REBAP aids brokers, sellers to get HLURB accreditation
By Jason B. Neola
NAGA CITY --- The Naga-Camarines Sur chapter of the Real Estate Brokers Association of the Philippines (REBAP) had set up a workstation for the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) at Robinsons Place Naga last week to help brokers and sales agents process their accreditation with the government agency.
REBAP’s effort is in line with Board Resolutions 921 and 922 which are contained in the implementing rules and regulations (IRRs) for Presidential Decree 957 that mandates brokers and salespeople to get HLURB accreditation or license before they can engage in Philippine real estate services.
The law provides that real estate brokers/sales agents need to register with HLURB for them to legally sell properties e.g. condominium or subdivision units. The license is different from the one being issued by the Professional Regulatory Board of Real Estate Service (PRBRES).
“We pursued this undertaking to spare our fellow brokers and agents from spending more time and money in going to Legazpi City just to get an accreditation from HLURB,” says Roi Marc A. Teodoro, REBAP’s chapter president.
Ramon Cabrera Reyes, a real estate broker from Daet, Camarines Norte, said the idea is highly commendable which deserves to be institutionalized.
The project, which is being planned to be conducted every year as REBAP’s major activity, was the brainchild of CRB Mary Joy S. Bisana, REBAP secretary.
An HLURB infographics underscores that failure to register or renew HLURB registration may result to fines from P5,000 (for expired registration) to P10,000 (for non-registration). The registration expires every December 31 of each year.
Brokers are encouraged to renew on or before January 31st of the succeeding year, or they will be paying fees of up to P200 each in addition to the basic fee, or P200 per non-renewal year in addition to the basic fee.
Teodoro also explained that the field filing of applications for real estate brokers, dealers, and salespersons will also discourage the operations of unlicensed ones as what RA 9646 decreed. RA 9646 regulates the practice of real estate service in the Philippines and creates for the purpose the Professional Regulatory Board of Real Estate Service (PRBRES).
The law provides that no person shall practice or offer to practice real estate service in the Philippines or offer himself/herself as real estate service practitioner, or use the title, word, letter, figure or any sign tending to convey the impression that one is a real estate service practitioner, or advertise or indicate in any manner whatsoever that one is qualified to practice the profession, or be appointed as real property appraiser or assessor in any national government entity or local government unit, unless he/she has satisfactorily passed the licensure examination given by the Board.
The penal provisions of the law: Any violation of this Act, including violations of implementing rules and regulations, shall be meted the penalty of a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than two (2) years, or both such fine and imprisonment upon the discretion of the court. In case the violation is committed by an unlicensed real estate service practitioner, the penalty shall be double the aforesaid fine and imprisonment.
In case the violation is committed, by a partnership, corporation, association or any other juridical person, the partner, president, director or manager who has committed or consented to or knowingly tolerated such violation shall be held directly liable and responsible for the acts as principal or as a co-principal with the other participants.
Other REBAP officers who are instrumental in the conduct of the activity include: CRB Maria Sheila E. Salvo, director; CRB Cecile M. Rivera, press relations officer; and CRB Salve Q. Bermudo, treasurer.