Baguio structures with no building permits now 100-K

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY -- The number of structures with no building permits in the city has risen to 80,000 from the previous 41,000 as the inventory of buildings, houses and constructions continues in the city's barangays.
    Assistant City Building official engineer Stephen Capuyan reported in management committee meeting headed by Mayor Benjamin Magalong from  previous 51,000 total number of structures, the City Buildings and Architecture Office listed a total of 100,000 structures in barangays surveyed and of the number, only 20 percent or 20,000 are covered by building permits.
    The number is expected to increase further as the survey continues targeting all of the city's 128 barangays.
City Building official architect Johnny Degay said the survey aims to determine density of structures and occupants in the city to help the city government in the implementation of the city's Environmental Code to protect the safeguarded and critical areas, among other environmental goals.
    The data generated will also guide the different departments in their action plans for their various programs. 
    Degay said establishing the number of structures that lack building permits would guide the executive and the legislative departments to come up with appropriate measures to help building owners secure permits and legitimize their constructions.
    The city under the guidance of the mayor is currently refining its program to streamline building permit procedures to give those without permits the chance to secure theirs and legalize the status of their structures.
    Guidelines and parameters of the program will be announced soon.