Sec. Alvarez reports on climate change and green buildings; Regulatory Board commissioner Bansan Choa expounds on RESA Law

MANILA, Philippines - The National Real Estate Association, Inc., NREA for short, dubbed as The One-Stop Trade Organization, has partnered with the Office of the President Climate Change Commission for the holding of the 1st NREA Regional (CALABARZON) Business Conference and Exhibits on June 26, 2010 at the Tagaytay International Convention Center (TICC), Tagaytay City. The partnership was through the initiative of the CALABARZON leg of NREA.

The event will kick off with a golf tournament at the South Forbes Golf Course and Leisure Club today. A distinguished group of speakers will tackle contemporary issues that impact on our lives. Presidential Adviser on Climate Change, Secretary Heherson T. Alvarez, will speak on climate change, greening buildings and other related topics. Other speakers include Professional Regulatory Board for Real Estate Service Commissioner Bansan C. Choa who will talk about the Real Estate Service Act (RA 9646) or the RESA Law, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Teresita S. Castillo to discuss Climate Change and the Real Estate Industry, Land Management Bureau Director Atty. Allan Barcenas on Patent Issuance, and many others. Arch. Felix A. P alafox, Jr. has prepared a paper entitled “Architecture, Engineering and Urban Planning to Address Disaster Preparedness for Safer Cities, Towns and Communities.”

Licensed and unlicensed real estate practitioners will benefit greatly from the high-impact presentation on the RESA Law that is aimed at providing valuable information and protection from incurring punishments such as 2-4 year imprisonment or a fine of from P200,000 to P400,000, or both fine and imprisonment. It touches on the many changes meant to professionalize the real estate industry that include a new baccalaureate degree on real estate service, new ways of securing and renewing broker’s license, among others, as part of the provisions of the RESA Law whose effectivity dates back to July 31, 2009 and, with the finalization of its implementing rules and regulations, will be fully enforced. The enforcement of the RESA Law, just like that of any other law, shall follow the dictum “Ignorance of the law excuses no one” so educational forums such as this Saturday’s NREA Business Forum at the Tagaytay International Convention Center are a must. This will narrow down cases of possible arrests of people out to try to earn a living trying to sell land, house and lot or condominium unit without a valid broker’s license. It will also guide real estate brokers who need to renew their license on how to go about it under the new law. Attendees of the Saturday event will be given Certificates.

The National Real Estate Association, Inc., now in its 19th year as a partner of the government in shelter concerns, has forwarded a request to the Professional Regulatory Board of Real Estate Service for the business conference to be given credit as part of the required Continuing Education Program.

Meanwhile, developers, government officials and employees will find the two presentations on Climate Change to be delivered by Secretary Heherson T. Alvarez and Undersecretary Teresita S. Castillo most enlightening and a reliable aid in governance.

This event, supported by its media partners and friends, that include the Office of the President Climate Change Commission, Filinvest, SM Development Corporation, Metrobank, Citibank, Asian Bank, Davies, Eton, Newport, Earth & Sky, New Era Realty, Federal Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Rockwell Printing Services (partner of event manager Federal Media Network Phils., Inc.), Choli Manpower Services, Orange and Yellow, Nutri Kuisine, Fucoidan, Automobili, consists of the business conference and one-day exhibit on June 26 at the Tagaytay International Center, a marathon exhibit at Leslie’s One Destination on June 25-27 and a golf tournament at South Forbes Golf Course and Leisure Club at Metro Sta. Rosa City, Laguna.