Dear PAO, I own a house and lot inside a subdivision in Pasig City, where I am a member of the Board of Directors of its registered homeowner’s association (HOA). Last month, I bought another residential property in the neighboring subdivision where my current house is. I would like to know if, as a member […]
Philippines: Homeowners ‘refused’ access to subdivision facilities
HOMEOWNERS of Sunberry Homes in Sudtonggan, Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City continue to complain about exorbitant water rates a year after raising the matter before the government. Now, they have a new axe to grind: they are accusing the developer of preventing them from using the subdivision’s facilities. Read the article…………………………….
Philippines: Lazy volunteers must be kicked out
IF a volunteer-dentist offers to serve the needs of an impoverished community on a certain day and time and comes in two hours late, would you fault him for that? Some people say no. The dentist is offering his free time and services, so better ignore that minor lapse. In a homeowners’ association, if a […]
Philippines: Structural hazards found in Davao City condo
A unit owner, choosing to remain anonymous, disclosed in a Messenger interview with SunStar Davao that they have already evacuated their unit. They sought repairs for the unit after feeling an intensity 4 earthquake in the city on Friday afternoon, November 17. Read the article…………………………
Philippines: Residents around condominium in Davao City told to leave after quake
A total of 174 individuals residing around the construction site of the high-rise condominium tower The Paragon Davao of Cebu Landmasters were advised to vacate after a crane collapsed in the magnitude-6.8 earthquake that rocked this city and a southern Mindanao on Friday, November 17. Read the article……………………………….
Philippines: Problems continue to hound residential communities
Remember that posh and gated subdivision in Pasig hounded by problems such as the alleged lack of transparency from its homeowners’ association? I wrote about it last June 27 in a column titled “Problems hound posh residential subdivision.” That story seemingly opened a can of worms. It turns out, so say readers, many residential villages, […]
Philippines: What can be done in case of an illegal takeover of condominium?
It took a while before Ilonggos started to get a hang of “condo-living.” For the longest time, even if in Metro Manila, condominiums were already all over, people from Iloilo City still literally had their feet planted on the ground by living in bungalows. Read the article………………………..
Philippines: QC to inspect business establishments in subdivisions in wake of deadly fire
THE Quezon City government will inspect businesses located inside subdivisions following the deadly August 31 fire that razed a house that was converted into a business establishment. Read the article………………………..
Philippines: Beverly Hills homeowners have right to regulate entry to their subdivision
WHAT JUST HAPPENED regarding the controversy between the Beverly Homeowners Association on one hand and the Cebu City Government and commuters using or wanting to use subdivision roads on the other: Mayor Michael Rama reportedly gave a “marching order” to start “recovering all public roads” that have been used “exclusively” by some subdivisions in the […]
Philippines: Residents of a BGC Condo Alarmed After Management Releases Memo to Remove Community Cats
Volunteers and supporters of a group dedicated to caring for community cats of their condominium residence in Bonifacio Global City are voicing out their concern regarding the condo’s management and property developers have reportedly been taking action to remove these cats from its premises. Read the article………………………..
Philippines: Local business tax on association dues
IT is now undisputed that association dues, membership fees, and other charges collected by a condominium corporation from members are not subject to income tax and value added tax. This was the clear ruling by the Supreme Court in the First E-Bank Tower case (GR 215801). Read the article………………………..
Philippines: Court fight between Villar, BF homeowners association may go into its second round
The fight between Senator Cynthia A. Villar and the BF Resort Village Homeowners Association in Las Pinas City may go into its second round. Villar said she would talk with her lawyer on filing a suit over several issues such as the construction by BFRV of a gate barring entry into her composting plant and […]
Philippines: Condo residents hit lack of evac order, return to ‘unsafe’ building
MULTIPLE concerns have been raised by unit owners of the condominium building next to the one in Grand Residences that was hit by fire on April 14, 2023, and among these was the fire alarm sounding only 40 minutes to one hour after the fire had started and their now being made to return to […]
Philippines: BI warns condo owners vs harboring illegal foreigners
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) yesterday warned condominium owners against harboring illegal foreign nationals after Sen. Risa Hontiveros reported that some condominiums in Metro Manila are being used in crypto currency scam operations. Read the article………………………..
Philippines: Condo fire causes P4B in damage, review of firefighting capabilities
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is now looking to review the capabilities of the Cebu City Fire Office (CCFO) and other local fire brigades, following the severe damage brought by the fire. In an interview with SunStar Cebu on Saturday, April 15, Rama said this review aims to improve the capabilities of firefighters in the […]
Philippiines: Powers of a homeowner’s association
Q: The officers of the homeowner’s association in our subdivision decided to put another basketball court in the common area of our subdivision. Do they have the right to decide on this without even consulting us, the homeowners? Read the Q&A……………………………….
