CEBU CITY -- The Accredited Real Estate Salespersons in the Philippines (ACRES) is seeking immediate reforms in the regulatory processes to help professionals provide better service to the country's promising real estate industry.
The plan was disclosed by ACRES interim national president Chris Malazarte during the organization’s first national Real Estate Salespersons Congress held last August 25 in Cebu City.
Malazarte said the group agreed to submit a position paper to government agencies, particularly the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), to appeal for reforms in providing licenses and other regulatory processes that could promote speedy approval and fast releasing of registrations and accreditations.
Composed of over 700 real estate salespersons across the country, ACRES claimed that with the current system, their profession is “overly regulated” with overlapping requirements from the DHSUD and PRC.
ACRES is hoping that the two government agencies would come up with simple and easy regulations and requirements to help more people take advantage of the robust real estate industry.
As an advocacy group, ACRES also plans to work closely with lawmakers in helping them update some outdated laws such as the Real Estate Service Act (RESA) of 2009 or RESA Law.
The RESA Law recognizes the vital role of the real estate service practitioners in the social, political, economic development and progress of the country by promoting the real estate market, stimulating economic activity and enhancing government income in real.
Malazate, together with national officers of ACRES said they believed that there are some parts of the RESA law that are no longer applicable.
Also, ACRES will take a strong position in pushing for the creation of a Real Estate Commission, just like the Insurance Commission for the insurance agents.
Malazarte said ACRES will also work with lawmakers to help draft a bill proposal especially in the standardization of real estate practice in the Philippines, among other concerns.
Real estate salespersons comprise the biggest number of professionals in the real estate service.
Founded in 2021, ACRES is the country’s first and largest organization of accredited real estate salespersons.
The group has already set up nationwide chapters with interim officers in Metro Manila, Makati, Mandaluyong, Camarines Sur, Cavite, Bicol, Sorsogon, Legaspi, Pampanga, Palawan, Tacloban, Ormoc, Bohol, Dumaguete, Bacolod, Kabankalan, Iloilo, Roxas, Aklan, Calbayog, Samar, Leyte, Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Northern Cebu, Southern Cebu, Talisay, Mandaue, Catbalogan, Davao, General Santos, Caraga, Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, Surigao, Ozamis, Dipolog, Pagadian, Digos, Iligan and Gingoog.