Updating the National Building Code: Is it time?

A Term Paper regarding the Timeliness of the National Building Code

Author/s: Tabinas, Renato Miguel F.
Rizal Technological University, Manila, Philippines
renartism@gmail.com

Abstract: The Philippines has been facing a troublesome time towards the design and
construction industry. People have been thinking of updating the National
Building Code as it has been more than a decade since its latest revision and
things have certainly changed rapidly as the days progress – new international
concepts and ideas, better local and global construction standards, and a time
where sustainability must be implemented in construction. Though updating the
National Building Code is not easy as it would cause new problems within the
judicial section and to the common people. Violations of the Code are often
times overlooked since most of the existing structures nowadays are not built
with the consultation of a professional, and as such, failures of said structures
are not properly and appropriately processed.
Keywords: Updating, decade, local, global, problems, violations, overlooked.

INTRODUCTION
The Presidential Decree No. 1096, s. 1977 or better known as the National Building Code of
the Philippines is a set of rules and regulations pertaining to the construction of all real estate
projects and buildings here in the Philippines (Dot Property News, 2016). The PD 1096
replaced the Republic Act No. 6541, after it was nullified in the year 1972. This change
happened to keep the building standards of the country to properly accommodate and adopt the
ever-changing standards and on-going technological advancements in building design and
construction from all over the world.
Since its enactment in 1977, the continuous technological advancements globally and even
locally made the PD 1096 outdated and thus placed the need to revise that led to the publication
of its latest version in 2005. More than a decade after its revision, there had been more
advancements in design and construction especially locally that influenced the people into
thinking of updating the National Building Code once more.

1.1 Internet of Things that makes updating PD 1096 timely

With the rise of the fourth (4th) Industrial Revolution, the internet became widespread and
quickly became a necessity in basically everyone’s lives. The internet brings global trends and
news to multiple local locations in an instant, which makes every little new thing from different
parts of the world essentially a global news and thing once it gets uploaded to the internet.
Standards, philosophies, and concepts to design and construction is not an exemption to this
global widespread of ideas. A simple concept from one place could potentially be the next big
architectural influence that would be seen all around the world in just a matter of days or weeks.
With that said, the Philippines will also be affected by this rapid widespread of ideas and will
soon adapt those ideas, as other countries would. Having to adapt international designs would
also mean adapting appropriate measurements to be able to infuse said designs to existing
Filipino designs.

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This also means that planning and construction of projects and buildings would have to be
modified to properly infuse new designs and ideas and this is where updating the PD 1096
comes in. Updating the National Building Code to better suit the on-going and continuous flow
of new concepts and ideas would mean an easy adaptability of Filipino designs towards
international ones.

1.2 Lenience of Penalties in Today’s Economy

According to the National Building Code, under chapter 2, section 212, “For the violation of
any of the provisions in this Code or any of the rules or regulations issued thereunder, the
Secretary is hereby empowered to prescribe and impose fines not exceeding ten thousand pesos
(P 10,000.00).” As well as chapter 2, section 213, “Any person, firm or corporation who shall
violate any of the provisions of this Code and/or commit any act hereby declared to be unlawful
shall upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than twenty thousand pesos (P
20,000.00) or by imprisonment of not more than two (2) years or by both such fine and
imprisonment.”
Considering that lives, habitants and passersby alike, are ultimately at risk whenever a project
or a building was built with violations, a fine of not exceeding twenty thousand pesos (P
20,000.00) does not seem to be enough to justify what eventually would happen if a structure
fails. Staggering amounts of pesos of the public would also be needed to repair whatever gets
dragged with the failed structure. A stacking fine of an increased amount for every violation
sounds to be reasonable, as well as an increased fine and imprisonment years might be
justifiable as such violations could end up taking lives of innocents.

1.3 Ambiguous and Convoluted Nature of the Laws Implementation

Laws are commonly straight and direct to its point but the National Building Code often times
have rules and regulations that does not seem to be doing its job and rather inflict confusion to
its users. Take the previously mentioned sections 212 and 213 under chapter 2 of the PD 1096
as an example. Both sections directly discuss the fines of violations but have two different
punishments, one states a fine of not exceeding ten thousand pesos (P 10,000.00) and the other
a fine of not exceeding twenty thousand pesos (P 20,000.00) and/or imprisonment of not more
than two (2) years. This is just one of the many sections under the PD 1096 that imposes
confusion to its users and readers.

