Perfect record with HLURB elevates credibility of socialized housing

FROM left, OSHDP vice president and auditor Marc Lagdameo; 8990 Holdings investor relations officer Tani Basman; OSHDP president Christopher Ryan Tan; OSHDP chair of the board Jefferson Bongat, OSHDP director Irwin Bryan Choa, World Home Depot’s Vincent Fereira, Boysen’s Wylland Oppuer and World Home Depot’s Mark Anthony Alejo. Photo by Eugene Araneta

Does shelling out millions of pesos for a high-end residential unit—be it a condo or a house and lot—guarantee flawless workmanship and headache-free ownership? If you go by the sob stories of some well-to-do buyers of mid- and high-end residences who had recently discovered that their ritzy abodes were far less than ideal, the answer here would be a depressing “no.”

So, in this light, should buyers of socialized (P450,000 and below) and economic (P1.2 million and below) houses throw in the towel and be resigned to a fate worse than that of the supposedly “pampered” higher classes?

The 75-member Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines Inc. (OSHDP) would rather answer the other way around.

Asked by Inquirer Property how the organization assures its buyers, lawyer Christopher Ryan T. Tan, OSHDP president, replied: “We’re not as big as the other associations. It’s because one of our requirements (for our members) is (that they should maintain) a perfect record with the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB): No ‘cease and desist’ order. We check our ranks because when we advocate for something, we also need to show our credibility as the private sector that really means business when it comes to producing decent, quality and affordable housing.”

Tan spoke during the Aug. 6 press conference in Metro Club Rockwell in Makati to promote the 5th National Developers Convention scheduled on Aug. 28 and 29 at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City.

Tan stressed that OSHDP intends “to give credit to HLURB, the government agency primarily tasked to regulate the rights of subdivision lot buyers. Under the leadership of Commissioner Antonio M. Bernardo, we’ve seen a more vigorous regulation. In OSHDP we welcome that because that helps police our ranks.”

Tan stressed that real estate is a highly regulated, capital-intensive, labor-intensive industry. He added that, in fact, there had been a time that a new regulation came out every week, and member-developers were aware of these new regulations even before they came out because of consultations.

“If one of our members is engaged in unsound business practices, we impose a sanction on it,” said Tan.

Proper stress test

Tani S. Basman, 8990 Holdings Inc. investor relations officer, said, “We don’t release a housing unit until it undergoes a proper stress test.” He cited, as an example, the 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck Cebu and Bohol in 2013 that left 8990 Holdings’ built houses largely unscathed. This proved that, though the cost of the housing units were low, they were durable and met quality standards, Basman pointed out.

Marc E. Lagdameo, OSHDP vice president and auditor, stressed: “As private developers, we do our best. But with the magnitude of the industry, there will always be some problems regarding warranties. What is important is (the problem) will be corrected. Our association polices its ranks. There is continuous education and dialogue with member developers.”

With the theme, “Socialized and economic housing as catalyst for inclusive growth and development,” the convention is expected to draw in subdivision developers and other real estate stakeholders engaged in the socialized and economic housing value chains. OSHDP will partner with the Housing and Urban Development and Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and 8990 Holdings Inc for this event.

Vice President and HUDCC chair Jejomar C. Binay will lead the National Informal Settlements Upgrading Strategy (Nisus) forum to be held within the convention.

Issues to be addressed in the forum will include current legislation on land use; amendments to BatasPambansa No. 220 and Republic Act  No. 7292; fire code issues relating to housing; Nisus of the government, financing and the housing regulatory updates.

The convention will be cochaired by secretary general Santiago Ducay and Lagdameo.