CAGAYAN de Oro City — Homeowners’ associations (HOAs) need to clearly account for members’ contributions and show how these funds are used, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD)-10 said as it pushed for stronger financial accountability in residential communities. 

DHSUD-10 Regional Director Paris Raymond Gaballo said HOA officers should make financial records, budgets and spending understandable to members. 

“When a member contributes to the association, they are not simply giving money. They are giving you their trust,” Gaballo said. 

He said proper documentation and regular financial reporting allow members to see how much they contributed, where the money was spent and what it accomplished. 

“When everything is properly recorded, documented, reported, and clearly explained, you can confidently show your members how much they contributed, where the money was spent, and what it accomplished,” Gaballo said. 

“That is transparency. That is accountability. And that is how we build trust,” he added. 

DHSUD-10 raised the issue during a Financial Literacy and Management Workshop for HOA leaders held as part of the opening of National Shelter Month 2026 on Oct. 1. 

The workshop covered financial records, budgeting, fund management and communication with association members. 

Gaballo said DHSUD’s goal is not only to ensure that HOAs comply with regulatory requirements but also to help them function effectively. 

“At DHSUD, we do not simply want HOAs that comply with requirements. We want HOAs that function well,” he said. 

For homeowners, financial accountability can provide a clearer basis for understanding association collections, expenses and projects, while helping reduce disputes over how community funds are handled. 

Gaballo also linked sound financial management to stronger relationships among residents.

“When funds are managed with transparency and accountability, we do not simply build financially sound associations. We build trust,” he said. 

The National Shelter Month observance, held every October under Proclamation No. 662, series of 1995, carries the 2026 theme “Tahanan. Pamayanan. Kinabukasan.”

The observance highlights the need for safe, decent, affordable and resilient housing and inclusive communities. 

Gaballo said the success of housing programs should ultimately be measured by the families served, not only by government permits or housing projects. 

“The true measure of our success is not how many permits we approve or projects we launch. It is how many Filipino families we help provide with safe, decent, affordable, and resilient homes,” he said. 

DHSUD-10 also reported that it and other DHSUD regional offices nationwide had maintained zero overdue regulatory applications for 15 consecutive weeks. 

Gaballo said efficient government service must go together with compliance with regulatory standards. 

He also called for continued cooperation among national government agencies, local governments, private developers, HOAs, housing professionals and other stakeholders in addressing housing concerns. (With a report from Jan Albert K. Araña  of PIA-10)