Examining The Factors Influencing the Building Permit Application Process in Cabanatuan City: An Exploratory Study

This exploratory descriptive study examines the influence of administrative design and socio-economic status on the building permit application process in Cabanatuan City, Central Luzon, Philippines. Using survey data from 66 applicants who interacted with the Office of the Building Official (OBO), the research employs a structured questionnaire featuring Likert-scale items and open-ended responses to investigate process challenges, equity of access, and perceptions of fairness within the framework of Republic Act No. 11032, the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018[1]. The results show that there are four related systemic bottlenecks: unclear and inconsistent documentation requirements, poor coordination between agencies, limited and reactive information sharing, and a heavy reliance on expensive professional services that act as de facto gatekeepers to compliance. Income is the most important factor in accessibility. People who make less than 25,000 pesos a month report lower satisfaction and perceive professional fees as too high. Conversely, individuals earning more than 100,000 pesos a month express higher satisfaction and report fewer concerns. These dynamics create a two-tiered system in which higher-income citizens can more easily get professional assistance, which goes against the goal of RA 11032 to make the law fair for everyone. The study concludes by recommending evidence-based reforms, such as clearer integrated documentation, digital information and tracking tools, authentic single-window processing, and specialized technical assistance for low-income applicants, to realign the permit system with the principles of efficiency, transparency, and social equity.