Quezon City's Department of Building Official has modified its conventional procedures to adapt to the new normal and help prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Mayor Joy Belmonte said the DBO had devised an online application and appointment system for permit applications and processing to limit public contact amid the pandemic.
"The innovation is intended to limit the number of people visiting the DBO for the physical submission of building plans and other pertinent documents," she said.
Dale Perral, the department chief, said a permit applicant could secure an appointment, and have his or her permit processed and approved with just a few taps on their electronic gadget through dbo-af.quezoncity.gov.ph.
Moreover, she said, as an added safety measure, building plans and documents that are required to be physically submitted would undergo disinfection procedures using germicidal ultraviolet light or UV-C spectrum.
"No document shall be received without undergoing the said disinfection procedure,” she added.
As part of DBO’s quasi-judicial functions, all complaints pertaining to possible violations of the National Building Code of the Philippines or Presidential Decree 1096 are now subject to summary procedures similar to the summary rules of the Rules of Court.
“After the necessary ocular inspections are conducted, concerned parties will be required to submit their respective Position Papers. Thereafter, the issues shall be resolved accordingly,” she said.
The new procedure would do away with face-to-face administrative hearings between concerned parties.