1.4 Difficult Nature of its Implementation

The National Building Code, when updated, would definitely face a difficult start. There are
currently numerous of projects and structures that based on the current Code and if it were to
be revised, there would arise questions and problems regarding existing structures and plans
and its relation to the new revision.
Most certainly, plans of projects that are yet to be built would be the main concern of the people
as concerns whether the plans should keep its relation to the previous revision or should it
follow the new revision of the Code. Having to follow the new revision will make things
troublesome for all the parties involved as it could mean starting the project from the very
beginning. Existing structures could potentially be subjected to the same changes when a new
revision is to be implemented. Other than projects and structures, other laws, rules, and
regulations could also be affected if the National Building Code is to be revised once again,
most especially the Structural Code of the Philippines.

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1.5 Perception of the Violations of the Law as Victimless Crime
Nowadays, more and more people resort to having their residences built through only having
to contact a contractor and/or people who has been in the design and construction industry for
years, and not actual licensed professionals, for them to be able to have their houses built under
affordable costs. This issue had been around for years and is still prevalent to this day as
urbanization grows as the day progresses. Even violations of the Code only get shrugged off,
especially if seen in high dense urban areas where houses are built literally next to each other
without any plans of safety.
This issue is a major crime and most often overlooked as such “small” violations are not too
severe and might not cause any problems, as government officials might commonly think.
Little do they know that these “small” violations could eventually cause major problems,
especially in high dense urban areas in times of a disaster. A fire that breaks out could creep
into neighboring houses since there are often no firewalls and air spaces in between houses,
and the fire department would have a hard time navigating through the narrow spaces, so called
as path walks, before reaching the desired location and giving necessary fire safety protocols.
Violations of the Code must be taken with utmost importance as lives are indeed ultimately at
risk due to such violations. It may seem small and might not cause anything negative, through
the years it will cause something as natural degradation of structures will take place, alongside
with natural disasters that consistently are the cause of the weakening of most built structures.

CONCLUSION
The PD 1096 or the National Building Code have certainly been outdated since its last revision
but not to the point where it isn’t relevant anymore, but rather only small portions of its sections
and regarding things that are new to this day and are used by many. Such issues and changes
must be addressed appropriately through the means of another revision or update of the Code.
New design and construction standards and ideas should be a part of the Code whenever it gets
implemented or infused to Filipino standards as it will be used to many more upcoming projects
and would need to be consistent to deliver its intended use. Rules and regulations of the Code
and penalties of its violations should be strictly implemented since most structures nowadays
are not built to standards and does not conform to the Code.

REFERENCES
Dot Property News. 2016. Renovating? Here’s a Quick Guide from the National Building Code
of the Philippines. January 13. Accessed April 10, 2022.
https://www.dotproperty.com.ph/blog/quick-guide-from-the-national-building-code-
of-the-philippines.
Felipe, Cecille Suerte, Jess Diaz, Elizabeth Marcelo, and Paolo Romero. 2019. House eyes
review, update of building code. October 19. Accessed April 10, 2022.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/10/31/1964842/house-eyes-review-update-
building-code.
Fulgar, Ian. 2021. National Building Code Of The Philippines – Its History, Current State, and
Future. January 5. Accessed April 10, 2022.
https://www.ianfulgar.com/architecture/national-building-code-of-the-philippines-its-
history-current-state-and-future/.

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Jr., Arch. Benjamin Panganiban. 2020. Should the National Building Code be amended or
repealed? November 28. Accessed April 10, 2022. https://propertyreport.ph/news-and-
events/2020/11/28/16770/should-the-national-building-code-be-amended-or-
repealed/.
—. 2021. Upgrading the National Building Code. March 16. Accessed April 10, 2022.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/03/16/business/real-estate-and-property/upgrading-
the-national-building-code/851488.
Republic of the Philippines. 2018. National Building Code of the Philippines. Quezon City:
Philippine Law Gazette.