules and regulations, and reference standards. 
 
SEC.56. Validity of Permit. A Building Owner with issued permits has 
the continuing obligation to comply with the provisions of this Act, rules or 
regulations, and reference standards throughout the lifespan of the building 
or structure. 
 
When submitted plans and specifications of an issued permit are 
subsequently found to be erroneous, the Local Building Official is authorized 
to oblige the applicant to effect the necessary corrections in said plans and 
specifications and the corresponding construction or, with due process, to 
prevent or stop any or all building operations that are in violation of this 
Act, rules and regulations, and reference standards.  
 
A permit issued under the provisions of this Act shall expire and 
become null and void if the building or work authorized therein is not 
commenced within a period of one (1) year after the issuance of the permit. 


A partial or temporary Occupancy Permit shall be valid for the time period 
set by the Local Building Official in accordance with the prescribed rules 
and regulations. For phased or incremental construction referred to in 
Section 32 of this Act, the Building Owner may apply for an extension of the 
validity of the permit, or renewal of the permit as appropriate, in accordance 
with the prescribed rules and regulations. 
 
SEC. 57. Grounds for Non-issuance, Suspension, or Revocation of 
Permit. The Local Building Official may, with due process, order or cause 
the non-issuance, suspension, or revocation of permits on any or all of the 
following reasons or grounds: 
 
(a) 
Non-compliance with the provisions of this Act, rules and regulations, 
and reference standards; 
 
(b) 
Substantial errors found in the plans and specifications; 
 
(c) 
Non-compliance by the building contractor with the requirement for a 
valid license from the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board 
(PCAB); 
 
(d) 
Use of sub-standard building material or sub-standard workmanship 
and refusal to rectify upon notice;  
 
(e) 
Without any work being done in the site for more than one hundred 
twenty (120) days for excavations left open or building construction 
abandoned; and 
 
(f) 
Fraudulent misrepresentation of data or information supplied in the 
application for permit. 
 
Notice of non-issuance, suspension, or revocation of permit shall always 
be made in writing, stating the reasons or grounds therefor. Said action by 
the Local Building Official shall be proportionate to the reasons or grounds 
committed by the applicant, in accordance with this Act and rules and 
regulations. 
 
SEC. 58. Complaint. Based on the grounds enumerated in Section 57 
of this Act, any person aggrieved by the proposed, ongoing, or existing 
construction, use, or occupancy may file before the Local Building Official of 
the local government unit, cluster thereof, or special jurisdiction where the 
concerned construction is located for the non-issuance, suspension, or 
revocation of the corresponding permit applied for by, or granted to, the 
Building Owner. The aggrieved party shall be notified of the action taken by 
the Local Building Official in case the permit is granted or furnished with a 
copy of the decision, order, or notice of non-issuance, suspension, or 
revocation of a permit of the Local Building Official. 
 


SEC. 59. Appeal to the Regional Building Appeals Board. Within 
fifteen (15) days from the date of receipt of notice of the non-issuance, 
suspension, or revocation of the permit or of the action taken by the Local 
Building Official, the aggrieved party may file an appeal with the Regional 
Building Appeals Board based on the following grounds: lack of factual or 
legal basis in the non-issuance, suspension, or revocation of the permit or 
the action of the Local Building Official. 
 
The Regional Building Appeals Board shall render a decision within 
fifteen (15) days from date of receipt of appeal. The Regional Building 
Appeals Board’s decision shall be in writing, stating specifically the reason/s 
or ground/s therefor. In case it finds the appeal to be meritorious, the 
Regional Building Appeals Board shall direct the Local Building Official to 
issue the appropriate permit or order. 
 
The decision of the Regional Building Appeals Board shall become final 
and executory fifteen (15) days after receipt of a copy thereof by the party 
adversely affected unless, within that period, an appeal to the National 
Building Official has been perfected. 
 
SEC. 60. Appeal to the National Building Official. Within fifteen (15) 
days from the date of receipt of notice of the decision of the RBAB, the 
aggrieved party may file an appeal to the National Building Official; an 
appeal shall be deemed perfected upon filing of the notice of appeal and 
posting of the corresponding appeal bond. 
 
