NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. No 1181
l&i Senate
of ilic ^ ?n iiarp
*22 AUG 16 P2 ’20
RtCEiV-iD B:.
Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go
AN ACT
REGULATING THE PLANNING. DESIGN. CONSTRUCTION. OCCUPANCY. 
AND MAINTENANCE OF BUILDINGS. PROMOTING BUILDING RESILIENCE 
VERSUS FIRE. FLOOD. STORM. EARTHQUAKE AND MULTIPLE HAZARDS. 
ENACTING A NEW PHILIPPINE BUILDING ACT. THEREBY REPEALING 
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1096. AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Weak infrastructure has been a major obstacle to the creation of safe and 
resilient communities in the Philippines. Considering the country is an archipelago 
located near the equator and along the Pacific Ring of Fire, it is vulnerable and 
exposed to earthquakes, typhoons and volcanic eruptions. Thus, improvements in 
building regulations and standards are imperative.
In order to safeguard the public welfare and to mitigate the impact of 
disasters, this bill proposes 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, 
and maintenance.
In pursuit of these policies, the State should institutionalize a system that will 
provide for periodic review and flexible mechanisms in the updating of regulations 
and standards, and which will strengthen the participation of relevant stakeholders.


considering the importance of allowing for continuing innovation in building design 
and construction.
This bill seeks to provide the effective regulation of planning, design, 
construction, occupancy, and maintenance of all public and private buildings and 
structures. In addition, safeguarding life and protecting people from injury, ensuring 
the people's health and well-being, protecting property from physical damage and 
loss, and minimizing disaster risk are the reference standards in attaining building 
resiliency.
With this, it is high time to modernize and improve our building regulations 
and standards, thereby promoting building resilience from fires, flashfloods, 
earthquakes, and other multiple hazards for the safety and the general welfare of 
the Filipino communities when an unexpected catastrophe comes into existence.
This Act shall hold relevant stakeholders accountable in ensuring enforcement 
of and compliance with this act. Moreover, this bill proposes to establish 
sustainability standards for government-owned buildings, mitigating any negative 
environmental, economic, and social impacts.
The primordial objective of this bill is to set standards and benchmarks that 
will mark a clear expectation that buildings must be built in accordance with their 
recommended structural stability and integrity designed to withstand disasters. This 
will provide assurance and relief to all Filipinos that they are living in a safe and 
resilient structures that is made to protect them against certain hazards.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 1181
RECEIVED
INDEX
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO
AN ACT
REGULATING THE PLANNING, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, OCCUPANCY, 
AND MAINTENANCE OF BUILDINGS, PROMOTING BUILDING RESILIENCE 
VERSUS FIRE, FLOOD, STORM, EARTHQUAKE 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 House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Building Act 
of 2022."
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 police 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, siting, planning, design, construction, occupancy, and maintenance. 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


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
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 effective regulation of planning, design, construction, 
occupancy, and maintenance 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: and
c. To establish sustainability standards for government-owned buildings, 
mitigating any negative environmental, economic, and social impacts.
Sec. 4. Scope and Application. - This Act shall cover all private and public 
buildings and structures, and their location, siting, planning, design, materials, 
construction, use, occupancy, maintenance, addition, alteration, conversion, 
rehabilitation, relocation, repair, retrofit, and demolition.


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Sec. 5. Interpretation. - 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, siting, and planning that will 
better safeguard life, health, property, and public welfare, consistent with the 
objectives of this Act.
Such local ordinances by local government units of contiguous jurisdictions 
shall be harmonized for purposes of buildings that may straddle territories of local 
government units.
Before such local ordinance shall take effect, concurrence by the National 
Building Official shall be required through the review process specified in the 
promulgated rules and regulations.
Every 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 69 of this Act.
Sec. 6. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
a. Accredited Certifier refers to a person possessing experience and other 
qualifications of a Building Professional, and accredited by the Office of the 
National Building Official to issue certificates to confirm that a building or 
structure that is more than 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;
b. Accredited Inspector refers to a person possessing experience and other 
qualifications of a Building Professional, and accredited by the Office of the 
National Building Official, whose service is engaged by the Local Building


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
Official to inspect buildings or structures in accordance with this Act, rules 
and regulations, and reference standards:
c. Accredited Structural Peer Reviewer refers to a person possessing 
experience and other qualifications of a Building Professional, and 
accredited 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;
d. Accredited Testing Laboratory refers to an establishment or institution 
accredited 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:
e. Addition refers to any construction which increases the height and/or floor 
area of an existing building or structure:
f. 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 does not 
increase the building height nor floor area:
g. 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:


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
h. Build Back Better refers to planning, based on the evolving or evolved 
disaster risks and ahead of disasters, 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 capacities are in place for effective response, recovery, and 
reconstruction:
i. 
Building refers to any temporary or permanent structure, anchored to the 
ground, for the shelter, enclosure, or support of persons, animals, 
machinery, or chattels:
j. 
Building Contractor xetevs to a person duly registered and licensed by the 
Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board, whose proposal has been 
accepted and to whom was awarded the contract to execute the 
construction: for this purpose, "contract" means an agreement, regardless 
of titles such as prime contract, subcontract, or deed of assignment:
k. 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:
l. 
Building Professional refers to a person lawfully engaged in the design, 
construction, or inspection of a building or structure, who Is duly 
registered and licensed by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), 
through a professional regulatory law for each profession, to provide such 
services:
m. Building Site refers to the lot, which is described 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


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
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;
n. 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 building or structure;
0. 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;
p. Demolition refers to the systematic dismantling, destruction, or removal of 
a building or structure, in whole or in part;
q. Department means the Department of Public Works and Highways 
(DPWH);
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, assembly, or type of construction can withstand 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;


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
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, nor 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. 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 shall hereinafter be renamed and 
referred to accordingly as "reference standards:"
z. Rehabilitation refers to the act or process of making possible a compatible 
use for an existing building or structure through repair and/or alteration


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
while preserving those portions or features which convey its acknowledged 
heritage significance:
aa. 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;
bb. 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, nor alteration of 
structural parts;
cc. Repair refers to remedial work done on any damaged or deteriorated 
portlon/s of an existing building or structure to restore its original 
condition:
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:
ee. Secretary refers to the Secretary of the Department of Public Works and 
Highways;
ff. Special Site refers to a site that requires special rules and regulations to 
mitigate potential adverse impacts of the site conditions:
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.


