PD 957
Also known as: PD957 · PD 957 · Presidential Decree No. 957 · Subdivision and Condominium Buyers' Protective Decree
Definition
PD 957 (Presidential Decree No. 957), also known as the Subdivision and Condominium Buyers’ Protective Decree, is the primary consumer protection law governing the real estate industry in the Philippines. Enacted in 1976, the decree regulates the sale of subdivision lots and condominium units, requiring developers to secure registration and a License to Sell (LTS) before advertising. It establishes strict rules on project completion guarantees, title deliveries, maintenance of facilities, and buyer rights in case of developer default. (Official Gazette)
Identities
| Source Type | Identity |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | Presidential Decree 957 |
| Wikidata | N/A |
| DBpedia | N/A |
| ProductOntology | N/A |
| Wiktionary | N/A |
| Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) | Real estate development — Law and legislation — Philippines |
| MeSH | N/A |
| NCBI Taxonomy | N/A |
| AGROVOC | N/A |
| Google Scholar | Presidential Decree 957 PD 957 subdivision condominium buyer protection |
| ConceptNet | N/A |
| OpenCyc | N/A |
Also Known As
- PD957
- PD 957
- Presidential Decree No. 957
- Subdivision and Condominium Buyers’ Protective Decree
Examples and Analogies
- LTS Requirement: The rule under Section 5 of PD 957 prohibiting developers from selling units before securing a License to Sell.
- Presidential Decree No. 957: The main canonical article details the full legal provisions, history, and buyer refund rights under the decree.
Usage Scenarios
1. Claiming a refund for delayed turnover
A buyer stops installment payments and demands a full refund under Section 23 of PD 957 after a developer delayed project construction. (Source)
2. Registering a condominium master deed
A developer registers the condominium master deed with the Registry of Deeds, conforming to the requirements of PD 957. (Source)
Strategies
- Cross-reference buyer protection rights with the main Presidential Decree No. 957 article for detailed legal provisions.
- Always include a reference to Section 23 of PD 957 in written demands to developers regarding construction delays.
Security and Safety Measures
- Ensure that all condominium and subdivision contracts are registered at the Registry of Deeds to protect your title.
- Never pay reservation fees to developers that cannot present an active PD 957 registration certificate.
Historical Context
PD 957 was signed on July 12, 1976 by President Ferdinand E. Marcos to address the growing number of scams where developers collected money for pre-selling projects and later abandoned construction or double-sold lots. The decree established the first comprehensive regulatory framework for housing projects, placing enforcement under the National Housing Authority, later the HLURB, and currently the DHSUD. (Official Gazette) (Source)
Challenges and Controversies
Enforcing Developer Refunds
Securing actual monetary refunds from insolvent developers under Section 23 remains difficult, often requiring prolonged litigation.
Unlicensed Online Marketing
The rise of social media marketing has made it challenging to regulate unlicensed pre-selling advertisements that violate PD 957.
Related Topic
- Presidential Decree No. 957
- License to Sell
- Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development
- Contract to Sell