Philippines: Looking for a condo? Here is a 10-point checklist
Location remains an integral qualifier in the selection of property to buy or lease. Property within walking distance from work or school saves time and money. As most engagements are in major cities, the trend is for developers to build high-rise properties over limited land. For young professionals and startup families in search of a […]
Philippines: Closure of ‘public roads’ in private village in Cebu City questioned
Is closing public roads inside a private village legal? A family here is asking the city government to help solve the issue after a homeowners association closed the public roads inside a private village in Barangay Mabolo. Read the article………………………..
Philippines: Condo residents seek ERC’s urgent intervention to avoid power disconnection
More than 11,000 residents of the California Garden Square (CGS) condominium in Mandaluyong City, are intensifying their call on the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for immediate intervention to prevent disconnection of their electricity services. Read the article………………………..
Philippines: Tali troubles
Trouble has been brewing at the exclusive Tali Beach Resort in Batangas ahead of its homeowners association’s annual elections tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. From all indications, a team of nine directors looks likely to retain control of the board of directors of the upscale resort, but several other homeowners are chafing at the voting […]
Philippines: Homeowners’ association confederation organized
The Confederation of Homeowners Associations of Negros Occidental was formally launched yesterday in Talisay City, making it the first to be organized in Western Visayas, spurred by the Metro 3rd Balay Hilway Program of Third District Rep. Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez. Read the article………………………..
Philippines: Condo unit owners lose land dispute case
The Court of Appeals (CA) has turned down a petition filed by condominium unit owners against a company which bought the land where their units are located. The appellate court dismissed the petition of the owners of 10 units in two buildings of Xavierville Executive Townhouse in Quezon City against Barrington Consumer Distributions Corporation. Read […]
Philippines: Third District homeowners’ associations undergo training for confederation
Forty-six homeowners’ associations in the third district of Negros Occidental participated in series of orientation workshops for the formation of a Metro Third Housing Confederation, as facilitated by the congressional office of Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez. Read the article………………………..
Philippines: CTA junks P50-M case vs. condo association
The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) has set aside a tax assessment against a local corporation, the IBM Plaza Condominium Association Inc., for more than PHP50 million due to technical lapses. Read the article………………………..
Philippines: BF Homes residents protest opening of gates
A big number of residents of residents of BF Homes Subdivision in Parañaque conducted yesterday a motorcade rally as they continued to oppose the opening of its gates to the public. Last August, the Human Settlements Adjudication Commission (HSAC) issued an injunction against the subdivision’s “no sticker, no entry” policy. Read the article………………………..
Philippines: Pangan: Relief for HOA members
SINCE Fiesta Communities Tabun Mabalacat City Homeowners Association Inc., (FCTMCHAI) took over full management and operations of Fiesta Communities subdivision from Hausland Estate Management Inc., (HEMI), its former managing agency, FCTMCHAI seems to be coping well with the change in the management affairs of the community. Read the article………………………..
Philippines: Diokno overrules BIR: ‘Dasma’ Village association dues are tax exempt
Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno is allowing the Dasmariñas Village Association Inc. (DVAI) to enjoy tax exemptions on its income from association dues and rental fees by reversing an earlier ruling of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). Read the article………………………..
Philippines: Homeowners of BF Homes in Parañaque protest opening of 5 gates to public
Sixteen homeowner associations at the BF Homes in Parañaque City launched a simultaneous protest on Monday afternoon to denounce the Human Settlements Adjudication Commission’s (HSAC) decision to order the opening of five gates of the subdivision to the public. Read the article………………………..
Philippines: HOA rights and powers
Recently, I received a message from a client asking about the rights and powers of a homeowners’ association. Let me share to you some of the things I discussed in my response. Read the entire article……………………………….
Philippines: Pangan: HOA election finally over
THE much-awaited/anticipated election of the new set of board of directors (BOD) of the Fiesta Communities Tabun Mabalacat City Homeowners Association, Inc. (FCTMCHAI) was held last Sunday, March 6, 2022, at the HOA premises. Two teams vied for the posts and the Team Tap or Team Tuloy sa Pag-asenso emerged victorious with ten out of […]
Philippines: Ka Leody barred from campaigning inside Antipolo private subdivision
Presidential candidate and labor leader Leody de Guzman said he was barred from campaigning inside a private subdivision in Antipolo City on Saturday. Read the entire article……………………………….
Philippines: HLURB, not RTC, has jurisdiction over homeowners’ disputes – Supreme Court
The Supreme Court (SC) has stressed that disputes between and among members of homeowners’ associations in villages are within the jurisdiction of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) and not the regional trial court (RTC). Read the entire article……………………………….
Philippines: PLDT-Smart laud House nod on bill mandating allocation for cell sites in subdivisions
The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, approved on third and final reading the House Bill No. 10388 or “An Act Mandating the Allocation of an Area for Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure and Facilities in Subdivisions and Housing Development Projects.” Read the entire article……………………………….
Philippines: Condo dwellers no longer qualified for power subsidies
Filipinos living in condominiums and subdivisions will no longer qualify to avail of the ‘lifeline subsidy’ or electricity rate discounts extended to financially challenged power consumers. Read the entire article……………………………….
