REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
1650

House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN Ii

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Republic Act No. 6541 otherwise known as the National Building Code of the Philippines
provides for all buildings and structures a framework of minimum standards and
requirements by guiding, regulating, and controlling their location, siting, design, quality of
materials, construction, use, occupancy, and maintenance, including their environment,
utilities, fixtures, equipment, and mechanical electrical, and other systems and installations.
This is in fulfillment of the State’s duty and responsibility to identify and oversee the
methods and/or requirements for the safe construction of all buildings and structures in the
country.

A building permit is one basic requirement before one can start with the construction of a
building or structure whether for residential, commercial or industrial use. On the other hand,
a certificate of occupancy is a certification issued after construction and inspection of the
building and/or structure, to attest to the fact that the same is built in accordance with
approved standards and the same is ready and safe for occupancy already. It is well-known
fact that perennial problems in the tedious and burdensome process of securing building
permits as well as certificates of occupancy have inevitably brought about undue delays and
has fostered and allowed corruption to persist.

In order to rectify this unfortunate situation, this measure seeks to amend the existing national
building code to make the process of securing building permits and certificates of occupancy
more efficient and more predictable by putting in place stricter provisions on the time frame
for processing and approval thereof and amending the appeals process as well as the
imposition of penalties on erring officials.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

MANU “ABOCHAN II
Representa
Magdalo Para sa Pilipino Party-List


Sweavausene

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

; 1650
House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN I

AN ACT
TO EXPEDITE AND STREAMLINE THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR
SECURING BUILDING PERMITS AND CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT

NO. 6541, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF THE
PHILIPPINES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Amending Section 1.02.03 (d) of RA No. 6541.— SEC. 1.02.03 (d)
of Republic Act No. 6541, otherwise known as the National Building Code of the
Philippines, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“(d) The applicant for a building permit for private buildings or structures after having
complied with all the requirements prescribed therefor in accordance with the
provisions of this Code, shall be issued a building permit within fifteen (15) days
from the date of payment of the permit fee for Groups A and J Occupancies and
within thirty (30) days from the date of payment of the permit fee for other Group
Occupancies[,]. IF THE SAME IS NOT ACTED UPON BY THE APPROVING
OFFICER WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED PERIOD, IT SHALL BE PRESUMED
THAT THE BUILDING PERMIT IS APPROVED, unless any local government
official or his Deputy authorized to issue the permit. It shall inform the applicant in
writing why the permit should not be issued, and shall indicate thereon the particular
provisions of the Code violated by the applicant or the particular requirements not
complied with. Within fifteen (15) days from the date of receipt by the applicant of
advice from any local government official or his Deputy authorized to issue the
permit why the building permit should not be issued, or why the building permit is
suspended or revoked, the applicant may appeal the non-issuance, suspension, or
revocation thereof, to the [Mayor of the chartered city or municipality, or the
Governor of the province] LEGAL DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS (DPWH) [where the building or structure for
which the permit is being applied for is located]. Said appeal shall be decided within
fifteen (15) days from receipt thereof, otherwise, the applicant may bring the matter to
the proper Court of Justice for final disposition.”


SECTION 2. Amending Section 1.02.05 (b) of RA No. 6541. — SEC. 1.02.05 (b) of
Republic Act No. 6541, otherwise known as the National Building Code of the Philippines, is
hereby amended to read as follows:

“(b) Certificates of Occupancy. The proper Certificate of Occupancy shall be issued
to the applicant within seven (7) days from completion of the requirements for
inspection and occupancy and payment of any and all fees therefor[,]. IF THE
SAME IS NOT ACTED UPON BY THE APPROVING OFFICER WITHIN
THE PRESCRIBED PERIOD, IT SHALL BE PRESUMED THAT THE
CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY IS APPROVED, unless [bJany local
government official or his Deputy issuing the Certificate shall show cause in writing
why the Certificate should not be issued and shall indicate thereon the particular
provisions of the Code violated or the particular requirements not complied with.
Within fifteen (15) days from receipt by the applicant of the advice from any local
government official or his Deputy authorized to issue the certificate why the
certificate should not be issued, or why the certificate is suspended or revoked, the
applicant may appeal the non-issuance, suspension, or revocation thereof, to the
[Mayor of the chartered city or municipality, or the Governor of the province]
LEGAL DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND
HIGHWAYS (DPWH) [where the building for which the certificate is being applied
for is located]. Said appeal shall be decided within fifteen (15) days from receipts
thereof, otherwise, the applicant may bring the matter to the proper Court of Justice
for final disposition. The building may be occupied only upon issuance of the
Certificate of Occupancy.”

SECTION 3. Penalties. - Any local government official and/or his Deputy who
commit acts in violation of Republic Act No. 6541, otherwise the National Building Code of
the Philippines, as amended, as well as in cases of frivolous, false and/or malicious findings
leading to delay and/or disapproval of applications for building permit and/or certificate of
occupancy shall face prosecution under the Revised Penal Code and/or any local ordinance,
as well as civil action under our civil laws and administrative disciplinary action under the
Revised Administrative Code and/or the Civil Service Law and Rules.

SECTION 4. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act is declared
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force
and effect.

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders and other
administrative issuances and parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. Effectivity Clause ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
circulation in the Philippines

Approved,