Congress ratifies Magna Carta for Homeowners

MANILA, Philippines - Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri announced that Congress has ratified the bicameral conference committee report of the Magna Carta for Homeowners and Homeowners’ Association Tuesday night before both houses went into a three-week recess.

Zubiri said the new law would now be sent to President Arroyo for signature.

The approved Magna Carta of Homeowners and Homeowners’ Association will provide rights and responsibilities to homeowners and lay down the guidelines on the operations of homeowners’ associations.

Zubiri, author of the bill, said the new law would ensure the right of homeowner association members to avail of basic community services and facilities that are due them.

Homeowners are defined under the bill as “not only those living in titled homes and lots in subdivisions but to lessees, awardees, beneficiaries, or occupants in government socialized or economic housing or relocation projects, and even underprivileged and homeless citizens while they are in the process of being accredited as beneficiaries or awardees of ownership rights under the CMP, LTA, and other similar programs.”

Lessees in government socialized housing projects or urban estates and those in communities of underprivileged and homeless citizens are also considered as homeowners for the purpose of qualifying as a member of a homeowners’ association without need of any written consent or authorization.

Zubiri said the rights and benefits of homeowners, both members and non-members of homeowners associations, are enumerated in the proposed legislation.

Likewise, Zubiri expressed hope that the enactment of the new law would “put an end to the confusion on where to register homeowners’ associations,” pointing out that the final version mandates the registration of all homeowners’ association with the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), instead of listing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).