Subd cmte discuss proposed law revising fees for housing projects

THE City Council committee on subdivision and landed estate chaired by Councilor Edgar S. Cabanlas has deferred for further study the proposed ordinance revising the schedule of fees for subdivision projects, and providing fees and tax exemptions to socialized and economic housing projects.

The Gavel learned that the City Housing and Urban Development Department (CHUDD) proposed the revision of Ordinance No. 9639-2005 on the revised schedule of permit fees for zoning and locational clearance.

According to CHUDD, there is a need to provide exemptions from fees to socialized housing projects as the Congressional Committee on Housing and Urban Development adopted the substitute resolution to House Resolution 1468.

It seeks to declare a housing crisis in the country and urges housing agencies to streamline and speed up housing production, including the dissemination of housing units to underserved families.

CHUDD manifested that the city government is currently utilizing the schedule of fees for subdivision projects enacted by the City Council. Such schedule fees are outdated given the growth of the inflation rate for the last 17 years.

Under the proposed law, the project cost of schedule of fees for subdivision project is revised particularly the zoning and locational clearances that include single residential attached/detached, apartment, dormitories, institutional, commercial, industrial, and agro-industrial, and special uses.

The schedule of fees shall be updated annually after the publication of the previous year’s indexes by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

During its recent meeting, Councilor Cabanlas ruled to provide copies of the proposed ordinance to the City Mayor’s Office, City Vice Mayor’s Office, Local Finance Committee, City Treasurer’s Office, developers, CREBA and Oro Chambers for their comment and position on the proposal.

The meeting of the Subdivision Committee was attended by Councilors Maria Lourdes S. Gaane, James Judith II, Jose Pepe Abbu Jr., and Roger G. Abaday. (SP/JBDacer)