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
transmission towers and lines, and structures regulated by other national 
laws or competent national agencies:
hh. 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:
ii. 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
jj. Zoning refers to the division of a city or municipality into zones or sub­
zones and overlay zones according to present and potential uses of land to 
maximize, regulate, and direct their use and development In accordance 
with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP).
Additional definitions shall be included in the implementing rules and
25 
regulations and with the reference standards: Provided, that these shall be non-
26 
redundant to, non-contradictory with, and only supplementary to, the definitions as
27 
used in this Act.
28
29 
CHAPTER II
30 
CLASSIFICATION OF BUILDINGS
31


1 
Sec. 7. Classification System. - A system of classification of buildings and
2 
structures in the Philippines as to: (a) type of construction according to fire
3 
resistance rating; (b) use or occupancy: and (c) required permitting process, is
4 
hereby adopted.
5
6 
Sec. 8. Buildings Classified by Type of Construction According to Fire
7 Resistance Rating. - The building or structure shall be classified according to fire
8 
resistivity and fire resistance rating consistent with Republic Act No. 9514, or the
9 
Fire Code of the Philippines, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, in
10 
consideration of the combination of features of fire safety constructions including but
11 
not limited to interior finishes, walls, barriers, doors, windows, vents, means of
12 
egress, and treatment of building components with flame retardant chemicals.
13
14 
Sec. 9. Buildings Classified According to Use or Occupancy. - The building or
15 
structure shall be identified based on the use or occupancy and shall be classified as
16 follows:
17
18 
Group A. Assembly occupancies shall include all buildings and structures, or
19 
portions thereof, used for gathering together of 50 or more persons for any purpose,
20 
including but not limited to deliberation, worship, entertainment, eating, drinking,
21 
amusement, awaiting transportation, and instruction:
22
23 
Group B. Business occupancies are those used for the transaction of business
24 
other than those covered under Group M, Mercantile, including the keeping of
25 
accounts and records and similar purposes for office, professional, or service-type
26 
transactions:
27
28 
Group D. Disaster response occupancies are those permanent centers for
29 
refuge and emergency evacuation or for emergency operation:
30
10


Group E. Educational occupancies shall include buildings, or portions thereof, 
used for the gathering of group of six (6) or more persons for purposes of 
instruction:
Group F. Factory and Industrial occupancies are those used for operations 
including, but not limited to, product processing, fabricating, manufacturing, 
assembling and disassembling, mixing, packaging, finishing or decorating, repairing,
8 
and material recovery:
9
10 
Group G. Agricultural and Biological occupancies are those used for the
11 
production, harvesting, processing, storage, manufacture, preserving, transporting,
12 
and distribution of agricultural and biological products or materials including, but not
13 
limited to, silos and its components, agricultural and biosystems machinery and
14 
equipment sheds, farm houses, green/screen houses, poultry houses, piggery
15 
houses, slaughterhouses, agricultural and biological products storage/warehouses,
16 
buildings and structures for poultry, livestock, fishery and forestry production and
17 
processing, kiln drying and lumber treatment structure, and structures for farm
18 
equipment, farm supplies, and agricultural waste utilization and management:
19
20 
Group I. Institutional occupancies are those used to house one or more
21 
persons under varied degrees of restraint or security where such occupants are
22 
mostly incapable of self-preservation because of security measures not under the
23 
occupants' control (Sub-group ID), or government buildings and quarters rendering
24 
civic or public assistance and peace and order (Sub-group IG), or those in which
25 
care or supervision is provided to persons who are mostly incapable of self-
26 
preservation without physical assistance because of age, or physical or mental
27 
disability (Sub-group IH):
28
29 
Group M. Mercantile occupancies are those used for the display and sale of
30 
merchandise, and involves stocks of goods, wares, and merchandise incidental to
31 
such purposes and accessible to the public:
32
11


1 
Group R. Residential occupancies are those in which sleeping
2 
accommodations are provided for normal residential or dwelling purposes and
3 
include all buildings designed to provide sleeping accommodations, for example the
4 
socialized (Sub-group RS) and economic (Sub-group RE) housing covered by Batas
5 
Pambansa Big. 220;
6
7 
Group S. Storage occupancies include all buildings or structures utilized
8 
primarily for the storage or sheltering of goods, merchandise, products, vehicles, or
9 
animals;
10
11 
Group U. Utilities and Miscellaneous occupancies are those with an ancillary
12 
character such as, but not limited to, those enumerated in Section 6 (g) Ancillary
13 
Structure, or those which cannot be properly classified in any of the other occupancy
14 
groups In this Section, such as, but not limited to billboards and commercial
15 
signboards; and
16
17 
Group Z. High-Hazard occupancies mean those with storage and handling of
18 
flammable, highly combustible, or other materials that would constitute a physical or
19 
health hazard, in quantities in excess of those allowed by regulations.
20
21 
The National Building Official may determine, through rules and regulations,
22 
sub-groups within Group A to Z. Any other use or occupancy not mentioned
23 
specifically under this Section, or about which there is any question, shall, upon
24 
approval by the National Building Official, be included In the group which it most
25 
nearly resembles based on the associated hazard or risk to life, health, property, and
26 
public welfare.
27
28 
In addition to permanent centers for refuge and evacuation as in Group D,
29 
any building, structure, or portion thereof may be designated as a temporary
30 
evacuation center provided it complies with the specific rules and regulations
31 
promulgated by the National Building Official.
32
12


