Manila: The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is currently reviewing decades-old rules on fines and penalties against erring real estate firms and practitioners, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call for people-centric and proactive government programs. “We need to revisit our laws and policies to ensure relevance and responsiveness in the present times,” DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said.

According to Philippines News Agency, DHSUD Senior Undersecretary Sharon Faith Paquiz has been tasked to lead the review of the Implementing Rules and Regulations, Guidelines, Administrative Fines, and Penalties of Presidential Decree 957 of 1976, BP 220, and Republic Act 7279, or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992, as amended by RA 10884. These regulations are originally from the defunct Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.

Among the changes being considered include the imposition of stiffer administrative fines and penalties on developers and real estate practitioners who sell projects without proper registration and licenses. “This is to protect the interests of all stakeholders-both homebuyers and responsible developers who strictly comply with laws and policies,” Aliling said.

The Housing and Real Estate Development and Regulation Bureau (HREDRB) is leading the ongoing assessment. “Initially, we have already identified provisions that need updating. For those within our authority as a department, we will immediately revise them as soon as possible,” Paquiz said.