Lancaster Residences Factions and why Unity is a Requirement

In every community, we can't deny that there are always divisions due to different principles, ideals, and preferences. In Lancaster Residences alone, if a neighborhood association is to be taken in consideration, there are three existing organizations. In this article, we will pinpoint each of their histories, why factions have shown up in the first place, why unity is needed and why unity must be attained at all cost.



In Lancaster Residences, there are three factions. The first faction of which is the Block Representatives which were proclaimed by the developer, Pro-Friends as its homeowner bloc for its Lancaster Estates Homeowners Assocation or LEHOA; the second is the One Lancaster Lane Neighborhood Association, and the last is Lancaster Residences Unit Owners Association or LRUOA.


1. Lancaster Estates Homeowners Association (LEHOA) Block Representatives

The Lancaster Estates Homeowners Association is the only Homeowners Association (LEHOA) registered on HLURB with license no. 14191. And was registered November 2009 as a legit HOA for Lancaster Village 1, Village 2 East and West, and Residences phases 1-7. The LEHOA is handled by the real-estate developer, Pro-Friends, via its 5 directorial seats. This association has been marred with controversies and issues due to bylaws drafted and implemented without consultation and approval of the homeowners which paved way to the organization's operations backbone through implementing dues without consultation from its members and proclaiming block representatives from the homeowners in the absence of election. This bylaw has paved the way for the real-estate developer to handle the HOA and its executive functions; and its proclamation of block representatives.

Through our research, and consultation with one of the block representatives, their group only composed of block representatives from Lancaster Residences 1 and 2. Even some of the members are also members of the other organization, the One Lancaster Lane Neighborhood Association and LRUOA.

The block representatives never had decision-making power due to the setup of LEHOA through its bylaws. Technically, through questions asked, that what they only do is to disseminate the decisions of the Village Administrator which is a Pro-Friends employee and a non-resident of any of the subdivisions under the jurisdiction of LEHOA. However, what they enjoy is the privilege that they are close with the developer.

Unverified rumors also say that they receive funding from the developer and when they do, they effectively disseminate the information coming from the Village Administrator; and if they don't, they decide to keep quiet on it.

LEHOA Leadership

2. One Lancaster Lane Phase-I, Alapan II-A Residence Neighborhood Assn. Inc.

Little is known about this neighborhood association except for their signage at Beech corner Residences Avenue and some of its trash cans marking neighborhood association name. This neighborhood association is registered under Securities and Exchange Commission as a cooperative but is not registered in HLURB as a homeowners association last 2010. Their proclaimed jurisdiction is limited to Lancaster Residences Phase 1 and their officers are proclaimed amongst themselves but have already disbanded since early 2011. And so there are no more projects and the only active and visible component of this organization is its president.

3. Lancaster Residences Unit Owners Association, Inc. (LRUOA)

This organization is an active organization that was registered last 2012 in SEC as a cooperative non-profit organization but has not been given by HLURB a registration as a homeowners association. Their group was a renamed organization from the ADHOC committee which has been prevalent in Lancaster Residences since early 2011. Their current officers was due to an election participated by over 300 unit owners of Lancaster Residences from its various phases. Even way back 2011, their group was an active social worker in the community. Acting as a voice to the homeowners to the real-estate developer which in turn, the developer does not recognize and consider as nuisance. They also act as petition requesters to the Barangay for projects in case the developer through LEHOA does not listen to its requests. Their group is responsible for petitioning in lighting up the village when it is not yet available, aided garbage collection from the barangay when the one provided by the developer is insufficient or does not arrive. They are also responsible for declogging the man-made creek during the flooding of 2012 when the developer has not sent any; nightly ronda of police for the implementation of curfew for minors but later was stopped as the developer did not allow the entry of the police; aerobic sessions, etc.

This group is also responsible in requesting HLURB for a segregation from LEHOA and to minimize HOA dues and to stop using the water utility, Southlink, as the collecting agent for HOA dues. However, all fell in deaf ears from HLURB and the developer.

Current Situation of Lancaster Residences

Realizations

Looking through each of their history, the block representatives came up from a call by the real-estate developer during the early years of Lancaster Residences. Hoping that they can do something good for the community, they volunteered themselves. However without knowing the laws regarding homeowners association, they did not know what was coming up to them. Due to the structure of LEHOA through its bylaws that are already in implementation status even before LEHOA had its officers, the block representatives do not have decision-making power in the homeowners association. Instead they became "messengers" of the developer handling LEHOA for the decisions they pursue to be implemented in the community. And due to the insufficiency or single-sidedness of the bylaws to which most if its benefit is for the real-estate developer rather than the homeowners, the residents' tendencies is to build a feeling of grudge against the block representatives.