13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
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 as otherwise provided in applicable rules and regulations.
For each group or sub-group of use or occupancy, the National Building 
Official shall promulgate specific rules and regulations and reference standards in
8 
accordance with this Act.
9
10 
Sec. 10. Buildings Classified According to Required Permitting Process. -
11 
Buildings and structures shall be classified based on the required permitting process
12 
as follows:
a. Deemed-to-Satisfy Structures or Class PI 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 Deemed-to-Satisfy or Class PI Structures shall comply 
with Simplified Reference Standards as prescribed by the National Building 
Official under a simplified permitting process.
b. Regular Structures or Class P2 Structures are buildings or structures that 
do not fall under either one of the classifications of Deemed-to-Satisfy 
Structures and Special Structures. Regular Structures shall require the 
regular permitting process.
c. Special Structures or Class P3 Structures are buildings or structures that 
are distinguished by special physical attributes in terms of size, span, or
13


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
form, and/or by nature of use or occupancy. These structures shall be any 
of the following:
1. Buildings and other structures exceeding 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 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 25,000 square meters of 
gross floor area:
4. Buildings and other structures with gross floor area exceeding 
40,000 square meters:
5. Facilities belonging to Group D, Disaster response:
6. Hospitals belonging to a sub-group under Group I, Institutional, 
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:
7. Facilities belonging to Group Z, High-Hazard:
8. Structures that have non-regular structural form as classified in 
structural reference standards: and
14


9. Buildings and other structures using very advanced structural 
calculation method in design as classified in structural reference 
standards.
Accordingly, the permitting process for these Special or Class P3 Structures 
shall require a peer review of the structural stability.
1 
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
For buildings and structures that have non-regular structural form (sub-class
9 
(8) in this Section) or using very advanced structural calculation method in design
10 
(sub-class (9) in this Section), the peer review shall be conducted by an Accredited
11 
Structural Peer Reviewer duly qualified for such specific sub-classes, respectively.
12
13 
Provided, that prior certification for innovative construction technology
14 
according to Section 29 of this Act shall be deemed to satisfy the requirement of
15 
structural peer review. Provided further, that the Office of the National Building
16 
Official shall establish and/or accredit competent government agencies in charge of
17 
certification of innovative construction technologies as provided for in Section 29.
18
19 
The act of reviewing does not pass on the responsibility and the liability of the
20 
Building Professional for design to the Accredited Structural Peer Reviewer on the
21 
structural integrity of the building, without prejudice to administrative charges under
22 
applicable professional regulations. Provided, that should the Building Owner opt,
23 
under applicable laws and professional regulations, to lawfully disengage the
24 
previously engaged Building Professional for design and to engage as new Building
25 
Professional for design an Accredited Structural Peer Reviewer who has been
26 
previously engaged as peer reviewer according to this Section, a new independent
27 
Accredited Peer Reviewer shall be required.
28
29 
Sec. 11. Buildings and Structures. - For purposes of this Act, structures shall
30 
include buildings, ancillary structures, and other structures as defined in this Act.
31
15


18
19
20 
21 
22 
23
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
10 
to Fire Resistance Rating. - No change shall be made in the use or occupancy
11 
and/or type of construction according to fire resistivity and fire resistance rating of
12 
any building or structure which would place the building or structure in a different
13 
occupancy group or different type of construction, unless such building or structure
14 
is made to comply with the requirements for the new occupancy group or type of
15 
construction: provided, that the change may be approved by the Local Building
16 
Official upon determination that the new use or occupancy and/or type of
17 
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. SITING, AND ZONING REQUIREMENTS
Sec. 14. General Requirements for Location, Siting, and Zoning. - The site
24 
upon which will be constructed any building or structure shall be sanitary, hygienic,
25 
and accessible, and shall not pose high hazard for the intended use or occupancy, as
26 
determined by competent and appropriate authorities and certified through a
27 
locational clearance and other clearance/s or certificate/s as prescribed by applicable
28 
laws and regulations. It shall not obstruct existing easement or right-of-way of the
29 
national government and all local government units, as well as departments,
30 
regulatory agencies, instrumentalities, government owned and controlled
31 
corporations, and implementing units of the same, in accordance with existing laws
32 
and rules and regulations.
16


1
2 
Sec. 15. Protection of the Site Environment. Any proposed construction,
3 including its location, siting, and use, shall take into account the environment and its
4 
conservation and protection. - It shall not gravely affect the heritage and
5 
environmental significance of the site; and shall not harm nor aggravate the state of
6 
the neighborhood, environment, and natural resources surrounding it. No
7 
construction, its location, siting, and use shall be allowed without complying with the
8 
applicable heritage, environmental, and natural resources laws and regulations, as
9 
determined by competent and appropriate authorities and certified through a
10 
locational clearance and other clearance/s or certificate/s as prescribed by applicable
11 
laws and regulations.
12
13 
Sec. 16. Protection of the Public. - Any proposed construction shall not cause
14 
harm to the general public nor infringe on public spaces.
15
16 
Sec. 17. Requirements in Hazard Zones and Special Sites. - The Building
17 
Owner and Building Professional shall ensure that the proposed construction, its
18 
location, siting, and use, will not increase the vulnerabilities of the people who will
19 
occupy the building and their neighborhood on account of the hazard zone or special
20 
site. Within hazard zones as established In the CLUP and/or hazard maps published
21 
by the national government, risk mitigation and adaptation requirements and/or
22 
measures shall be incorporated in the rules and regulations and reference standards
23 
as promulgated by the National Building Official.
24
25 
Sec. 18. Resilience. - Buildings and structures damaged structurally by a
26 
disaster or crisis shall adhere to principles of building back better in post-disaster or
27 
post-crisis recovery and reconstruction.
28
29 
The National Building Official shall cause to integrate disaster risk reduction
30 
and management measures in the rules and regulations and reference standards for
31 
planning, design, and reconstruction of buildings and structures.
32
17


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
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 Big. 220.
Provided further, that Group G, Agricultural and Biological occupancies shall 
consider biosystems design requirements for the protection of persons, animals, 
crops, and the environment.
Buildings and structures on or in special sites shall consider special design 
requirements and risk mitigation measures called for by the specific site conditions.
Sec. 20. Stability. - All buildings and structures shall be designed to be 
structurally stable 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
18