The Office of the National Building Official shall render a decision 
within thirty (30) days from perfection of the appeal. The Office of the 
National Building Official’s decision shall be in writing, stating specifically 
the reason/s or ground/s therefor. In case the ONBO finds the appeal to be 
meritorious, the Office of the National Building Official shall direct the Local 
Building Official to issue the appropriate permit or order. The decision of the 
National Building Official shall become final and executory fifteen (15) days 
after receipt of the copy of the decision by the parties. The 19 decision of the 
National Building Official is appealable to the Office of the President. 
 
SEC. 61. Inspection and Supervision of Work and Building or 
Structure. Subject to the primary responsibility of Building Owners, 
Building Professionals, and Building Contractors to inspect and/or 
supervise construction and as set forth in this Act, the Local Building 
Official may, upon motion of any aggrieved party or motu proprio, visit and 
inspect at reasonable times the ongoing constructions or existing buildings 
and structures to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the 
permits and the provisions of this Act, rules and regulations, and reference 
standards. 
 
The National Building Official shall promulgate specific rules and 
regulations for inspection of single-family dwellings, to be carried out by the 
Local Building Official and/or Accredited Inspector.  


 
The Local Building Official shall conduct periodic inspections of existing 
buildings and structures in accordance with Chapter VII of this Act, rules 
and regulations, reference standards, and specifications. 
 
CHAPTER X 
INCENTIVES AND PENALTIES 
 
SEC. 62. Incentives. The National Building Official, in coordination with 
relevant agencies, shall develop and administer incentive schemes, which 
can be administrative, financial, or otherwise, to promote voluntary 
compliance of existing buildings and structures with the provisions of this 
Act, rules and regulations, and reference standards, as well as to encourage 
all owners of buildings and structures, either existing or proposed, to 
promote the use of environmentally sound or sustainable materials, 
methods, practices, and technologies. 
 
The National Building Official, in coordination with other relevant 
agencies, may also develop and promulgate incentive schemes for owners of 
both public and private buildings to secure insurance coverage for the 
residual risk after complying with mandatory requirements of applicable 
laws. 
 
The National Building Official may recommend funding support for local 
government units and communities that have endorsed disaster risk 
reduction and management activities for buildings and structures, especially 
those falling within the classification of Simple (Track T1) Structures, in 
their jurisdictions. 
 
SEC. 63. Prohibited Acts and Omissions. The following are prohibited 
acts and omissions: 
 
(a) 
By the Building Owner and/or representative: 
 
(1) 
misrepresentation 
or 
submission 
of 
false 
statements 
or 
documents; 
(2) 
use of unauthorized documents and/or certifications of Building 
Professional/s; 
(3) 
undertaking any construction without the required permit/s; 
(4) 
noncompliance with or violation of the terms and conditions of the 
permit, including prerequisite clearances by other government 
agencies; 
(5) 
not maintaining the building in accordance with the submitted 
maintenance strategy;  
(6) 
engaging non-licensed building professionals in the design, review, 
construction, or certification of building; 
(7) 
engaging non-licensed building contractors in the construction of 
building;  


(8) 
Authorizing the use of materials not conforming to reference 
standards or those not authorized/approved by the Local Building 
Official; and 
(9) 
analogous acts, omissions, and violations of this Act, rules and 
regulations, and reference standards. 
 
(b) 
By the Building Professional: 
 
(1) 
misrepresentation or false statements; 
(2) 
certifying documents that s/he did not prepare, or certifying acts 
that s/he did not perform; 
(3) 
submission of incorrect or inconsistent drawings, technical 
specifications, calculations, designs, and analyses; 
(4) 
non-compliance with construction methodologies and standards in 
case of a professional in charge of construction; 
(5) 
violation of safety standards prescribed by law or regulations in 
case of a professional in charge of construction;  
(6) 
non-submission of duly signed and sealed documents, or 
submission of inconsistent or deceitful documents, such as 
logbook and as-built plans in case of a professional in charge of 
construction; and 
(7) 
analogous acts, omissions, and violations of this Act, rules and 
regulations, and reference standards. 
 
 
 
 
(c) 
By the Building Contractor: 
 
(1) 
deviation from the plans and specifications certified by Building 
Professionals and submitted to the Local Building Official, in a way 
that increases the risk to life, health, property, or public welfare; 
(2) 
violation of safety standards prescribed by law or regulations;  
(3) 
not engaging a Building Professional in charge of construction; 
and 
(4) 
analogous acts, omissions, and violations of this Act, rules and 
regulations, and reference standards. 
 
