DHSUD to beef up engagement with HOAs to help address woes

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) on Wednesday said it will strengthen engagement and dialogue with homeowners’ associations (HOAs) across the country to help address their concerns.

In a statement, DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said he ordered DHSUD Undersecretary Roman Nicholo Molina and Homeowners Associations and Community Development Bureau (HOACDB) director Ling Rigor to revisit their policies and guidelines governing HOAs.

Aliling stressed the need to improve these policies to help address the concerns of HOAs, which are usually related to the elections and terms of office of its officers and the collection of fees.

“Dapat maging proactive tayo. Bumaba tayo sa mga komunidad upang tulungan ang mga HOAs bilang partners natin. Malaki ang papel nila sa nation-building dahil sila ang nasa frontline sa ating mga komunidad,” Aliling said.

(We should be proactive. Let’s go down to the communities to help HOAs as they are our partners. They have a big role in nation-building because they are at the frontlines of our communities.)

“Through proper information and education, we can encourage HOAs to take an active role to improve their community,” he added.  

The DHSUD Secretary also underscored the importance of educated and well-informed HOAs to maximize their potentials as partners of the government.

“Mahalaga na malaman ng mga HOAs at kanilang mga miyembro ang mga polisiya at guidelines mula mismo sa DHSUD upang malinaw sa kanila ang ating mga regulasyon, at maiwasan ang mga problema at mas maging productive organizations,” Aliling said.

(It is important for HOAs and their members to know the policies and guidelines from the DHSUD so that our regulations are clear to them, and we can avoid problems and help them become more productive organizations.)

There are more than 26,000 registered HOAs and neighborhood associations throughout the country.

Meanwhile, Molina assured that there will be more interaction between the DHSUD and the HOAs at the grassroots level to ensure they are well-informed of the latest regulations and to enable them to contribute in the crafting of new policies.

He added that an intensified information and education campaign regarding HOA matters is also underway.

“Malaking bagay po na well-educated ang ating mga stakeholders lalo na ang mga HOAs upang maiwasan ang mga sigalot at problema. Dapat klaro para sa lahat ang ating mga polisiya,” Molina said.

(It is a great deal to have our stakeholders, especially our HOAs, well-educated to avoid conflicts and problems. The policies should be clear for everyone.) — JMA, GMA Integrated News