ACRES calls for faster licensing to stop colorums

CEBU, Philippines — The Accredited Real Estate Salespersons (ACRES) has asked the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) to address concerns on the delays in the release of the licenses of aspiring real estate salespersons.

ACRES, together with other real estate groups joined in a consultation meeting with DHSUD last August 24, 2023 in Manila, on the proposed amendments to the agency’s issuances on business firms, brokers, and salespersons.

Among those discussed were the proposed revisions on HLURB Board Resolution (BR) 922-14, particularly those affecting the real estate practice.

According to Anthony Gerard Leuterio, founder of A Better Real Estate Philippines, an advocacy coalition and mother organization of ACRES, one of the issues the group highlighted at the meeting was the need for the timely release of licenses of real estate salespersons.

Leuterio said delaying the release of real estate salespersons’ licenses would result in the rise of 'colorum' or unlicensed salespersons.

Before they can sell real estate properties, salespersons would need to secure licenses from DHSUD and the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC). They are also required by the latter to join the online oath-taking.

Leuterio noted that challenge that the industry is facing now is the delay in the release of the licenses which takes some three to four months, while some even wait for eight months. The oath-taking also has a limit of 100 salespersons weekly despite it being conducted online.

“We just want things to be efficient because we are promoting nation-building. We are talking about thousands of salespersons wanting to help the real estate industry flourish. And more importantly, if we are delaying the process, it will create more 'colorum' practitioners,” he explained.

“Selling can’t wait. If somebody wants to buy from you, you can’t ask them to wait for your license,” he added.

According to ACRES, about 80 percent of sales are closed by a real estate salesperson.

ACRES national president Chris Malazarte said that the open forum was an opportunity to commend the DHSUD and to manifest the pains of the salespersons in the country.

“We understand that there is a need for the DHSUD to regulate the real estate practice, and our organization appreciates the efforts of the department to improve its policies by making it more responsive to the climate of the industry today,” Malazarte said.

Malazarte underscored that the policies provided for by Republic Act 9646 or the Real Estate Service Act Law and BR 922-14 are “simple, but the experiences of the salespersons during registration are not simplistic.”

“There must be a way to make the experience more encouraging for aspiring registered salespersons. This will lessen the evil we've been wanting to avoid—'colorum' sales agents,” Malazarte added.

Likewise, ACRES national vice president for Luzon Jeffrey Ryan Sanchez also shared the same sentiments, stressing that the regulators such as the PRC and the DHSUD must focus on its biggest gap—the timely issuance of licenses for aspiring salespersons.

Sanchez said there shouldn’t be a delay in the release of the IDs, especially if sales agents have complied and completed their requirements.

“We, in ACRES, are doing our part in making sure that our members are registered with the PRC and DHSUD, and that they are supervised by a broker as they serve their clients.  We are aligned with PRC and DHSUD,” he said.

Gilbert Monecillo, ACRES national vice president for Mindanao invited all real estate organizations to unite in working on this unending mission of professionalizing and improving the real estate profession, particularly for salespersons.

“ACRES envisions itself to be an organization that contributes to building a culture of integrity and trust among our salespersons.  We invite all salespersons to join us. As we gear towards our mission of creating ethical and compliant salespersons, we are making the Philippines a safer and friendlier destination for real estate investments. This is beneficial for all,” said Montecillo.

“We are also inviting all real estate companies to join hands with ACRES in this campaign,” Leuterio added.

Currently, ACRES has been growing in membership, from accredited real estate salespersons to those who intend to make their real estate sales practice compliant.

ACRES membership now has over 3,000 real estate salespersons nationwide.