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
accordance with Republic Act No. 9514, or the Fire Code of the Philippines, and its 
Implementing Rules and Regulations.
All fire safety constructions as defined by the Fire Code of the Philippines 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 its users or occupants from harm, injury, or loss.
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.
Sec. 26. Energy and Energy Efficiency. - The design of buildings and 
structures shall include, wherein required, practices and technologies that maximize 
energy efficiency.
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 Faciiities. - All building services and facilities, their 
equipment and installations, shall be designed to be adequate, safe, and efficient, to
19


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
promote the wellbeing 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 and ventilation: water supply: drainage: wastewater disposal: solid waste 
management: pest and vermin control: power and fuel supply: communication 
facilities: conveyance and parking facilities: and fire lane and fire hydrants.
Provided, that the carriageways, sidewalks, and all parts of 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 not 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 telecommunication facilities such as, but not limited to, 
in-bullding solutions and fiber-optic cabling for high-capacity and high-speed 
requirements shall be mandatory in buildings owned by the national government and 
all local government units, as well as departments, regulatory agencies, 
instrumentalities, and implementing units of the same.
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.
20


28
29
30
31
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
8 
technologies used in building construction shall comply with any special tests or
9 
requirements as prescribed by the National Building Official pursuant to the policies
10 
and objectives of this Act. These technologies shall be installed by qualified
11 
personnel and supervised by technically competent professionals.
12
13 
The proponent of such innovative construction technology may apply for a
14 
certification by the competent national agency according to the rules and regulations
15 
prescribed by the National Building Official. Buildings and other structures using an
16 
Innovative construction technology with prior certification shall be deemed to satisfy
17 
the requirement of structural peer review.
18
19 
Provided, that innovative technologies appropriate for socialized and
20 
economic housing, which are low-cost housing as covered by Batas Pambansa Big.
21 
220, shall be subject for accreditation by the Accreditation of Indigenous
22 
Technologies for Housing (AITECH) Committee or its successor agency.
23
24 
Provided further, that the Office of the National Building Official shall establish
25 
and accredit another competent national agency to be in charge of accreditation of
26 
innovative technologies. Including so-called smart and/or green technologies, that
27 
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 from causing the establishment and accreditation of a 
unified competent national agency to be In charge of accreditation of innovative
32 technologies for various construction applications.
21


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
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, which are low-cost housing as covered by Batas Pambansa Big. 
220, shall be subject for accreditation by the Accreditation of Indigenous 
Technologies for Housing (AITECH) Committee or Its successor agency.
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 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.
21


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
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 wellbeing 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.
22


10
11
12
13
1 
Provided, that product standards promulgated by competent national agency
2 
shall be harmonized with or incorporated together with the reference standards
3 
under this Act.
4
5 
Sec. 35. Selection of Materials. - Building materials and components shall be
6 
selected following a set of criteria Including but not limited to strength, fire
7 
resistivity, moisture resistance, durability, and sustainability, according to rules and
8 
regulations and reference standards promulgated by the National Building Official.
9
CHAPTER VII
OCCUPANCY, MAINTENANCE, AND ABATEMENT OF BUILDINGS
Sec. 36. General Requirements for Occupancy. Maintenance, and
14 Abatement- All Building Owners shall use and maintain the building in accordance
15 
with the requirements prescribed by this Act, rules and regulations, and reference
16 
standards. The use and maintenance of the building must be safe for the health of
17 
users, occupants, and the general public, and shall not cause any substantive
18 
negative impact to the environment such as, but not limited to. air. water, and soil.
19
20 
Sec. 37. Maintenance, Inspection, and Assessment of Buildings and Reporting
21 
to the ONBO. - All buildings shall undergo regular maintenance and inspection in
22 
accordance with each building's maintenance strategy. There shall be rules and
23 
regulations to guide the preparation, approval, and Implementation of appropriate
24 
maintenance strategies for buildings and structures, promulgated by the National
25 
Building Official. The Building Owner shall perform periodic maintenance and
26 
inspection: the Local Building Officials and/or Accredited Inspectors shall conduct
27 
inspection as appropriate according to rules and regulations. The Office of the
28 
National Building Official shall establish a system for monitoring, reporting, and
29 
evaluating maintenance and inspection activities.
30
31 
The Office of the National Building Official shall assist Building Owners of
32 
structures falling within the classification Deemed-to-Satisfy or Class PI Structures
23


1 
and Regular or Class P2 Structures in conducting a simplified or regular inspection of
2 
their buildings.
3
4 
For buildings and structures with occupancies falling under Group A. Group D.
5 
Group E, or Group Z, there shall be periodic inspections by Local Building Officials
6 
and/or Accredited Inspectors subject to specific rules and regulations promulgated
7 
by the National Building Official.
8
9 
The Office of the National Building Official shall coordinate with relevant
10 
government agencies that regulate business operations in buildings and structures:
11 
structural stability clearance from the Office of the Local Building Official shall be a
12 
prerequisite for the issuance or renewal of business permits or permits to operate,
13 
for new occupancy or occupancy after 15 years from the date of completion of the
14 
building or structure.
15
16 
Mandatory inspection and assessment by an Accredited Certifier as to
17 
structural stability and fire safety construction shall be commissioned by the Building
18 
Owner at the 15th year from date of completion of the building and every 15 years
19 
thereafter in the case of Special or Class P3 Structures. In cases of addition,
20 
alteration, conversion, rehabilitation, relocation, repair, and/or retrofit requiring more
21 
recent structural stability assessment and corresponding certification and clearance,
22 
the date of reckoning of 15 years for purposes of this Section shall be counted from
23 
the completion date of the latest building permit that involved the most recent
24 
structural stability clearance under this Act. The National Building Official shall
25 
promulgate rules and regulations and reference standards for mandatory inspection
26 
and assessment of buildings as to structural stability and fire safety construction,
27 
specific to the various building classifications; provided, that Accredited Certifiers
28 
need not be engaged for Deemed-to-Satisfy or Class PI Structures and Regular or
29 
Class P2 Structures.
30
31 
The National Building Official shall promulgate specific rules and regulations
32 
for mandatory Inspection and assessment of all buildings as to structural stability
24


