The
Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is the central
housing authority in the Philippines. It consolidated the duties and functions
of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and the
Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), except for adjudicatory power
which is given to the Human Settlements Adjudication Commission (HSAC).
After a
series of deliberations and tedious process, the intention of the Department ofHuman Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) to revise the Implementing
Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 9904, Series of 2011, also
known as the Magna Carta for Homeowners and Homeowners Association (HOAs), has
finally been approved.
The Revised
IRR consists of sixteen (16) Rules with one hundred eight (108) Sections which
incorporate procedures and documentary requirements pursuant to the Anti-Red
Tape Act and reconcile certain provisions with the Revised Corporation Code.
The revised
IRR was issued by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development
(DHSUD) on March 22, 2021, to provide for the guidelines on the formation of
federations and confederations of Homeowners Associations (HOAs) and DHSUD’s
partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in
the formation of these alliances.
The
revisions are in response to the issues and concerns raised by the homeowners
and HOAs. There are thirty-two (32) new provisions introduced in the revised
IRR which addressed contentious areas in the original IRR addressing the
election-related matters which is relevant to the status quo. The new
provisions include new ways of conducting HOA meetings and/or elections which
may be held through remote or electronic means, or a combination of both as
part of adapting to the new normal.
Salient features in the Revised IRR of R.A. 9904 include the calling of an election and voting rights. The quorum in elections was specifically provided in Rule XIII, Section 91 which emphasized that “At all elections, there must be present or votes cast by a majority of the association members in good standing, either in person or by proxy” which is not provided in the original IRR of R.A. 9904.
Moreover,
the revised IRR also added the provision of Rule XIII, Section 90, known as the
unauthorized election which is conducted by any member regardless of standing
in an association other than by the incumbent Board of Directors, President, and/or Vice President on record with the DHSUD and its effects thereof. The
results of such an election shall not be recognized by the DHSUD and shall be
deemed null and void. This provision was also not mentioned in the original
IRR.
The
qualifications of the Trustee or Director and/or Officers also added that he/she
must be a Filipino citizen and remove the required number of years for his/her
actual residence in the subdivision or village or community. This was added in
order to avoid prejudicing the rights of the homeowners who were just residing in the subdivision or village or in other cases when the village was just
established, the residents thereof need the supervision of the officers in
order to oversee and manage the community and maintain a cohesive atmosphere.
With all the
newly introduced provisions in the Revised IRR of R.A. 9904, it will promote the
recognition and protection of the rights and roles of homeowners as members of
the society and the homeowner’s association. The rights of homeowners and
HOAs will surely be protected with these new changes. Hence, this will result
in a progressive and sustainable partnership among the members of the
community.
Contributor:
ABCDepgee