The Commission on Audit is still studying their appeal for their 20 percent share in the regulatory fees for the operation of the Office of the Building Official, OBO head Teresita Guadalupe yesterday.

The COA had issued a notice of disallowance on Sept. 2, 2008 giving 23 officials of the city and the Department of Public Works and Highways six months to refund their P1.5 million honorarium.

Guadalupe said Presidential Decree 1096 or the National Building Code mandates that 80 percent of their collection of regulatory fees will go to the city and 20 percent to the DPWH for the operation of the OBO.

She said the OBO is a quasi-judicial regulatory office which is tasked with the administration and enforcement of the National Building Code.

It is a separate department from City Hall, but its function is national in character and under the DPWH, she said. That is why they need their 20 percent share.

Guadalupe said that, aside from their honoraria, the 20 percent share also includes expenses for office supplies, gasoline and other operating expenses.

It was only when they remitted the 20 percent collection to Manila that they learned that no guidelines had been issued by the secretaries of the Department of Interior and Local Government, the DPWH and the Department of Budget and Management covering it, she said.

It is not our fault if there were no guidelines issued, since we are supposed to operate using our funds, she added.

Guadalupe said the DPWH advised them to go through the City Ordinance which provides that they are entitled to honoraria, sheriff fees, legal fees, among others.

She said the OBO only has 12 personnel to carry out the work that is why they are asking for assistance from the city in terms of personnel, to conduct inspection of commercial establishments, schools and hospitals.*CGS

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