Compliance of establishments to nat’l building code pushed

“KINAHANGLAN tagaan pagpatuman ang atong provision sa National Building Code. Kay kung mabantayan batakan man gyud nga adunay comfort room sa matag establismento, ma stand-alone man o suklip siya sa usa ka arcade o isa ka dako nga gambalay.”

This was pointed out by Councilor James K. Judith II in his special report during the regular session Monday presided over by Vice Mayor Jocelyn B. Rodriguez.

According to the councilor, restaurants should have comfort rooms as required under the building code. This requirement also applies to banks and other remittance centers where clients are subjected to “waiting time”, he added.

In his personal investigation, Judith said he was able to list a total of 84 establishments in the city that are not complying with this requirement.

“Kasagara sa akong listahan na 84, mga bangko. Kay taas kaayo ang waiting time sa ilang mga kliyente pero kung buot na motubag sa ilang personal na panginahanglan, wala intawon silay kaadtuan o i-refer pa sila sa lain na mga lugar o ba kaha sa abay na fastfood chain aron didto sila makatubag sa ilang personal na panginahanglan,” Judith said. He, however, cited the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) at Divisoria, the Philippine National bank (PNB) in front of Xavier University and the Philippine Savings Bank (PSB) as having comfort rooms for their clients.

There are some establishments with comfort rooms but these are not accessible or available for their patrons, he said.

Citing the predicament of their clients, Judith recommended the conduct of an inspection to be led by the Office of the Building Official (OBO) to verify the establishments listed in his initial findings.

The matter was referred to the committee on public works, chaired by Councilor John Michael L. Seno, for appropriate action.