Government boosts efforts vs real estate scams

MANILA, Philippines — The government is ramping up efforts to put an end to scams and other malpractices in the housing and real estate sector.

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) recently inked a joint memorandum circular (JMC) with several government agencies for the creation of the Anti-Illegal Real Estate Service Practices Interagency Task Force.

The partnership aims to synchronize all government efforts in curtailing unlawful activities in housing and real estate, and boost coordination across the board.

Joining DHSUD are the Departments of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Justice (DOJ) and Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

Housing chief Eduardo Del Rosario said the JMC would ensure that unscrupulous individuals and swindlers who are victimizing homebuyers, especially overseas Filipino workers, are properly dealt with.

“We have to protect the interest of our homebuyers. With this, I am confident that we can address and substantially lessen these scammers in the real estate industry, by working together,” Del Rosario said.

DHSUD will lead the task force with DILG and DOJ as co-chairs. The DENR, PRC, National Bureau of Investigation, Land Registration Authority and Philippine National Police will act as members.

The JMC will not only eliminate unscrupulous real estate service practices, but also formulate appropriate policies and regulations, speed up filing and prosecution of cases concerning violations of related regulations, and devise measures to ensure a simple and expeditious process of securing authentication of property titles and ownership.

Part of DHSUD’s mandate is to protect the interest and livelihood of licensed brokers and real estate developers, as well as prevent homebuyers from being duped.

Illegal real estate practices violate Presidential Decree 957. They also undermine the government’s land and housing program and hinder the objective of enhancing the economic, social and moral condition of Filipinos, especially the underprivileged.