(d) 
By the Recognized Certifier: 
 
(1) 
misrepresentation or false statements in order to be accredited by 
the Office of the National Building Official;  
(2) 
certifying buildings and structures that do not meet the 
requirements of this Act, rules and regulations, and reference 
standards, and other applicable laws; 
(3) 
refusing or failing to certify buildings and structures that meet the 
requirements of this Act, rules and regulations, and reference 
standards; and 


(4) 
analogous acts, omissions, and violations of this Act, rules and 
regulations, and reference standards. 
 
(e) 
By the Recognized Structural Peer Reviewer: 
 
(1) 
misrepresentation or false statements in order to be accredited by 
the Office of the National Building Official;  
(2) 
providing false information to the Building Owner and/or Building 
Professional regarding the review;  
(3) 
false certification on the compliance of structural design with this 
Act, rules and regulations, and reference standards; and 
(4) 
analogous acts, omissions, and violations of this Act, rules and 
regulations, and reference standards. 
 
(f) 
By the Recognized Testing Laboratory: 
 
(1) 
misrepresentation or false statements in order to be accredited by 
the Office of the National Building Official; 
(2) 
misrepresentation or false statements in the tests and/or test 
results of building materials;  
(3) 
tampering with the equipment and instruments; 
(4) 
conducting test methods non-conforming to reference standards; 
and 
(5) 
analogous acts, omissions, and violations of this Act, rules and 
regulations, and reference standards.  
 
(g) 
By the Recognized Inspector: 
 
(1) 
misrepresentation or false statements in order to be accredited by 
the Office of the National Building Official;  
(2) 
providing false information to the Local Building Official regarding 
the inspection; 
(3) 
false certification on the inspection, in consideration of any offer, 
promise, gift, or present received; and 
(4) 
analogous acts, omissions, and violations of this Act, rules and 
regulations, and reference standards. 
 
(h) 
By the Local Building Official: 
 
(1) 
arbitrariness in the performance of powers, obligations, and 
functions; 
(2) 
unjustifiable delay or gross negligence in the performance of 
powers, obligations, and functions;  
(3) 
willful engagement of non-accredited inspector; 
(4) 
willful non-compliance with the orders of the National Building 
Official, Office of the National Building Official, and/or Regional 
Building Appeals Board; and 
(5) 
analogous acts, omissions, and violations of this Act, rules and 
regulations, and reference standards. 


 
SEC. 64. Fines and Penalties. Any prohibited act or omission falling 
under paragraphs (a) to (g) in Section 63 of this Act shall be subject to the 
administrative fines and penalties to be imposed by the National Building 
Official, acting through the Local Building Official. Such fines shall not be 
lower than 0.01% or higher than 1.0% of the construction cost, per 
violation, in accordance with the gravity of the offense and the category of 
violator as provided in Section 63; provided, that the Local Building Official 
may not issue, may suspend, or may revoke any permit issued to the 
violator, as may be appropriate, and/or may order the suspension or 
cessation of any construction until such time that compliance with this Act, 
rules and regulations, and reference standards are undertaken; provided 
further, that in case the Building Owner is also the builder or Building 
Owner-Builder, the liability is only considered as one and that of the 
Building Owner or the Building Contractor whichever is more stringent; 
provided furthermore, that in case of Building Professionals and/or Building 
Contractors found to commit any of the prohibited acts and omissions, the 
Local Building Official shall also endorse such violation to the Professional 
Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Construction Industry Authority of 
the Philippines (CIAP), respectively, for corresponding administrative 
sanctions; and provided finally, that should there be more than one violator 
for a single prohibited act or omission, their liability shall be solidary.  
 
These administrative sanctions imposed by the National Building 
Official, through the Local Building Official, are without prejudice to the 
right of any affected person to file the appropriate administrative, civil, or 
criminal action in the proper forum. 
 
For offenses falling under paragraph (h) in Section 63 of this Act, the 
National Building Official, upon recommendation of the Regional Building 
Appeals Board and after notice and hearing, may suspend or revoke the 
appointment or designation of the Local Building Official as such, without 
prejudice to the administrative, civil, or criminal liability of said official in 
accordance with existing laws. 
 
