Correcting HGTV Re Foreigners Owning Land in the Philippines

Courtesy of Wayne Cummings



One of the first things you learn from attending a real estate seminar is that foreigners are NOT allowed to own land in the Philippines. Foreigners may buy condominium units only, but their ownership is limited to 40% of the condominium corporation, The same 40% rule applies to co-owned Filipino and foreign corporations and partnerships.

So, I was aghast while watching HGTV show House Hunters Off the Grid : Wayne's World, which featured a foreign family buying a piece of land and building a house in the Philippines. Via Twitter, I sent the producers of the show a link to the Philippine Consulate, which states:

In general, only Filipino citizens and corporations or partnerships with least 60% of the shares are owned by Filipinos are entitled to own or acquire land in the Philippines subject to the following exceptions:

• acquired before the 1935 Philippine Constitution

• acquired by reason of succession or inheritance (parent/s was/were Filipino citizens at the time of their death)

• purchase of not more than 40% interest in a condominium project

•  Former natural-born Filipinos can own land in the Philippines, subject to limitations prescribed by Philippine Republic Act 8179 (for residence purposes- up to 1000 square meters of urban land or one hectare of rural land) and Batas Pambansa 185 (for business or investment purposes 5000 square meters of urban land or three hectares of rural land).

• Filipinos who are married to aliens who retain their Filipino citizenship, unless by their act or omission they have renounced their Filipino citizenship