1 
and fire safety construction after regional catastrophic events such as, but not
2 
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 Local
8 
Building Official shall maintain a computerized national database of permits and
9 
other periodic data about all buildings and structures, including but not limited to
10 
reports on maintenance, inspection, and/or assessment.
11
12 
Sec. 38. Special Provision for Buildings Completed More than 15 Years Prior to
13 
the Effectivity of this Act. -To ensure the safety of the people and to reduce risks,
14 
Special or Class P3 Structures and buildings and structures with occupancies falling
15 
under Group A and Group E, that were completed in 2004 or earlier, are mandated
16 
to have an assessment of the design based on the requirements in Chapter IV of this
17 
Act as specified in rules and regulations, as to structural stability and fire safety
18 
construction, and the Building Owners are to submit the certifications or findings of
19 
appropriate Building Professionals, serving as Accredited Certifiers, to the concerned
20 
Local Building Officials regarding the state of such buildings and structures and their
21 
safety and/or need for retrofit.
22
23 
Within three (3) months from the effectivity of this Act, the Department
24 
through the Office of the National Building Official, in consultation with relevant
25 
agencies and stakeholders, shall Implement a phased approach to prioritize
26 
compliance of Building Owners in hazard zones, such as but not limited to those
27 
near earthquake fault lines or in coastal zones affected by sea level rise, or in hazard
28 
zones or areas otherwise identified in hazard maps, or those used for assemblies in
29 
large numbers and/or by vulnerable users or occupants.
30
31 
The National Building Official, in coordination with other concerned agencies,
32 
shall develop and administer incentive schemes, such as those allowed by the
25


1 
disaster risk reduction and management funds, to support immediate voluntary
2 
retrofit by the Building Owners requiring modifications for the safety of the users or 
occupants and/or the general public.
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
8 
danger to life, health, property, and public welfare. This is without prejudice to
9 
further action that may be taken under the provisions of Articles 482 and 694 to 707
10 
of the Civil Code of the Philippines and other existing laws.
11
12 
For purposes of this Section, dangerous or ruinous buildings are buildings or
13 
structures determined by the Local Building Official to be structurally unstable: or
14 
not provided with safe egress: or which constitute a fire hazard: or are otherwise
15 
dangerous to human life: or which in relation to existing use, constitute a hazard to
16 
life safety, health, or public welfare because of inadequate maintenance,
17 
dilapidation, obsolescence, or abandonment: or which otherwise contribute to the
18 
pollution of the site or the community to an intolerable degree.
19
20 
Abatement and/or rehabilitation of buildings and structures covered under
21 
Republic Act No. 10066, or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, shall be
22 
coordinated with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) prior to
23 
any action of abatement.
24
CHAPTER VI11 
ADMINISTRATION
25
26
27
28
Sec. 40. National Building Official (NBO): Powers, Obligations, and Functions.
29 - The Secretary of the Department shall have the duty to ensure that all laws
30 
relating to building design and construction are faithfully executed and Is primarily
31 
charged with the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this Act, rules
32 
and regulations, and reference standards.
26


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
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:
27


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
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. 
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. 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: 
and
l. 
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 Councii (BRSC). - A Building 
Regulations and Standards Council is hereby created to assist the National Building
28


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
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 Department as Chair;
2. Executive Commissioner of the Human Settlements Adjudication 
Commission (HSAC) 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 disaster risk reduction and climate change;
7. President of a national association of local building officials;
8. President of a national association of building developers, national 
association of building owners, national association of building 
managers, or national association of building administrators;
9. President of a PRC-accredited national professional organization of 
building professionals;
29


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
10. President of a national association of building contractors:
11. High-ranking regular faculty member from a recognized higher 
education institution involved in the training of building 
professionals: and
12. Two (2) representatives-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.
Each from a list of nominees submitted by their respective sectors, all 
representatives from the private, academic, or non-government sectors, enumerated 
above from (7) to (11), 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-ln-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 (7) to (11), 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.
Representatives-at-large, enumerated above as (12), shall serve ex-officio if 
officials and representatives of government agencies, 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.
30


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
In the absence or temporary incapacity of the Undersecretary for Technical 
Services of the Department, the Executive Commissioner of the HSAC 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 Executive Commissioner of the HSAC, the 
Officer-in-Charge (QIC) 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.
a. 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:
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:
31


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
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.
b. 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.
c. 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.
d. 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
32


or administrators, building professionals and professional organizations, 
building contractors, and higher education institutions, in setting 
performance standards for design and construction.
e. The BRSC budget shall be included in the annual budget of the 
Department.
Sec. 42. Office of the National Building Official (ONBO). - The Office of the 
9 National Building Official, within the Department, is hereby created to provide
10 
sufficient technical, legal, administrative, and support personnel to the National
11 
Building Official In the exercise of his powers and the performance of his duties.
12
13 
This Office, headed by a Director, who shall be a registered and licensed
14 
professional, be member of good standing of the duly accredited national
15 
organization of the profession, and have at least five (5) years of diversified and
16 
professional experience in building design, construction, and regulation, shall be
17 
placed under the supervision of the Undersecretary for Technical Services. It shall
18 
comprise highly qualified personnel eligible to act as building professionals,
19 
scientists, or technicians who possess diversified and professional experience in the
20 
field of building design and construction, and lawyers.
21
22 
The Office of the National Building Official shall provide assistance to the
23 
National Building Official in the institutional strengthening of Offices of Local Building
24 
Official, capacity building of Local Building Officials, data management, monitoring
25 
and evaluation, and establishing and maintaining linkages with concerned
26 
institutions. A mandatory continuing education and training program shall be
27 
pursued for the Local Building Officials and their staff, as well as the staff of the
28 
Office of the National Building Official.
29
30 
The Office of the National Building Official shall coordinate the Regional
31 
Building Appeals Boards.
32
33