SEC. 65. Criminal Liabilities of Building Owners, Building 
Professionals, Building Contractors, Recognized Certifiers, Recognized 
Structural Peer Reviewers, Recognized Testing Laboratories, and 
Recognized Inspectors. In case of gross violation of this Act and/or rules 
and regulations, the National Building Official and/or Local Building Official 
may recommend to the appropriate government agencies the filing of 
criminal charges against the violators. Gross violations shall mean any of 
the following: 
 
(a) 
starting work in the site of any kind, including but not limited to 
demolition, without first securing the required corresponding permit or 
permits;  
 


(b) 
occupying or using a completed or partially completed building, 
structure and/or mechanical apparatus without first securing the 
required corresponding permits; 
 
(c) 
unauthorized change in type of construction from more fire-resistive to 
less fire-resistive;  
 
(d) 
non-compliance with order to abate or demolish;  
 
(e) 
non-compliance with cease and desist order for construction;  
 
(f) 
not having any work being done in the site for more than one hundred 
twenty (120) days and without justifiable cause, for excavations left 
open or building construction abandoned;  
 
(g) 
blatant disregard of the orders of the Local Building Official in relation 
to the protection of life, health, property, and public welfare, such as 
the non-payment of fines and breaking of seals or operating despite the 
existence of an order for suspension or revocation; and 
 
(h) 
two or more offenses falling under Section 63 of this Act regardless of 
which paragraphs from (a) to (g).  
 
In each case, the offender shall be punished, per violation, by a fine not 
lower than 0.01% nor higher than 1.0% of the construction cost, or by 
imprisonment of not less than six (6) months nor more than six (6) years, or 
both, at the discretion of the court, without prejudice to the civil liability of 
the offender in accordance with existing laws. Where the violation is 
attended by injury, loss of life and/or loss of property, the offender shall be 
proceeded against under the applicable provisions of the Revised Penal Code 
and other special laws. If the offender is a juridical entity, the officers, 
directors, agents, or employees who willfully and knowingly vote for, assent 
to, or be primarily responsible for the commission of the foregoing 
violation/s shall be held liable. 
 
When the offenses are lack of permits or permit requirements or failure 
to comply with  legitimate orders or resolutions of the Local Building Official, 
the court or tribunal of proper jurisdiction may include additional 
administrative penalties: (a) to require the offenders to comply with the 
permit requirements or the orders; and (b) to require the offenders to 
demolish, retrofit, and/or repair the subject building or structure for failure 
to comply with the permit requirements or the orders.  
 
Provided that, for failure to comply with the penalties as adjudicated 
penalties of the 10 court, said court may cite said offenders for contempt 
until the penalties are complied with 
 


SEC. 66. Administrative and Criminal Liability of Local Building 
Officials and Staff and other Public Officers. Any Local Building Official 
and/or staff who shall conspire to commit any of the enumerated gross 
violations with any offender as provided in Section 65 of this Act shall be 
punished, per violation, by a fine not lower than 0.01% or higher than 1.0% 
of the construction cost involved, or by imprisonment of not less than six (6) 
months or more than six (6) years, or both, at the discretion of the court, 
without prejudice to the civil liability of the offender in accordance with 
existing laws.  
 
Any public officer who fails to enforce and implement the provisions of 
this Act. or fails to perform his functions as herein required, shall be subject 
to administrative and criminal liability under Republic Act No. 3019 of the 
Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of 
Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and 
other relevant laws, rules and regulations.  
 
CHAPTER XI 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
 
 
SEC. 67. Transitory Provision. There shall be a systematic transition 
of implementation of building regulations and standards from Presidential 
Decree No. 1096 to this Act.  
 
To initiate and facilitate the transition, the Secretary, as the National 
Building Official, is mandated to immediately establish the Office of the 
National Building Official within three (3) months of the effectivity of this 
Act. 
 
City and Municipal Engineers already acting as Local Building Officials 
in their respective jurisdictions, and Local Building Officials already 
appointed or designated by the Secretary and performing as such, shall 
continue to act in such capacity, until new appointments and designations 
shall be made for Local Building Officials.  
 
