A series of orientation workshops for Homeowners’ Associations (HOAs) were recently held in the Third District of Negros Occidental for the formation of a Metro Third Housing Confederation.
The workshops were spearheaded by the office of Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District), in partnership with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Region VI office and local government units of the Third District.
The orientation-workshops started in Talisay City on November 21, followed by Victorias City on November 22-23, Murcia on November 24, and Silay City on November 25, a press release from the office of Benitez said Friday, November 25.
The officers of the various homeowners’ associations were briefed on the salient features of R.A. 9904 or the “Magna Carta for Homeowners and Homeowners’ Associations”, its Implementing Rules and Regulations, and requirements for the creation of a HOAs Federation.
Participants were informed about their rights and duties, their relationship with the LGU, and the different functions of attached agencies and bureaus under the DHSUD.
DHSUD Region VI Officer-in-Charge Gelzar A. Almira said the orientation aims to make homeowners fully aware of their rights, obligations, and consequences of their non-compliance.
The workshops will guide and help organize new HOAs and register existing ones for the creation of a City or Municipal Federation of Homeowners’ Associations, Almira said.
He said that once federated, this will pave the way for the formation of a Metro Third Housing Confederation.
“This coming December we will be having a Confederation for the Province of Negros, and this workshop is the first leg of this initiative”, Almira said.
Through the formation of a Federation of Homeowners’ Association, “homeowners, as a People’s Organization, will be given the opportunity for participation, consultation, representation in the government to avail of various housing and community development projects”, he added.
As chairman of the Committee on Housing and Urban Development in the 19th Congress, Benitez has led the initiative to integrate efforts of LGUs to address the housing problems, the press release said.
His advocacy dubbed “Hilway Balay” strengthens the collaboration among the various housing stakeholders in a direction toward providing safe, affordable, and decent housing for the many informal settler families in the Third District, it added.
Working closely to facilitate the week-long training are the DHSUD Region VI staff led by Almira, 3rd District staff led by Housing Consultant Architect Andrew Peñalosa and District Officer Paz Marie Valenciano, and the LGU Housing Officers – Victorias: Ma. Josefa V. Padernal; Silay: Noel Doloriac; Talisay: Arthur Benjamin S. Maramba; and Murcia: Randy Gamboa.
A total of 46 homeowners associations from Murcia, Silay, Talisay and Victorias were represented in the five-day orientation and their formal organization was processed.*