Iloilo city: The Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) has passed a resolution urging the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to adhere to the National Building Code of the Philippines by obtaining all necessary permits from the Office of the Building Official (OBO) before commencing any projects in Iloilo City. The resolution emphasizes the importance of compliance to maintain public safety and uphold the credibility of local governance.

According to Philippines News Agency, the resolution also instructs the OBO to monitor and audit all ongoing DPWH projects to ensure compliance with the building code and to submit a report on their findings to the council. The resolution, authored by Councilor Johnny Young, chair of the Engineering, Construction and Public Works Committee, highlights past instances where the DPWH initiated construction projects without securing the required permits, despite repeated reminders and discussions during council sessions and committee hearings.

The resolution asserts that such practices compromise public safety and undermine the accountability and credibility of local governance by suggesting that government agencies can bypass legal requirements that are strictly enforced on private entities. It calls for the DPWH to explain the repeated violations to the council, despite advisories and discussions that have taken place since 2022.