The Department of Trade and Industry has released memorandum circular no. 20-22 series 2020 dated May 5, 2020. The memo has a subject “Business Establishments or Activities Allowed to Operate in Areas Declared Under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and General Community Quarantine (GCQ) Pursuant to the Omnibus Guidelines on Community Quarantine as Confirmed and Adopted by the President Under Executive Order No. 112 S. 2020.” Included in the released memo is the inclusion of real estate buying and selling in areas under GCQ.
It was initially publicly announced that under the Real Estate Activities, real estate buying and selling was not allowed in areas under GCQ. Within the day of the announcement, the real estate community shown concern about the pronouncement of the government. Without any further explanation on why the government did not include the real estate buying and selling, various interpretations came out in the real estate community. Most thought it was to prevent the spread of the virus when real estate sellers, buyers, and brokers meet and transact, while others looked at it on the economic outlook and forecast. As this debate within the community transpires, some organizations have taken this opportunity to gather their members’ sentiments and took a stand by writing a position letter addressed to DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez.
The Real Estate Brokers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (REBAP, Inc.) is one of the associations who sent a position letter to the DTI Secretary and appealed to include real estate buying and selling in areas under GCQ. The group emphasized that many real estate service professionals are dependent on the commissions they receive in selling real estate properties and it is their primary source of income. They further informed the Secretary that real estate professionals and their offices will be following the DOH guidelines to prevent further spread of COVID-19. [Read: Real Estate Industry in Naga City during the implementation of ECQ and Stringent Physical Distancing Measures due to COVID-19]
REBAP, Inc. is a group of real estate brokers in the Philippines with more than 37 chapters nationwide.
DOWNLOAD DTI MEMO CIRCULAR HERE: DTI Memo Circular 20-22 S.2020
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