Dataya, during yesterday’s I-Speak forum at the City Hall, emphasized that the inspectors will only assess the physical aspects of the structures like building types and components such as tiles, glass panelings, and windows.

“We understand the apprehension of some owners of establishments but we will require our personnel to properly identify themselves before they inspect the building,” he said.

Dataya said that they intend to finish inspecting roughly 17,000 structures in the city before the end of the year. The revised rates of land market value, however, will be implemented this year.

He said the city needs to hire more people for the task.

“City Assessor’s Office is still conducting an inventory of personnel who are able to conduct the inspection,” he said. “We may need to hire engineers and people with the technical capabilities to do the job.”

The P6 million budget for the inspection, he said, is not part of the regular budget but will be culled from the annual development fund.

“We will be going to ask for another six million pesos from the supplemental budget for the building aspect of the assessment of the RPUs (real property units),” he said.