CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – This city is set to establish satellite offices in different barangays to accommodate clients from far-flung areas and at the same time decongest the city hall.

Glenn Bañez, one of the consultants from the City Mayor’s Office (CMO), revealed in a media forum on Thursday, Feb. 9, that among the barangays that have been initially eyed for the plan include Puerto, Lapasan, Kauswagan, Bulua and the Cogon area here.

The plan is to provide the Kagay-anons convenient public service. With the satellite offices, tax payers and other transactions that involve payments can be accommodated right there in their locations.

“Nakita ni Mayor nga luoy kaayo tong mga naa didto sa layo kay muanhi pa sila sa (The Mayor saw that those who are far from the city hall are pitiful because they still need to come to the) city hall just to pay their taxes,” Bañez said.

Apart from establishing satellite offices, the LGU is also planning to use the ‘delivery’ method for those establishments or people who want to get documents from the city hall such as cedula, mayor’s permit, business permits among others.

“You don’t need to go to the city hall anymore. You pay online and we will deliver it to your house,” Bañez added.

The LGU still needs to write a letter to the Commission on Audit and the Bureau of Local Government Finance pertaining to the said plan as the LGU, Bañez said, needs an authority from the monetary bank to allow commercial banks to accept payments.

Streamlining the building permits issuance

Apart from decongesting city hall, the local government also wanted to give resolution to the existing problem on the issuance of building permits, as it would take three to four months, or up to six months, Bañez said.

Under the LGU’s plan through a proposed ordinance, the LGU is looking to hasten the issuance of building permits based on the category. The categories are simple (garage or low-cost housing), complex (2-3 story building) and highly technical (five floors up).

Bañez said the applicants only need to submit the top documents and the building permit will be released within three working days under the simple category; seven working days for complex category and 15 working days for highly technical category.

Among the documents the applicants need to submit include barangay clearance and locational clearance from the city planning; title or any documents proving ownership of land or lease contract; real property tax clearance on land, building and machinery; ancillary permit/documents and payment of fees, taxes, and other charges.

However, apart from submitting the said documents, applicants must also sign a notarized affidavit of undertaking in order to submit the remaining requirements within 30 working days from the released date of the building permit.

Bañez said the public hearing for the said proposed ordinance is currently ongoing and they were currently working on the said plans in order to possibly implement them within this year.