Shera Secures DTI-BPS Quality Certification Mark, Reaffirming Commitment to Safe, Durable Construction in the Philippines

SHERA, a leading provider of complete home and building materials, has secured the Philippine   Philippine Standard (PS) Certification Mark from the Department of Trade and Industry – Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS) for its flagship fiber cement flat sheet products.

 

The certification covers SHERA’s flagship fiber cement flat sheet products designed for ceiling, wall, and floor applications and distributed across the Philippines.

 

The PS Certification Mark is granted by the DTI to local and foreign manufacturers whose products and quality management systems have passed factory audits and product testing against applicable Philippine standards. The certification provides assurance that products comply with established requirements for quality, performance, and safety. The mark is issued directly to the manufacturer, which is authorized to affix the PS quality or safety logo to certified products.

 

For SHERA, securing the PS Mark also reflects its decision to pursue certification ahead of mandatory requirements for covered products.

 

“While fiber cement products must meet rigorous performance standards, proactively securing the official PS Mark from the DTI Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS) provides clear, independent verification that SHERA products consistently meet or exceed Philippine national standards (PNS). It reflects our dedication to transparency and building long-term trust with Filipino homeowners, contractors, architects, and developers,” said Thunnop Jumpasri, SHERA president, Philippine–Thailand Cluster.

 

In the construction industry, product certifications play an important role in ensuring that building materials meet established requirements for quality, performance, and safety. The PS Mark provides an objective certification that products have undergone factory audits and product testing against applicable standards, including requirements related to strength, durability, moisture resistance, and fire safety.

 

For SHERA’s customers and partners, the certification provides added confidence in the safety, durability, and performance of its products. For trade partners, dealers, and contractors, it can also help support project approvals, compliance with government and commercial project specifications, and the consistent sourcing of certified building materials.

 

With the PS Mark strengthening its position in the Philippine market, SHERA is also looking to further expand its presence nationwide. The company plans to strengthen its supply chain and logistics capabilities while expanding distributor network coverage across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

 

SHERA will also introduce enhanced decorative textures, eco-friendly building solutions, and faster-installation systems tailored to local architectural trends, as well as the needs of affordable housing and commercial developments. The company will continue working with architects, developers, contractors, and trade organizations to promote sustainable, resilient, and safe building practices across the country.

 

This latest certification milestone further reinforces SHERA’s focus on quality, reliability, and innovation in the Philippine building materials sector: “It validates our manufacturing excellence and reinforces our brand promise of Build Better, Live Better,” concluded Jumpasri.

SHDA Welcomes DOJ Opinion Streamlining Land Transfers, Calls for Uniform Guidelines to Accelerate Affordable Housing

07 October 2026, Philippines – With the country facing a critical need for affordable housing, the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA)—the country's premier organization of housing developers—is backing a Department of Justice (DOJ) legal opinion that removes a major bureaucratic hurdle in acquiring land for new communities.

DOJ Legal Opinion No. 16, Series of 2026, states that private agricultural land transactions without an existing Notice of Coverage (NOC) no longer require a Land Transfer Clearance (LTC) from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). The DOJ determined that the five-hectare retention limit, which served as the legal basis for the clearance, ceased to be effective following the statutory cutoff on June 30, 2014, also known as the CARPER Deadline.

For housing development proponents, the LTC has been an added administrative step before land acquisition can move forward. Removing it for unencumbered titles lets developers proceed more efficiently toward title transfer, project financing, permitting, construction, and site preparation. For SHDA, speed does not mean cutting corners. Housing developers remain committed to fully complying with existing national and local laws, including, but not limited to, DAR land use conversion requirements, local zoning ordinances, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) requirements for environmental clearance, and other housing development regulations.

“Predictability in land administration is important to keeping housing projects moving,” said Engr. Francis Richmond Z. Villegas, SHDA Chairman of the Board. “A clear and consistent process allows developers and other stakeholders to make informed decisions, manage project timelines, and pursue investments with confidence. We see this as an opportunity to support a framework that is responsive to the needs of the housing industry  while remaining aligned with existing laws and regulations.”

SHDA members build 80% of the homes produced in the Philippines each year. The association said that reducing transaction costs and administrative delays is a step toward expanding the supply of affordable homes for Filipino families.

Even with the clearance requirement lifted, SHDA said that consistent implementation will decide whether these gains are felt on the ground. To ensure an orderly transition, the association is urging DAR, the Land Registration Authority (LRA), and Registers of Deeds (RODs) to issue joint administrative guidelines establishing standardized procedures and documentary requirements nationwide.

"The DOJ opinion gives the industry legal clarity. What we need now is the same clarity on the ground. Joint guidelines from DAR, LRA, and the RODs will ensure that every office applies the ruling the same way, so landowners, developers, and financial institutions can move forward with certainty," said Mr. Kerwin V. Padua, SHDA National President.

SHDA reiterated its commitment to continued dialogue with government agencies toward a clear, efficient, and predictable land administration framework that supports responsible development and addresses the country's housing needs.