Members of the Baguio City Council are pushing for the enactment of an ordinance that will simplify the process for obtaining Certificates of Final Electrical Inspection (CFEI) or Certificates of Electrical Inspection (CEI) by the City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO), making it easier for Baguio residents to connect to the electrical grid.
By reducing bureaucratic hurdles and simplifying document requirements, the proposed ordinance seeks to ensure that more households can access electricity which is essential for modern living standards.
Through this initiative, the city is able to help its residents get access to reliable electricity, thus uplifting their standard of living.
The proposed ordinance cited data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Cordillera (DSWD-CAR) which indicates that many households in the city still lack electricity service connections and that they still rely on gas lamps and candles for lighting.
The simplified process, once approved, applies exclusively to residents of Baguio City occupying residential dwellings subject to investigation by the CBAO. On the other hand, structures with active demolition orders, located within waterways, or declared high-risk areas by government agencies are disqualified.
Requirements include an electrical plan compliant with the Philippine Electrical Code, proof of ownership, a certificate of non-tax delinquency, a barangay certification, and necessary documents if applying through a representative.
Structures under the Torrens title system and Presidential Decree No. 1096 (Building Code of the Philippines) are exempt from these requirements.
Applications for electrical connections must be filed with the CBAO which will then be evaluated by the CBAO for completeness and compliance with the Philippine Electrical Code. The applicant pays the recommended fee, receives an official receipt, and submits it to the CBAO for review and approval. Applications must be processed by qualified electrical practitioners accredited by the Benguet Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BENECO) and Integrated Institute of Electrical Engineers (IIEE), Baguio-Benguet Chapter.
Specific clearances are required for structures built within forest and watershed reservations, waterways, declared high-risk areas, transmission lines, road-right-of-way, military reservations, and areas managed by Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC).
The proposed ordinance stipulates that in cases of fraud or non-disclosure of relevant information, the affected party will be required to voluntarily remove and surrender their electrical service connections.
The proposed ordinance was approved on first reading by the Baguio City Council on August 5, 2024 and referred to the Committee on Public Utilities, Transport, and Traffic Legislation for review. **Jordan G. Habbiling