READERS ON DELAYED PROMISES, OTHERS

The Philippine Star
02/12/10

We continue to feature the views of some other readers on issues this column has raised and continues to take on. James Walek, an American married to a Filipina, shares his own experience after reading our column, “Shortchange in Property, Insurance Promises.”

Walek writes: “While the article mentioned does warn/advise prospective buyers of the practices of Empire East, those of us who have already purchased property at Empire East, Bel-air complex in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, have a different problem with them. It seems there is a terribly slow turn-over of the title to properties already purchased.

“We had purchased our lots in Dec. 2008, paid in cash (check) in Jan. 2009, and did not receive our title until October. Our frequent visits to the main office in Makati resulted in nothing but promises. I believe if it had not been for our sponsor and her lawyer friend, we would still be waiting. 

“In conversations with neighbors, some of whom have already paid off their loans for as much as three years, they are still waiting for their title. One neighbor keeps getting the same reply they gave to us: ‘There is an error in the title,’ or ‘It will take six months to get the title from Sta. Rosa.’

Protecting buyers

Still on real estate promises that have fallen short, our next reader who requested anonymity writes: “Empire East agents selling condominium units are everywhere, especially since the company is one of the fastest growing real estate firms in the country now.

“But because these real estate agents are just interested in their commissions, they will exert all kinds of pressure tactics to rush an inquiring buyer to sign on the dotted line. And this is usually where the problems start.

“The real estate agent that I had the unfortunate experience to have dealt with promised me everything before I signed on the reservation form. After paying the reservation fee, I had to badger her to send me all the necessary paperwork that I thought were necessary.

“As it turned out, the Empire East contract did not include a firm turnover date, or for that matter, enough protection to the buyer against anything that could go wrong with the condominium project.

“While the real estate company and its agents need some good lessons in ethics, the proper government agencies and authorities should do their share in making sure that consumer rights are on top of their agendas.

“For starters, can’t the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board whose avowed foremost function is to protect buyers of housing units and home lots, and condominium units against unscrupulous practices in the industry, have a template for contracts that afford buyers with the basic protection against lopsided terms that favor the seller?

“The HLURB should also mandate developers to always post a list of accredited agents and sales people in their offices and to issue valid credentials to their representatives.

“In the case of my agent, after a year running after her for promises that were not being kept, I found out that she had resigned and disappeared. Only then did I learn that she had forged my signature in many of the selling documents that were filed with the company.”

Shortchanged on claims

Reacting to our column entitled “Acts of God”, reader Jade Tulio talks about an insurance claim that had gone awry after Typhoon Ondoy’s onslaught last year. You might have experienced the same. Read on.

Tulio writes: “I am one of those lucky ones who believe in insurance. Our house and contents is covered very comprehensively.

“Unfortunately, we were in the planning stage of having our personal car insured when Typhoon Ondoy stuck so we have another car that is not covered and spare part retailers everywhere are all jacking up the prices of computer boxes, and major parts to take advantage of people who are already grieving the losses of their properties.

“For our house, we are currently having headaches with the insurance adjuster because next week [last week of October], it will already be 30 days since our submission of proof of loss.

“The contents are insured at the amount of P800,000, but we only reported damages with a [total] value of P300,000 – mostly big appliances and antique cabinets that we were not able to carry to the second floor of our house.

“The adjuster just recently informed us that we can only get P100,000 (with the P20,000 deductible already taken out) because he claims most of our stuff are already way beyond depreciation value.

“We were disappointed because a brand new sofa already costs P20,000 in SM, and this amount alone will not cover repainting jobs and repair of other appliances.

“Given the huge budget of the insurance industry, I hope that small house insurance of families will also be prioritized in the budget allocation, and not just big companies, especially if we are just plain employees who counted on insurance for rainy days only to get 30 percent of the value that we hoped for. I hope our rights will also be protected.”

On floodways

Jestar Joe, one of Star’s online readers, commented on the column on “Getting New Floodways off the Ground.” Here is what he wrote:

“Very good recommendation! Expensive, yet it offers probably the best solution, realistic and truly doable. Even the book of Revelation can support the columnist's suggestion for it also alludes the earth, the people or mankind, the only humane effort capable of counter-balancing or containing the catastrophic impact of heavy rain floods against the environs and inhabitants is through ‘swallowing.’

“That's engulfing the rain floods to pass between the mouth and the stomach, or engulfing the overflowing volume of rain floods through passages of complex spillways and floodways all the way to safer and rightful destination.”

On underemployment

And finally, another online reader echoes this column’s concern as discussed in “Focusing on Underemployment.” Global writes: “Now concerning jobs, I wish the government will help people how to start businesses. I would be interested in the food producing industries such as: cattle raising, fish farming, coffee production, shrimp raising, mango farming, and vegetable production.

“We waste so much money importing milk and beef so it’s really beneficial if the government encourages these businesses. The government should encourage everyone to plant vegetables and fruits, basically to produce food to alleviate poverty. We also need to stop our galloping population growth.”

More readers’ comments on forthcoming issues as we tackle issues that affect our daily lives.

Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25th Floor, 139 Corporate Center, Valero Street, SalcedoVillage, 1227 MakatiCity. Or e-mail me at reydgamboa@yahoo.com. For a compilation of previous articles, visit www.BizlinksPhilippines.net