Thursday, March 13, 2008 Group urges real estate brokers to acquire license By Joy Romares-Sevilla
THE Davao City Association of Real Estate Practitioners Inc. has urged real estate brokers in Davao City to acquire their own license, as it prepares for the Comprehensive Real Estate Seminar slated next month.
Genoveva E. Pajes, the association's vice president for internal affairs, said in Wednesday's edition of the Club 888 press forum at Marco Polo Davao that the objective of the seminar is to turn real estate practitioners into professionals.
"The topics to be discussed in the seminar are prescribed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Our foremost concern is for the public to be protected from dishonest and incompetent real estate practitioners," Pajes said.
Pajes said the conduct of the seminar is pursuant to the DTI's Administrative Order prescribing new requirements for the licensing of real estate brokers, real estate appraisers, and real estate consultants.
The Department Administrative Order (DAO) released by the DTI, a copy of which was obtained by Pajes, provides that "while real estate practice requires special knowledge which pertains to the expertise necessary for the practice, the current regulations requires education without distinction as to course, degree or curriculum as one of the prerequisites for the entry to real estate practice."
It adds that "it is necessary that a special course like comprehensive seminars be made mandatory to all applicants of licensure examinations for realty service practice."
"There is no course yet on real estate that's why we will conduct the seminar. All real estate brokers will also be given examination by the DTI in coordination with the Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC), if the real estate broker will pass the exam, he will eventually get his license," Pajes said.
The seminar will be on April 5, 12, and 19, 2008 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will be held at Chippens Buffet and Restaurant on Paseo de Roxas, Davao City.
"The registration fee is P4,500 to cover a real estate latest edition handbook, buffet lunch, morning and afternoon snacks and a certificate of attendance," Pajes said.
