Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Sec. Eduardo del Rosario (file photo)
MANILA – The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) said it will run after illegal developers and bogus brokers engaged in illegal selling of real estate properties.
Sec. Eduardo del Rosario, the government's housing czar, said the DSHUD will be launching an intensified campaign against illegal activities related to the government's housing and human settlement projects.
“We need to put a stop to these illegal activities through pro-active efforts in collaboration with our stakeholders, including legitimate developers, who are also falling victims to these scammers, and other government agencies,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
Del Rosario ordered DHSUD's regional offices to craft their respective campaigns against real estate scammers, including unscrupulous developers, brokers, and agents engaged in the illegal selling of real estate properties.
DHSUD's top officials were tasked to strengthen collaboration with other government agencies including the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and partner-developers in pursuing efforts to eliminate illegal activities in the housing community.
According to the housing department, the initiative came in the wake of reports that some unregistered developers and real estate brokers are illegally engaging in property selling.
Some are illegally selling lots and housing units as well as preying on unsuspecting buyers through social media.
Based on the Housing and Land use Regulatory Board (HLURB) under Presidential Decree 957—no real estate broker or salesman shall engage in the business of selling subdivision lots or condominium units without being registered.
DHSUD has regulatory power over real estate developers and brokers and salespersons are obliged to register with the DHSUD before engaging in property selling.
“We should protect our home buyers, especially overseas Filipino workers, from these scammers,” said del Rosario.
Del Rosario reminded the public to avoid falling prey to unlicensed developers and other bogus brokers or salespeople.
He noted that buyers can demand copies of the "certificate of registration" specifically issued for the property being eyed and the "license to sell.' Both documents are applied with the DHSUD before a project can be advertised or sold.
These documents must ensure that a project is compliant with government requirements and standards, he added.
When in doubt, del Rosario urged home buyers to seek assistance from DHSUD central office or any of its 16 regional offices located nationwide. (PNA)
