The Manila Times
MANILA, Philippines —The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) on Monday said that it would create an interim poll body in connection with the election of new officers of a village homeowners’ association in Las Piñas City. A ranking official of the agency told The Manila Times the DHSUD’s National Capital Region (NCR) office has been assigned to look into the concerns of the members of the Woodridge Homeowners Association Inc. (WHAI) in Barangay Pulang Lupa. The official said the NCR office will issue an order on Monday for the appointment of an interim committee that will preside over the election. Earlier last week, WHAI members warned that chaos could mar the homeowners’ association election-related proceedings at the Woodridge Subdivision unless the DHSUD stepped in. The WHAI members have called on the department to intervene to stop alleged irregularities by members of an interim electoral body who were recently appointed by the agency itself. Former WHAI president Joselito Chua said the intervention of the DHSUD would prevent irregularities in the election of board members of the village. Chua’s group claimed that the interim board failed to comply with the 30-day requirement for the organization of an election committee (Elecom) as required under Section 8(b) of DHSUD Memorandum Circular 2025-003. “Notwithstanding such lapse, the remaining members of the interim board proceeded with the conduct of a general assembly and election-related activities on April 12, 2026,” the group said. Chua said they filed a formal notice of non-compliance and request for clarification, but “the interim board proceeded with the activity, the election of Elecom members.” Citing a department circular which requires that a majority of members in good standing must constitute a quorum for both general assembly and elections, Chua said only about 18 out of 108 homeowners were present during the assembly called by the interim body. The homeowners also said certain members of the interim body were also running as candidates in the polls, “raising serious concerns regarding conflict of interest, impartiality, and the independence of the election process.” Chua has called on the DHSUD to look into the alleged irregularities in the holding of the April 12 general assembly and declare actions taken beyond the mandatory 30-day period defective.
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