Anthony Leuterio, founder of Filipino Homes, lamented that some developers have had to wait months for LTS approvals despite having long completed the requirements.
The backlog, he added, began when LTS approvals were transferred from local DHSUD offices to the central office.
Bottlenecks
He said the centralization of approvals has created bottlenecks, as the national office has struggled to cope with the volume of applications, causing delays in project rollouts.
The impact, he added, is already being felt across the industry, particularly in the primary market, where developers depend on pre-selling to drive growth.
“Primary sales are very vital to the development of a city. These are projects that offer five- to six-year payment terms, which most buyers prefer so they can afford to own property,” Leuterio said in a statement.
Filipino Homes is the country’s largest real estate marketing network and a comprehensive property solutions platform. Based in Cebu City, it serves as a “one-stop shop” for buying, selling, and renting properties nationwide.
The company is widely recognized for its network of over 35,000 agents and more than 100 offices across the country, with recent expansion into international markets such as Dubai.
Delayed pre-selling
“Developers are crying now. All projects are delayed,” Leuterio said, citing cases where a single developer is awaiting multiple LTS approvals.
Without LTS approvals, developers are unable to legally sell pre-selling units, effectively stalling launches that were originally scheduled for March and April this year.
Real estate agents and brokers are already being affected by the delays. Many rely on new project inventories to sustain sales.
Markets in key growth areas—such as Ormoc, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Davao City, and General Santos—as well as established hubs like Cebu, Bacolod City (Negros Occidental), Manila, Dumaguete City (Negros Oriental), and Bohol, are awaiting new project launches.
Leuterio said the delays could also limit access to affordable housing, particularly for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who often rely on pre-selling projects with long-term payment schemes.
“The Philippines needs new projects. These are affordable and designed for long-term payments, especially for OFWs,” he said.
At the mercy of delays
Although LTS processing has prescribed timelines once requirements are completed, Leuterio said approvals ultimately depend on DHSUD’s prioritization.
He called on the agency to expedite approvals, particularly for developers who have fully complied with requirements, warning that prolonged delays could dampen investment and slow urban development.
“DHSUD must expedite approvals. Developers are now at the mercy of delays,” he said.---Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
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