1 
The Office of the National Building Official shall formulate plans, programs,
2 
and projects on building planning, design, construction, occupancy, and
3 
maintenance pursuant to this Act in consideration of global best practices and the
4 
exposure of the country to multiple hazards. It shall plan and implement a
5 
computerized national database of buildings and structures, for purposes of Section
6 
37 and other provisions of this Act and rules and regulations. It shall also be in-
7 
charge of the implementation of a system of accreditation of qualified Building
8 
Professionals as Accredited Certifiers, Accredited Structural Peer Reviewers, and/or
9 
Accredited Inspectors, and qualified establishments or institutions as Accredited
10 
Testing Laboratories.
11
12 
Sec. 43. Regional Building Appeals Boards (RBABs). - A Regional Building
13 
Appeals Board with appropriate personnel is hereby created in Regional Offices of
14 
the Department and placed under the administrative supervision of the National
15 
Building Official: provided, that an RBAB may be created by the National Building
16 
Official to serve a group of adjacent regions. The RBAB shall be chaired by a
17 
member of the Philippine Bar, and assisted by two technical personnel of the
18 
Department sitting as the other members of the Board and by support staff, all of
19 
whom are appointed by the National Building Official. It shall have exclusive
20 
appellate jurisdiction to review decisions of the Local Building Officials, or resolve
21 
appeals and/or complaints after the same shall have been acted upon, or not given
22 
due course, by the respective Local Building Officials within their region. In case of
23 
appeal for reconsideration by an aggrieved party on the same matter, the decision of
24 
the RBAB shall be subject to review by the National Building Official pursuant to
25 
Section 60 of this Act.
26
27 
Sec. 44. Offices of the Local Building Official (OLBOs) and Local Building
28 
Officials (LBOs). - Cities and first-class municipalities shall create and operate a
29 
separate Office of the Local Building Official headed by a Local Building Official who
30 
shall be appointed by and accountable to the National Building Official. The Local
31 
Building Official shall be appointed by the National Building Official from a list of at
32 
least three (3) qualified recommendees of the mayor, subject to civil service law and
34


1 
rules and regulations. The Local Building Official shall be responsible for carrying out
2 
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
8 
Local Building Official upon request to and approval by the National Building Official.
9 
These municipalities, if adjacent and accessible to each other, may also opt to
10 
request the National Building Official to create and operate an Office of the Local
11 
Building Official to serve the clustered municipalities, which office shall be under the
12 
National Building Official. This cluster Office shall be located at a municipality within
13 
the cluster as determined by the National Building Official. Each cluster of
14 
municipalities may recommend to the National Building Official the appointment of
15 
one Local Building Official for such cluster from a list of at least three (3) qualified
16 
recommendees of the mayors of the cluster, subject to civil service law and rules
17 
and regulations.
18
19
20 
21
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
22 
Building Official to act. In concurrent capacity, as the Local Building Officials in their
23 
respective territorial jurisdictions. For purposes of this Chapter and this Section, the
24 
Office of the Municipal Engineer in such second to sixth-class municipalities shall be
25 
referred to also as Office of the Local Building Official.
26
27
28
The concerned local government unit shall provide the funding for and 
operate the separate Office of the Local Building Official; the Office of the National
29 
Building Official shall fund and operate cluster Offices of the Local Building Official.
30 
The sharing and use of fees and fines among the offices shall be in conformity with
31 
Section 46 of this Act.
32
35


1 
Sec. 45. Special Jurisdictions. - There shall be Local Building Officials for
2 
special jurisdictions such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine
3 
Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), the Department of Agriculture (DA), and other
4 
government agencies, as explicitly provided for by the applicable laws, who shall
5 
regulate the design and construction of buildings or structures under their
6 jurisdiction and/or their registered locators and enterprises. These Local Building
7 
Officials in special jurisdictions shall likewise be designated by and accountable to
8 
the National Building Official.
9
10 
Said Local Building Officials shall be designated by the National Building
11 
Official from a list of at least three (3) qualified recommendees of the head of their
12 
agency, subject to civil service law and rules and regulations.
13
14 
46. Sharing and Use of Fees and Fines. - Out of the total collection derived
15 
from fees, permit fees, fines, and other charges, the Office of the Local Building
16 
Official shall retain 15% thereof and deposit in a special account created by the
17 
Local Treasurer, to answer for its maintenance and other operating expenses. The
18 
Office of the Local Building Official shall cause to remit five percent (5%) to the
19 
National Building Official. The remaining 80% shall accrue to the general fund of the
20 
local government unit or the agency with special jurisdiction, which created and
21 
operated the Office.
22
23 
Flowever, in the case of the cluster Office of the Local Building Official, it shall
24 
retain 15% thereof and deposit in a special account created by the Local Treasurer,
25 
to answer for its maintenance and other operating expenses, cause to remit 65% to
26 
the National Building Official, and cause to divide the remaining 20% between or
27 
among the clustered municipalities in proportion to the total fees and fines
28 
originating from each municipality, and to accrue to their respective general funds.
29
30 
The share of income to be remitted to the National Building Official shall be
31 
used to cover honoraria for the BRSC Secretariat, BRSC TWGs, RBABs, and other
32 
operating expenses of the BRSC, ONBO, RBABs, and cluster OLBOs.
36


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, the National Building 
Official is hereby authorized to prescribe the procedures for the use of the 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 sheriffs 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 five (5) 
years; and
d. Has at least five (5) 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.
37


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
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.
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:
38


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
e. 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. 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.
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:
39


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
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 Deemed-to-Satisfy or Class PI 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 
Deemed-to-Satisfy or Class PI Structures and Regular or Class P2 
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.
40


Sec. 50. Responsibilities of Building 
Professionals. - To promote
accountability, the various Building Professionals, all of whom are registered and 
licensed by their respective professional boards under the Professional Regulation 
Commission (PRC), shall be responsible for the accuracy of their work and their 
corresponding certifications.
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 
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.
Sec. 51. Responsibilities of Building Contractors. - To promote accountability, 
32 Building Contractors shall adhere to the duly signed and sealed drawings, technical
41
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
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 ensure 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.
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
42