Engagement 
of 
Recognized 
Certifiers, 
Recognized 
Inspectors, 
Recognized 
Structural 
Peer 
Reviewers, 
and 
Recognized 
d 
Testing 
Laboratories as provided for in this Act, shall take effect following the 
implementation by the ONBO of the system of accreditation, as formulated 
by the BRSC and promulgated by the NBO. The initial list of accredited 
persons shall be published by the ONBO within one (1) year from the 
promulgation of the system of accreditation. 
 


Consistent with Section 40 and Section 41 of this Act, existing referral 
codes, renamed as reference standards by this Act, shall remain valid until 
after the National Building Official promulgates new, revised, or amended 
reference standards after the review and recommendation of the BRSC.  
 
Provided, that absent reference standards that are locally or nationally 
adopted by the competent government agency for a particular subject, the 
latest standards by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 
may be used as default standards. 
 
SEC. 68. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The National 
Building Official, upon the recommendation of the Building Regulations and 
Standards Council and in consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall 
promulgate the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act, including a 
system of accreditation of qualified Building Professionals as Recognized 
Certifiers, Recognized Structural Peer Reviewers, and/or Recognized 
Inspectors, and qualified establishments or institutions as Accredited 
Testing Laboratories, within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act. For 
this purpose, the Secretary, as the National Building Official, is mandated to 
immediately constitute the Building Regulations and Standards Council 
within three (3) months of the effectivity of this Act. 
 
The Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act shall be reviewed 
every five (5) years, or more frequently as needed. 
 
The National Building Official shall ensure that all buildings owned by 
the national government and all local government units, as well as 
departments, regulatory agencies, instrumentalities, government owned and 
controlled corporations, and implementing units of the same, shall 
implement an integrated, or whole-building, approach to the siting, 
planning, design, materials, construction, use, occupancy, maintenance, 
addition, alteration, conversion, rehabilitation, relocation, repair, retrofit, 
and demolition, so they are sustainable, energy efficient, secure and safe, 
cost-effective, accessible, functional, productive, and aesthetic. 
 
The National Building Official shall ensure that this Act is implemented 
in manners that are clear to all stakeholders, through measures that 
include but are not limited to the following. 
 
Every rule or regulation for the administration and enforcement of the 
provisions of this Act, including any standard that may be referenced by 
such, shall clearly indicate the section or sub-section of this Act to which it 
corresponds. 
 
Subject to Section 5 of this Act, every approved local ordinance with the 
effect of modifying a national rule, regulation, or standard, towards better 
safeguarding of life, health, property, and public welfare, shall clearly 
indicate the national rule, regulation, or standard which it improves. 
 


All forms, tables, charts, illustrations, drawings, and other annexes 
included with rules, regulations, standards, and ordinances shall be 
systematically, uniquely, and clearly labeled, and duly referenced within the 
text of the associated rule, regulation, standard, or ordinance. 
 
SEC. 69. Non-Retroactivity Clause. This Act shall have no retroactive 
effect insofar as all buildings and structures constructed under Presidential 
Decree No. 1096, or the National Building Code of the Philippines, as 
amended, or existing city or municipal building ordinances, if legally done in 
accordance therewith, shall be respected subject to such limitations in this 
Act and except as otherwise stated in Section 38 of this Act. 
 
However, 
additions, 
alterations, 
conversions, 
rehabilitations, 
relocations, repairs, retrofits, and demolitions to be made in such buildings 
and structures shall be subject to the provisions of this Act. 
 
SEC. 70. Oversight Committee. This Act and its implementing rules 
and regulations shall undergo a review of provisions every five (5) years, or 
more frequently as necessary, to make the law more responsive to the needs 
of the times. For this purpose, an oversight committee shall be created 
which shall be composed of four (4) members each from the House of 
Representatives and Senate to be designated by the Speaker of the House 
and President of the Senate, respectively.  
 
SEC. 71. Separability Clause. If any portion of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other portions which are not affected thereby 
shall continue in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 72. Repealing Clause. Presidential Decree No. 1096, or the 
National Building Code of the Philippines, as amended, is hereby repealed 
and replaced with this Act. Sec. 477 of Republic Act No. 7160, also known 
as the Local Government Code, is modified accordingly. Other existing laws, 
decrees, executive orders, and rules and regulations or parts thereof that are 
inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed. 
 
SEC. 73. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation. 
 
Approved.