Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Monday, May 29, called on national government agencies to properly coordinate with the local government for infrastructure projects in the city to avoid wasting public funds and causing inconvenience to residents.
“Close coordination between the city government and national government agencies would avoid duplication of projects and promote efficient planning and delivery of services for QCitizens, not to mention judicious allocation of public funds,” Belmonte said.
Belmonte issued the statement after she received complaints that some national government offices are not properly coordinating with them with regards to infrastructure projects in the city which affect the residents.
“In addition, proper alignment would avoid or minimize any hassle the projects may bring to our QCitizens, especially on traffic flows that may hamper their travel to work, school, or any destination,” she added.
City Engineer lawyer Dale Perral said that under City Ordinance No. SP-2939, S-2020, all government agencies, offices, and government corporations are required to coordinate with the QC government on all infrastructure projects within Quezon City, whether currently implemented or in the planning stages.
“The Ordinance mandates all national government agencies to coordinate with the QC government through a written correspondence indicating pertinent details about the project to the Office of the City Mayor,” he said.
The Office of the Mayor will then issue a Certificate of Coordination which will allow the granting of permits, clearances, or other documents issued by the city government to any national project to be implemented within the city.
The local government said it is looking into the possibility of imposing administrative and criminal penalties on those who fail to coordinate their infrastructure projects with the city government, pursuant to the National Building Code of the Philippines (NBP).
The NBP aims to provide a framework of minimum standards and requirements to regulate and control buildings and structures’ location, design quality materials, construction, use, occupancy, and maintenance (according to officialgazzete.com.ph).