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
26
27
28
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
12 
other permits as it may deem necessary in accordance with objectives of this Act.
13
14 
No permit shall be required for minor constructions, repairs, or demolitions,
15 
as prescribed in the rules and regulations, insofar as these shall not violate any
16 
objective or provision of this Act.
17
18 
Sec. 53. Detailed Classification of Buildings for Permitting Purposes. - The
19 
National Building Official shall prescribe the requirements for and procedure in
20 
securing the different types of permit, as may be appropriate, based on the
21 
classification of buildings in Section 10 of this Act. The procedures to be laid out by
22 
the National Building Official shall include: (a) a simplified permitting process for
23 
Deemed-to-Satisfy or Class PI Structures: (b) a mandatory structural peer review of
24 
the stability for Special or Class P3 Structures: and (c) a regular permitting process
25 
for Regular or Class P2 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
29 
three (3) permitting processes in consideration.
30
31 
To aid the simplified permitting process, the National Building Official shall
32 
cause, through Simplified Reference Standards, the detailed documentation and
43


1 
region-wide or nation-wide information and education campaign on the proper
2 
siting, design, and construction of Deemed-to-Satisfy or Class PI 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
8 
jurisdiction where the building or structure, proposed or existing, is located.
9
10 
In case of expired or revoked permit, the Building Owner may apply for a
11 
renewal of permit in accordance with the prescribed rules and regulations.
12
13 
The National Building Official may require the payment of corresponding fees
14 
according to a schedule provided in the rules and regulations and shall prescribe
15 
such other standard requirements to be submitted with the duly accomplished
16 
permit application: provided, that no application fees shall be required for Deemed-
17 
to-Satisfy or Class PI Structures.
18
19 
Together with duly accomplished permit application form/s, the applicant shall
20 
submit: (a) documents relating to ownership of building site that support the
21 
authority to order construction work for a building or structure and to hold legal right
22 
of possession or title to a building or structure: (b) relevant clearances from other
23 
agencies: (c) documents relating to building use or occupancy, location, plans,
24 
specifications, and maintenance strategy: and (d) estimated construction cost.
25 
According to the permit being applied for and the classification of building or
26 
structure involved, whether Deemed-to-Satisfy, Regular, or Special Structure, the
27 
National Building Official, through rules and regulations, shall require specific parts
28 
of building plans, specifications and related documents to be submitted as evidence
29 
of compliance with this Act, rules and regulations, and reference standards.
30
31 
The National Building Official, through rules and regulations, shall require
32 
specific parts of building plans and specifications to be prepared, signed and sealed
44


1 by appropriate Building Professionals: provided, that various building professionals 
may be appropriately authorized according to their respective professional regulation 
laws to prepare, sign, and seal certain parts, sheets, or pages of building plans, 
specifications, and related documents.
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 
9 time from the filing of the duly-accomplished permit application, payment of fees as
10 
applicable, and compliance with other standard requirements to be determined by
11 
the National Building Official, the Local Building Official shall give due course to the
12 
application and issue the permit applied for upon satisfaction of the completeness
13 
and integrity of the application documents supported by the appropriate
14 
certifications of Building Professionals and clearances from relevant government
15 
agencies, in accordance with this Act, rules and regulations, and reference
16 
standards.
17
18 
Sec. 56. Validity of Permit. - A Building Owner with issued permits has the
19 
continuing obligation to comply with the provisions of this Act, rules or regulations,
20 
and reference standards throughout the lifespan of the building or structure.
21
22 
When submitted plans and specifications of an issued permit are subsequently
23 
found to be erroneous, the Local Building Official is authorized to oblige the
24 
applicant to effect the necessary corrections in said plans and specifications and the
25 
corresponding construction or to prevent or stop any or all building operations that
26 
are in violation of this Act, rules and regulations, and reference standards.
27
28 
A permit issued under the provisions of this Act shall expire and become null
29 
and void if the building or work authorized therein is not commenced within a period
30 
of one (1) year after the issuance of the permit. A partial or temporary Occupancy
31 
Permit shall be valid for the time period set by the Local Building Official in
32 
accordance with the prescribed rules and regulations. For phased or incremental
45


1 
construction referred to in Section 32 of this Act, the Building Owner may apply for
2 
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-Jhe 
Local Building Official may order or cause the non-issuance, suspension, or 
revocation of permits on any or all of the following reasons or grounds:
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
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. Use of sub-standard building material or sub-standard workmanship and 
refusal to rectify upon notice:
d. 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
e. Fraudulent misrepresentation of data or information supplied in the 
application 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
46


1 
the non-issuance, suspension, or revocation of the corresponding permit applied for
2 
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)
8 
days from the date of receipt of notice of the non-issuance, suspension, or
9 
revocation of the permit or of the action taken by the Local Building Official, the
10 
aggrieved party may file an appeal with the Regional Building Appeals Board based
11 
on the following grounds:
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
a. Arbitrariness of the Local Building Official in the performance of regulatory 
functions: or
b. Lack of factual or legal basis.
The Regional Building Appeals Board shall render a decision within fifteen
19 
(15) days from date of receipt of appeal. The Regional Building Appeals Board's
20 
decision shall be in writing, stating specifically the reason/s or ground/s therefor. In
21 
case it finds the appeal to be meritorious, the Regional Building Appeals Board shall
22 
direct the Local Building Official to issue the appropriate permit or order.
23
24 
The decision of the Regional Building Appeals Board shall become final and
25 
executory fifteen (15) days after receipt of a copy thereof by the party adversely
26 
affected unless, within that period, an appeal to the National Building Official has
27 
been perfected.
28
29 
Sec. 60. Appeal to the National Building Official. - Within fifteen (15) days
30 
from the date of receipt of notice of the decision of the RBAB, the aggrieved party
31 
may file an appeal to the National Building Official; an appeal shall be deemed
47


