THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is set to intensify its campaign against illegal developers, bogus brokers and salespersons.
During Monday’s DHSUD Management Committee meeting, DHSUD Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario ordered all regional offices to craft their respective campaigns to run after real estate scammers, particularly unscrupulous developers and real estate brokers and agents engaged in the illegal selling of real estate properties.
Del Rosario tasked top officials of the department in the Central Office to strengthen collaboration with other government agencies like the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and partner-developers to fortify the efforts.
“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,” said Del Rosario.
“The DHSUD should take the lead in going after these unscrupulous groups or individuals,” he stressed.
As the government’s primary entity for the management of housing, human settlements and urban development, DHSUD has regulatory power over real estate developers and brokers and salespersons are obliged to register with the DHSUD before engaging in property selling.
The move came amid reports of the unscrupulous activities by unregistered developers and brokers in various parts of the country through various platforms, including social media, illegally selling lots and housing units and preying on unsuspecting buyers.
“We should protect our home buyers, especially overseas Filipinos workers, from these scammers,” vowed Del Rosario.
The housing czar also issued reminders to real property buyers to avoid falling prey to illegal developers, including determination of a bogus broker or salesperson.
He said buyers can demand for copies of 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. Having such documents ensure that a project is compliant with government requirements and standards.
When in doubt, Del Rosario urged home buyers to seek assistance from DHSUD Central Office or any of its 16 regional offices all over the country.
DHSUD’s launching of an intensified campaign against real estate scammers coincides with the celebration of the National Shelter Month this October.
