Complainants, architects, SK to attend next ad hoc hearing
The next committee hearing of the Sangguniang Panlungsod ad hoc committee will be more meaty and substantive as complainants and the association of architects in Iloilo are expected to air their grievances pertaining to alleged malpractices at the City Engineers Office (CEO).
Councilor Perla Zulueta, chair of the ad hoc committee, said they are expecting those who applied for building permit and occupancy permit and the representative from the association of architects in Iloilo to appear in the next hearing set on July 13, 2006.
Zulueta said these applicants have sad and frustrating stories to tell about their experiences in transacting business with the CEO. She also called for more applicants to attend the hearing in order to thresh out and figure out the problem affecting the application and issuance of building and occupancy permits at the engineer's office.
Zulueta said it was Councilor Erwin Plagata who informed the body that a group of architects wants to appear before the investigation to express their disgust and grievances against CEO officials especially against Architect Eduardo Chu.
However, Zulueta said Plagata will not divulge yet the name of the group but they have already expressed their intention to appear before the body. The group had already met Monday night to formalize their grievances.
Sources said Chu always want to rectify the plans made by private architects and civil engineers and wants the applicant to avail the services of casual employees working as draftsman at the CEO to do the "as built plan." The "as built plan" comes even before the final inspection is conducted contrary to the explanation of Architect Noen Gregorio.
Chu is one of the six department heads who signs the application for building permit. He is in-charge of the line and grade. There are other signatories for the architectural, structural, electrical, sanitary and mechanical.
During the hearing, Chu admitted they are working for the plans of applicants. He claimed they can only work or do the "as built plan" based on the request of the applicants.
It was also Chu who required Zulueta to submit a "barangay resolution" before the construction of a mausoleum for her late husband Lazaro Zulueta and an occupancy permit. Councilor Jed Mabilog viewed the issuance of the "as built plan" as the "root of all evil things" at the CEO.
Moreover, Zulueta said she will invite all the SK district presidents to appear before the committee. The SK has a share of 20 percent from the 80 percent of the total income for building permit fees.
She said the SK was tasked to report all the illegal constructions in their barangay. They were all trained to spot the illegal constructions. However, according to Amatorio, the SK failed to do their job and yet they received their share.