DUBAI: Top officials of developers in the Philippines yesterday advised overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) buying properties to declare their real marital status to avoid running into problems with the law on conjugal ownership.
“Kapag nagdesisyon ka ng bumili ng property, importante na i-consider mo ang marital status because of the laws governing the transaction,” said Manuel Arbues II, Regional Head for North America and the Middle East ng Ayala Land International Sales, Inc. (ALISI), the sales and marketing arm of one of the Philippine’s leading property developer, Ayala Land Inc. (ALI).
“Kung may asawa ka sa Pilipinas, considered na legally married pa rin kayo, yung property na i-a-acquire mo is still considered conjugal property. So, merong karapatan yung asawa mon a nasa Pilipinas. Pareho kayong may karapatan kahit pa sabihing ikaw ang nagbabayad dahil asawa mo sya,” he added.
Echoing Arbues’ advice, John Frederick Cabato, senior vice president and head of sales and marketing at Federal Land said OFWs should state the truth about their marital status as the law so reguires.
He said there have been instances where OFWs do not state their real marital status which in return causes problems with the property acquisition.
“Minsan nilalagay single pero actually married sya,” he said.
Ayala Land and Federal Land are two of eight major developers participating in the ongoing 7th edition of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition at JW Marriott Deira which is now on its second and final day.
Other developers, including Greenfield Development Corp., have rolled out special promotional offers exclusive to OFWs attending the event.
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