DHSUD signs partnership with REBAP 

To multiply efforts in curbing illegal practices in the real estate sector, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) formalized partnership with the Real Estate Brokers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (REBAP), an organization composed of licensed real estate brokers in the country.

Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario and REBAP 2021 Chairperson Emily Duterte and President Benevici Castro signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) last Friday (Jan. 14) – tapping REBAP as institutional resource partner in the Technical Working Group (TWG) that shall institutionalize the Department’s intensive drive against real estate scammers.

The TWG was formed through the Joint Memorandum Circular on the formation of Anti-Illegal Real Estate Service Practices Inter-Agency Task Force, in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, among other national government and law enforcement agencies.

In his message, Secretary Del Rosario stressed the importance of joining efforts to put an end to unlawful activities preying on homebuyers. He also thanked the association for its commitment to propel this advocacy, emphasizing that its national clout is vital to catching real estate scammers.

“I would like to thank REBAP for their support to our campaign to go after illegal real estate groups who are victimizing our homebuyers… with your help, we can further strengthen our force to go after them and ensure that less and less homebuyers fall prey to their schemes,” Secretary Del Rosario said.

“REBAP will certainly boost our campaign on the ground with their network nationwide. We will continue to work with relevant stakeholders in the human settlements and urban development sector to finally put an end to this crime,” he added.

Through the MOA, the network of broker-members of REBAP serve as monitors of illegal practices and submit documentary pieces of evidence to the TWG. Specifically, they will look into sales, leasing, joint ventures, among other related activities of unlicensed/unaccredited/unregistered individuals through information campaigns in the practice of their profession.

The agreement also provides for the specific procedures that will be followed by the “monitors”. They must first observe the violations, document these and secure pieces of evidence (e.g. media posting, defective flyers, testimonies of victims) before they prepare a narration of what transpired and the violations committed against PD 957 or the Subdivision and Condominium Buyers Protective Decree and RA 9646 or the Real Estate Service Act, and other laws governing the real estate industry.

The findings and documentation will then be submitted to REBAP’s national office for evaluation. Cases with sufficient merits will be forwarded to DHSUD for coordination of legal proceedings and apprehension through the authorized agencies.

For his part, REBAP 2022 Chairman Armando Jim Ordonez, Jr. vowed the full support of REBAP to stop the promiscuous practice of “kolorums” in the sector.

“With this agreement that we graciously accepted and supported, I am quite confident that our members will be emboldened to proactively participate in this laudable campaign. We must put an end to these kolorums that not only harm the unsuspecting public lured into transactions that lead to the loss of their hard-earned money, but also the economy as no tax is paid to the government in illicit real estate sales,” Ordonez said.

Ordonez also lauded the efforts of DHSUD, especially the Regional Office 4A headed by Director Jann Roby Otero, for its continuous campaign in reaching out to real estate practitioners to guide them in the practice of their profession.