Philippines: Magallanes Village vs ‘unauthorized’ Chinese tenants
Not long after the Ayala Alabang Village Association cracked down on abusive tenants from mainland China—many said to be using their rented homes for illegal online gaming activities or as staffhouses—another upscale exclusive residential community has found itself in a similar predicament. Read the entire article……………………………….
Philippines: Condo floor lockdown ‘not automatic’ for single COVID-19 case
One COVID-19 case will not mean an “automatic” lockdown of an entire condominium floor, an official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has clarified. Read the entire article……………………………….
Philippines: Condo denies hand in Cebu lawyer’s slaying
The management of a condominium in this city has denied involvement in the death of a lawyer, who had staged a hunger strike, to protest the imposition of dues, before he was shot last week. In a statement, the Bamboo Bay Condominium Corp. (BBCC) said it was “shocked” upon learning of the killing of human […]
Philippines: Bamboo Bay cuts off water supply of 20 condo units
THE Bamboo Bay Condominium Corp. (BBCC) said it has disconnected the water supply of 20 condo units, including lawyer Rex Fernandez’s unit, after non-payment of condo corporation dues. On Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, Fernandez, a human rights lawyer who lives in a unit at Bamboo Bay located in Brgy. Subangdaku, Mandaue City, initiated a hunger […]
Philippines: Bulacan mayor orders subdivision developer to explain issues on water supply
Baliuag, Bulacan Mayor Ferdie Estrella is seeking an explanation from the developer of a subdivision in his town for supposedly charging its homeowners fee for their water supply despite absence of business permit from the local government. Read the entire article……………………………….
Philippines: QC probes village chief, homeowners prez over alleged COVID-19 gathering violation
The Quezon City government Legal Department initiated an investigation on Matandang Balara Barangay Captain Allan Franza and Homeowners Association President Don Brabante after they allegedly failed to prohibit and subsequently report a public gathering – a wedding – and a drinking session that led to 72 COVID-19 infections. Read the entire article……………………………….
Philippines: 649 Bulacan homeowner presidents receive aid
Last Thursday, some 649 homeowner presidents from all over the province were given 25 kilos of rice and P1,500 cash each as assistance from the provincial government. Read the entire article……………………………….
Philippines: Pilar Village homeowners win vs past officers
THE Human Settlements Adjudication Commission (HSAC) has found that six officers of the Pilar Village Homeowners Association (PVHA) had violated the by-laws of the PVHA. In a decision dated April 5, 2021 and released on May 4, HSAC regional chief adjudicator Donn Tamayo voided the 2014, 2018 and 2019 PVHA elections in which the defendants […]
Philippines: Twin Oaks Place owner sued for lone broadband player in condo
Antitrust regulators are running after Greenfield Development Corp. for barring residents at one of its condominium projects from subscribing with other internet service providers apart from its own. The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) was responding to a December 29 complaint by unit owners at Twin Oaks Place in Mandaluyong City, who were left with no […]
Philippines: 2 sued in failed condo takeover
Two residents of a condominium are facing charges after they allegedly tried to take over the office of the firm managing the building in Mandaluyong City. Read the article………………………………
Philippines: Condo folk plan to take legal action against illegal homestay operators
OWNERS of condominium units in Persiaran Bukit Gambir, Penang, are up in arms over claims of the existence of illegal homestay operators there. They claim that some condominium units have been converted into homestay units since 2018. Read the article…………………………….
Philippines: Condominium association fees not subject to local business tax — CTA
The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) has declared that association dues collected by condominium operators from unit owners are not subject to local business tax. Read the article………………………………..
Philippines: How homeowners’ associations can thrive during the pandemic
The new challenge that homeowners’ associations now face is navigating through the pandemic. While the main goal is to keep the communities safe and healthy, association leaders also need to recognize the impact of the Covid-19 on other aspects of their organization. In this regard, I’d like to provide some strategies that homeowners’ associations could […]
Philippines: No tax on condo dues–GPP advances next?
IF you are living in a condominium or in a village that collects condominium or association dues, and value-added tax (VAT) is imposed on your bill, it is time to inform your homeowner’s association to stop this practice and file a claim for refund with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). The homeowner’s association must […]
Philippines: Subdivision guards have no authority to take visitors’ licenses
Village security personnel of housing subdivisions are no longer allowed to take the driver’s licenses of visiting motorists before letting them in, a unit of the Philippine National Police said. In a memorandum dated Monday, June 15, and addressed to all private security industry personnel and their respective agencies, Police Col. Sidney Villaflor, acting chief […]
Philippines: Charging a fee for deliveries in subdivisions not allowed during MECQ – DILG
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año warned subdivisions on Wednesday against charging a fee for delivery services during the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ). “That is not allowed if it’s only delivery,” Año said in a text message answering a question asked about the practice. Read the article…………………..