1 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
8 
Official shall direct the Local Building Official to issue the appropriate permit or
9 
order.
10
11 
Sec. 61. Inspection and Supervision of Work and Buiiding or Structure. -
12 
Subject to the primary responsibility of Building Owners, Building Professionals, and
13 
Building Contractors to inspect and/or supervise construction and as set forth in this
14 
Act, the Local Building Official may, upon motion of any aggrieved party or motu
15 
proprio, visit and inspect at reasonable times the ongoing constructions or existing
16 
buildings and structures to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the
17 
permits and the provisions of this Act, rules and regulations, and reference
18 
standards. The National Building Official shall promulgate specific rules and
19 
regulations for inspection of Group R, Residential buildings and structures, to be
20 
carried out by the Local Building Official and/or Accredited Inspector.
21
22 
The Local Building Official shall conduct periodic Inspections of existing
23 
buildings and structures in accordance with Chapter VII of this Act, rules and
24 
regulations, and reference standards.
25
CHAPTER X
INCENTIVES AND PENALTIES
26
27
28 
29
Sec. 62. Incentives. - The National Building Official, in coordination with
30 
relevant agencies, shall develop and administer incentive schemes, which can be
31 
administrative, financial, or otherwise, to promote voluntary compliance of existing
32 
buildings and structures with the provisions of this Act, rules and regulations, and
48


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
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 Deemed-to-Satisfy or Class PI 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 
Professlonal/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:
49


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
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: and
8. 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
50


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
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 Accredited 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
51


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
4. Analogous acts, omissions, and violations of this Act, rules and 
regulations, and reference standards.
e. By the Accredited 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 Accredited 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.
52


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
g. by the Accredited 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.
53


1 
Sec. 64. Fines and Penalties. Any prohibited act or omission falling under
2 
paragraphs (a) - (h) in Section 63 of this Act shall be subject to the administrative
3 
fines and penalties to be imposed by the National Building Official, acting through
4 the Local Building Official. Such fines shall not be lower than 0.01% nor higher than
5 
1.0% of the construction cost, per violation, in accordance with the gravity of the
6 
offense and the category of violator as provided in Section 63; provided, that the
7 
Local Building Official may not issue, may suspend, or may revoke any permit issued
8 
to the violator, as may be appropriate, and/or may order the suspension or cessation
9 
of any construction until such time that compliance with this Act, rules and
10 
regulations, and reference standards are undertaken: provided further, that in case
11 
the Building Owner is also the builder or Building Owner-Builder, the liability is only
12 
considered as one and that of the Building Owner; provided furthermore, that in
13 
case of Building Professionals and/or Building Contractors found to commit any of
14 
the prohibited acts and omissions, the Local Building Official shall also endorse such
15 
violation to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Construction
16 
Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP), respectively, for corresponding
17 
administrative sanctions: and provided finally, that should there be more than one
18 
violator for a single prohibited act or omission, their liability shall be solidary.
19
20 
These administrative sanctions imposed by the National Building Official,
21 
through the Local Building Official, are without prejudice to the right of any affected
22 
person to file the appropriate administrative, civil, or criminal action in the proper
23 
forum.
24
25 
For offenses falling under paragraph (h) in Section 63 of this Act, the National
26 
Building Official, upon recommendation of the Regional Building Appeals Board and
27 
after notice and hearing, may suspend or revoke the appointment or designation of
28 
the Local Building Official as such, without prejudice to the administrative, civil, or
29 
criminal liability of said official in accordance with existing laws.
30
31 
Sec. 65. Criminal Liabilities of Building Owners, Building Professionals,
32 
Building Contractors, Accredited Certifiers, Accredited Structural Peer Reviewers,
54


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
Accredited Testing Laboratories, and Accredited 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. Unauthorized change in type of construction from more fire-resistive to 
less fire-resistive;
b. Non-compliance with order to abate or demolish;
c. Non-compliance with cease and desist order for construction;
d. 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; and
e. 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.
In this 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.
55


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Sec. 66. Criminal Liability of Local Building Officials and Staff - 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% nor higher than 1.0% of the 
construction cost involved, 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.
CHAPTER XI 
FINAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 67. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the effective 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the 
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Thereafter, such amounts as 
necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the General 
Appropriations Act.
Sec. 68. 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.
56


Engagement of Accredited Certifiers, Accredited Inspectors, Accredited 
Structural Peer Reviewers, and Accredited 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.
8 
Consistent with Section 40 and Section 41 of this Act, existing referral codes,
9 
renamed as reference standards by this Act, shall remain valid until after the
10 
National Building Official promulgates new, revised, or amended reference standards
11 
after the review and recommendation of the BRSC.
12
13 
Provided, that absent reference standards that are locally or nationally
14 
adopted by the competent government agency for a particular subject, the latest
15 
standards by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) may be used
16 
as default standards.
17
18 
Sec. 69. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The National Building Official,
19 
upon the recommendation of the Building Regulations and Standards Council and in
20 
consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall promulgate the Implementing Rules
21 
and Regulations of this Act, including a system of accreditation of qualified Building
22 
Professionals as Accredited Certifiers, Accredited Structural Peer Reviewers, and/or
23 
Accredited Inspectors, and qualified establishments or institutions as Accredited
24 
Testing Laboratories, within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act. For this
25 
purpose, the Secretary, as the National Building Official, is mandated to immediately
26 
constitute the Building Regulations and Standards Council within three (3) months of
27 
the effectivity of this Act.
28
29 
The National Building Official shall ensure that all buildings owned by the
30 
national government and all local government units, as well as departments,
31 
regulatory agencies, instrumentalities, government owned and controlled
32 
corporations, and implementing units of the same, shall Implement an integrated, or
57


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
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. 70. 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.
58


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. 71. Mandatory Review. - This Act shall undergo a mandatory review of 
its provisions every five (5) years to make the law more responsive to the needs of 
the times. The review shall be made by Congress, which shall conduct public
8 
hearings and evaluate the accomplishments and Impact of this Act as well as the
9 
performance and organizational structure of its implementing offices, which shall be
10 
the basis of any amendment or modification of this Act.
11
12 
Sec. 72. Separability Clause. - If any portion of this Act is declared
13 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other portions which are not affected thereby shall
14 
continue in full force and effect.
15
16 
Sec. 73. Repealing Clause. - Presidential Decree No. 1096, or the National
17 
Building Code of the Philippines, as amended, is hereby repealed. Sec. 477 of
18 
Republic Act No. 7160, also known as the Local Government Code, is modified
19 
accordingly. Other existing laws, decrees, executive orders, and rules and
20 
regulations or parts thereof that are Inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed.
21
22 
Sec. 74. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
23 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved.
59