The Department of Justice (DoJ) has declared that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should  comply with the requirements of the National Building Code following a complaint from the municipal mayor of Capas, Tarlac.
In a legal opinion, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima noted that Section 103 of the Building Code states  that its provisions “shall apply to the design, location, sitting, construction, alteration...demolition of, and addition to public and private buildings.”
Furthermore, De Lima said Section 301 of the same code prohibits any person and any agency and instrumentality of the government from constructing or demolishing any building without obtaining a permit from local building officials.
“This department is of the opinion that the military, or the Armed Forces of the Philippines, or any of its major divisions, are not exempted from compliance with the requirements of the National Building Code of the Philippines,” the DoJ chief stressed.
De Lima issued the opinion upon the request of Capas Mayor Antonio Rodriguez Jr. who complained of the Philippine Army’s inaction on his demand that it seek a permit before proceeding with the fencing activities and the building construction of the Training and Doctrine Command (Tradoc).
The said construction, according to Rodriguez, was being undertaken on a five-hectare lot at the O’Donnell Resettlement, in Capas, Tarlac.
Rodriguez said his office had sent several notices to the Light Armor Division of the Philippine Army since last year for them to obtain a permit but these were all ignored.
Rodriguez added that he made similar representation with Tradoc officials, with the same negative results.