QUEZON CITY — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on August 7 issued Memorandum Circular (MC) 2024-113, reiterating that the approval of alterations of subdivision plans had been institutionalized as the power and function of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).
Duly signed by DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos, the MC read that although local government units (LGUs) exercise jurisdiction over the application and approval of subdivision plans, “the application and approval of the alteration of subdivision plans has been institutionalized as the power and function of the DHSUD.”
Citing Republic Act 11201 – the law that established the DHSUD in 2019 – and the Supreme Court case Pinon, et al. V. Antolin, the memorandum stressed that the alteration of subdivision plans is not one of the powers of LGUs. As a matter of fact, the now-defunct Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board transferred such function to the DHSUD.
Other regulatory functions devolved to the DHSUD included the issuance of permits, licenses, certificates and clearances, as well as the conduct of monitoring and imposition of sanctions under the mandates of the Department’s Housing and Real Estate Development Regulation Bureau and Homeowners Associations and Community Development Bureau.
“Further, processes and mechanisms related to the application for alteration of plans shall be guided by DHSUD Department Circular (DC) No. 2024-005 Series of 20245 and other guidelines issued by the said agency,” the Memorandum further read.
DC 2024-2005, or the Codification of Requirements, Rules, Regulations and Procedure to Streamline and Standardize the Housing and Real Estate Development Regulation and Homeowners’ Associations and Community Development, was signed on Feb. 14, 2024.
It aimed to not only simplify the DHSUD’s processes in applying for permits, licenses and certificates, but also to synchronize the same with other agencies, particularly the local government units, hence, the avoidance of redundant/unnecessary requirements and bureaucratic red tape.
The DILG regional directors were ordered to disseminate MC 2024-113 to all local government units within their respective areas of responsibility. (DILG)
