Cebu: The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development's Regional Office-7 (DHSUD-RO7) has clarified that the pending licenses to sell for several real estate developments of Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI) in Central Visayas are due to non-compliant applications rather than regulatory delays.
According to Philippines News Agency, DHSUD-RO7 Regional Director Mark Anthony Lindugan confirmed that the agency issued Notices of Deficiency of Requirements (NDRs) to CLI after identifying incomplete submissions and regulatory discrepancies in their project applications. These discrepancies include issues such as building permit classifications, conversion of Temporary Licenses to Sell (TLS) to Regular Licenses to Sell (LS), and other pending documentary requirements.
Lindugan stated that some projects received NDRs due to incomplete submissions, non-compliance with applicable standards, or the need for technical rectification and referral back to the concerned Local Government Units. The CLI projects affected include North Grove at Pristina Town (Towers 1 and 2), Alto Ranudo, Mirani Homes Bogo, and Casa Mira South Phase 4B.3. The DHSUD emphasized that resolving these deficiencies is the responsibility of the developer.
The clarification from DHSUD follows statements by CLI's Chief Executive Officer Jose Franco Soberano in media reports, where he mentioned the company's decision to defer at least four project launches due to the pending licenses to sell. Soberano highlighted that this delay has led to an 82 percent drop in CLI's project launches compared to the previous year.
Lindugan refuted any assertions blaming government regulators for the delays, emphasizing the agency's commitment to strictly enforcing existing laws and regulations to protect homebuyers and ensure compliance with standards. He noted that the DHSUD cannot approve applications with deficiencies.
The DHSUD central office and its 17 regional offices have maintained a record of zero overdue regulatory applications since June. Under housing regulations, regional offices are required to act on applications within 15 days by either approving, denying, or issuing an NDR, after which developers have 90 days to comply.
