ARE home buyers getting adequate protection from the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) when dealing with property developers?
Probably not, said the Commission on Audit after it revealed that the DHSUD-National Capital Region (NCR) inspected only six of 71 projects or a performance rating of just over eight percent in 2020.
The DHSUD-Central Visayas Region (CVR) did a little better, inspecting 67 out of 261 development projects in its jurisdiction as of yearend 2020.
Both regional offices said they have inspected five more development projects in their respective areas in the first quarter of 2021.
The job of conducting site inspections, evaluation of the developer’s compliance with standards, verifying notices of reported alleged violations (NORAV), and determining the development progress is entrusted to the DHSUD’s Housing and Real Estate Development Regulation Division (HREDRD).
The COA reminded the agency that under the Housing and land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) Board of Commissioners Resolution No. 985, s. 2019, inspection of all new real estate development projects is mandatory.
The objective is to ensure that development companies comply with approved plans, work schedules and other requirements subject to imposition of fines and penalties for any violation or deficiencies.
“DHSUD-CVR and DHSUD-NCR failed to inspect and monitor 145 out of 261 and 20 out of 71 development projects with issued license to sell for 2018-2020. Thus, any violation with corresponding fines/penalties could not be charged immediately against erring developers,” the COA noted.
The HREDRD claimed it could not cope with the inspection and monitoring workload due to lack of manpower.
