Most structures in Baguio City still lack building permits

BAGUIO CITY — About 74% of structures in Baguio City still do not have building permits, the City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) said.

CBAO records showed that of the 83,335 structures documented in the city, 61,645 have no building permits, and only 21,690 or 26% have secured the required documents.

The figures, which are based on the city’s ongoing inventory of buildings across barangays, also revealed that 105 out of 128 barangays completed the census while 23 are still undergoing validation.

CBAO Assistant Department Head Stephen Capuyan said high costs of building plans, land ownership issues and structural encroachments prevent some owners from securing permits. He noted that about 74% of lots in the city remain untitled.

City officials said the local government is coordinating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to speed up land titling and is encouraging barangays to assign engineers who can help residents prepare building plans at lower cost.

Authorities urged property owners to secure building permits to ensure compliance with safety, zoning and environmental regulations. — Artemio A. Dumlao