Thus, One Lancaster Lane Neighborhood Association came up as a result to fill-in the gaps for Lancaster Residences Phase 1 but eventually became useless as well due to the fact of insufficient involvement from phase 1 homeowners and not being able to have an HLURB license to operate as a homeowners association. Their group, in just a few months, fell; leaving its president as the sole visible entity of this group.

In the continuous absence of a voice of the homeowners and the insufficiency of services given for the homeowners by the developer, the ADHOC Committee emerged (which eventually became LRUOA) and remained to be the long standing organization known to side with the homeowners with multitudes of services to the community including its opposition to the LEHOA and its policies after all of the attempts to talk to the real-estate developer failed. As they continuously hold meetings to know the homeowners' sentiments before working on an issue, LRUOA holds the support of most (if not all) of the homeowners of Lancaster Residences.

Conclusion

As for the realization above, there is only one issue and the root cause of all: Factions came up due to the insufficiency of services supplied by the real-estate developer, Pro-Friends and continuous handling of the homeowners association through LEHOA.

Even if you elect your officers but the decision-making and directorial positions is still owned by the developer, the officers you elected will remain to be empty handed as what the block representatives are until today.

And because they will remain empty-handed and helpless, even if untrue, the homeowners would think that these elected officers is in connivance with the developer for being in the position yet nothing is happening. The issue will just go in circles.

Solution:

As the saying goes, "In unity, we stand. Divided, we shall fall."; and using Julius Caesar's political strategy of "Divide and Conquer", the real-estate developer has successfully and continuously gains power over the homeowners of Lancaster Residences through its LEHOA. This is amidst its seemingly illegal nature when the law prescribes that a real-estate developer must not manage and handle the homeowners association (see LEHOA Bylaws, RA9904 and PD957).

If the homeowners of Lancaster Residences would like to see a lasting change and to handle the homeowners association (the way it must be), do not allow yourselves to remain divided. Instead unite for a common cause. And do not expect the real-estate developer to start this change as the unity will do them no good (see Estimated Collections of LEHOA). In fact the developers knew that their responsibility is to spend for the basic utilities of their real-estate project until a homeowners association is put up by the homeowners, yet they chose to establish their own LEHOA to get money from its own customers, the homeowners. (see Homeowners dues illegally collected by the developer).

With this, the incumbent block representatives, One Lancaster Lane Neighborhood Association (or what must have been left of it), and LRUOA to meet amongst themselves, unite and lead the community for a lasting change... settle your differences for the community!  While paying homeowner members of LEHOA to show up and declare the bylaws and incumbent directors of LEHOA who are all employees of Pro-Friends and non-residents, as invalid and open for elections (as prescribed by RA9904). Once that is done, the community may now democratically elect the board of directors for LEHOA from homeowners as well as what the law demands.

It is time for the homeowners to stage a lasting change and choose the future of the community. If we all decide to remain quiet and play safe, do know that through the current bylaws of LEHOA, the developer has a lasting grip to the homeowners association. Tayo po lahat ang talo dito kung hindi ito gagawan ng paraan.

So instead of liking and responding, "We are at your back.". It is better to say, "We are together with you, what can we do for our community?"

Ang Homeowners Association ay marapat lang na hinahawakan ng homeowners at hindi ang real-estate developer.

The ideal and legal homeowners association without real-estate developer involvement.

What will happen if the homeowners continue to be in the middle ground and play a "waiting game"?

Without active participation and support of the homeowners, your leaders will not have the capacity to fight further for the rights of the homeowners; as they would see that they will only be left behind in case the developer plans of a counter-charge against them. The developer will see this as an opportunity due to the "divide and conquer" philosophy. Thus the scenario we have today in the homeowners association will continue. The real-estate developer will continue to be in power to dictate the homeowners association more for their benefit instead of the homeowners benefit. The money the homeowners pay will go to disbursements that will remain a mystery. If this attitude will continue, the community will remain to be in disaster: Forever divided, and will continue to be a victim of opportunism to which you and your future generations (your children) will bear and suffer in years to come.