Access to affordable housing remains an important concern for Filipino families, and the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) believes that making land transactions more efficient could help move housing projects forward. The association has welcomed a Department of Justice (DOJ) legal opinion that removes an additional clearance requirement for certain private agricultural land transactions, a development that could support the delivery of more homes across the country.
Under DOJ Legal Opinion No. 16, Series of 2026, private agricultural land transactions without an existing Notice of Coverage (NOC) no longer require a Land Transfer Clearance (LTC) from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). The DOJ explained that the five-hectare retention limit previously used as the legal basis for the clearance ceased to be effective after June 30, 2014, the statutory cutoff under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER).
For housing developers, the removal of this additional administrative step could help reduce delays in acquiring land and preparing sites for development. With fewer procedural hurdles for qualifying transactions, projects can move more efficiently through title transfers, financing, permitting, and construction. These improvements could contribute to efforts to expand the availability of affordable homes for Filipino families.
Engr. Francis Richmond Z. Villegas, SHDA Chairman of the Board, emphasized the importance of having clear and predictable land administration processes. He said consistent procedures allow developers and other stakeholders to make informed decisions, manage project schedules, and pursue investments with greater confidence.
SHDA also stressed that simplifying land transfers does not mean setting aside existing laws. Developers must continue to comply with DAR land use conversion requirements, local zoning ordinances, environmental clearance requirements of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and other applicable housing and development regulations.
The association, whose members account for 80% of the homes produced annually in the Philippines, sees the DOJ opinion as an opportunity to reduce transaction costs and administrative delays that can affect housing development.
However, SHDA noted that the benefits will depend on how consistently the opinion is implemented nationwide. It is urging the DAR, the Land Registration Authority (LRA), and the Registers of Deeds (RODs) to issue joint administrative guidelines that establish uniform procedures and documentary requirements.
SHDA National President Kerwin V. Padua said the industry now needs the same clarity in actual implementation that the DOJ opinion provides at the legal level. Consistent guidelines would help landowners, developers, and financial institutions complete transactions with greater certainty.
SHDA reaffirmed its commitment to working with government agencies and industry stakeholders to support responsible housing development and help address the country’s continuing need for affordable homes.
About SHDA
The Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA), Inc. is a leading industry association for housing and urban development in the Philippines. With 350 members nationwide and eight regional chapters, the organization connects large, small, and medium-sized developers and has worked with housing policymakers and shelter-sector stakeholders for more than 50 years. SHDA members build approximately 80% of the homes produced annually in the country. For more information, visit shda.ph.