House OKs glossary for housing sector

MANILA, Philippines – A bill seeking to standardize definitions of terms in the housing and real estate sector to prevent loopholes and minimize possible abuses of industry players has been approved on second reading at the House of Representatives.

House Resolution 38 aims to prevent confusion in the use of terminologies by housing stakeholders and help deal with various problems besetting the sector.

The bill seeks to list a single glossary of housing terminologies to be used in the housing industry and government agencies, according to House committee on housing and urban development chairman Alfredo Benitez.

It aims to provide a standard definition to 379 housing terms, he added.

At least 15 agencies and organizations involved in the housing sector have agreed upon the definitions, he said.

The lack of standard definition of terminologies has created confusion among various housing programs of the government and the private sector,   increasing housing backlog and slowing down or even derailing programs for affordable and decent housing, Benitez said.

“The basic problem not only engenders divergent interpretation of various housing data, which causes, in turn, an inaccurate appreciation of the housing problems and challenges, eventually resulting in ill-informed planning and inappropriate housing interventions,” he said.

“Many housing terminologies have become technical gobbledygook that have sown confusion and slowed down the development of the housing industry in the country.”

The House and Senate panels on housing recognize the “imperative of formally ordaining and publishing a glossary of significant housing terminologies,” Benitez said.

Among the authors of the resolution are Benitez and Reps. Raneo Abu of Batangas and Joseph Paduano of Abang Lingkod.

“This will standardize the respective definitions of housing terms that will serve as a benchmark for the guidance of the ––legislator and for adherence by the key shelter agencies,” the authors said.