Terms of Service - Palawan High Ground

# TERMS OF SERVICE

Last Updated: January 15, 2026

1. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS

By accessing or using the services of Palawan High Ground ("we," "us," or "our"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and all applicable laws and regulations in the Republic of the Philippines. If you do not agree with these terms, please do not use our services.

These Terms of Service constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Palawan High Ground. By using our website, mobile applications, or services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these terms.

2. ABOUT PALAWAN HIGH GROUND

Palawan High Ground is a licensed real estate service provider operating in the Republic of the Philippines. We provide:

**Property Listings**: Marketing and advertising of real estate properties
**Brokerage Services**: Acting as intermediaries between buyers and sellers
**Consultation**: Real estate investment advice and market analysis
**Documentation Assistance**: Support in preparing required documents
**Property Management**: Assistance with property oversight

We are registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and comply with the Real Estate Service Act of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 9646) and the Real Estate Regulations (Res. 96-Series of 2021).

3. ELIGIBILITY AND ACCOUNTS

Age Requirement

You must be at least 18 years old to use our services. By using our services, you represent and warrant that you are of legal age to form a binding contract under Philippine law.

Account Registration

When creating an account, you agree to:

Provide accurate, current, and complete information
Maintain and update your account information
Keep your password confidential
Accept responsibility for all activities under your account
Notify us immediately of unauthorized access

Account Suspension

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms or engage in fraudulent activities.

4. SERVICES PROVIDED

Property Listings

We provide property listings as a convenience to our users. While we strive for accuracy, we:

**Do not guarantee** the completeness or accuracy of listings
**Are not responsible** for errors, omissions, or misrepresentations
**Recommend verification** of all information through due diligence

Brokerage Services

As real estate brokers, we:

Act as intermediaries between buyers and sellers
Facilitate negotiations and property transactions
Assist in documentation requirements
Are licensed under the **Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)**

No Warranties

Our services are provided "AS IS" without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to:

Merchantability
Fitness for a particular purpose
Non-infringement
Accuracy of information

5. USER OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Due Diligence

You acknowledge that real estate transactions involve significant financial commitments. You agree to:

Conduct independent due diligence on properties
Verify all information provided
Consult with legal professionals
Review all documents before signing
Conduct physical property inspections

Prohibited Activities

You agree NOT to:

Use our services for illegal purposes under Philippine law
Post false, misleading, or fraudulent listings
Impersonate any person or entity
Violate property rights or intellectual property
Interfere with our website's functionality
Attempt to gain unauthorized access
Engage in spam or unsolicited communications

6. PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

No Agency Relationship Creation

Use of our website does not create an agency relationship. A formal brokerage agreement is required for us to act as your agent in transactions.

Transaction Process

Real estate transactions in the Philippines typically involve:

1. Letter of Intent (LOI) - Initial expression of interest

2. Reservation Agreement - Secures the property

3. Contract to Sell - Preliminary agreement

4. Deed of Absolute Sale - Final transfer document

5. Tax Payments - Capital Gains Tax, Documentary Stamp Tax, Transfer Tax

6. Title Transfer - Registration with Registry of Deeds

7. Tax Declaration - Update with local Assessor's Office

We assist in facilitating these processes but do not guarantee outcomes.

Foreign Ownership Restrictions

Important Notice: Under the 1987 Philippine Constitution:

Foreigners **cannot own land** in the Philippines
Foreigners may own **condominium units** (up to 40% of total project)
Foreigners may lease land for **50 years** (renewable for 25 years)
Foreigners may own through **Philippine corporations** (up to 40% foreign ownership)

We advise foreign investors to consult with Philippine legal experts.

7. FEES AND PAYMENTS

Service Fees

Our fees are disclosed upfront and typically include:

**Brokerage Commission**: 3-5% of property value (standard industry rate)
**Documentation Fee**: For processing paperwork
**Consultation Fee**: For advisory services

All fees are subject to E-VAT (Expanded Value Added Tax) as per Philippine tax laws.

Payment Terms

Professional fees are earned upon successful closing
Cancellation fees may apply for terminated transactions
Refund policies are disclosed in service agreements

8. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Ownership

All content on our platform, including:

Text, graphics, logos, images
Property listings and descriptions
Software and code
Designs and layouts

Are owned by Palawan High Ground or our licensors and protected by Philippine Intellectual Property Code (Republic Act No. 8293).

License to Use

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use our services for personal purposes.

Trademarks

"Palawan High Ground" and related logos are trademarks registered with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).

9. USER-GENERATED CONTENT

Content You Provide

By submitting content (reviews, inquiries, listings), you:

Grant us a royalty-free, worldwide license to use, display, and distribute
Represent that you own or have rights to the content
Warrant that content does not violate any law

Content Moderation

We reserve the right to:

Review and moderate user-generated content
Remove inappropriate or illegal content
Report violations to authorities

10. PRIVACY AND DATA PROTECTION

Our collection and use of personal data is governed by our Privacy Policy, which complies with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173).

By using our services, you consent to our collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in our Privacy Policy.

11. ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

Consent to Electronic Communications

By using our services, you agree to receive:

Transactional emails and notifications
Marketing communications (can be opted-out)
SMS messages (can be opted-out)
Push notifications (can be disabled)

Electronic Commerce Act

We comply with the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 (Republic Act No. 8792) regarding electronic transactions and digital signatures.

12. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Damages

To the maximum extent permitted by Philippine law, Palawan High Ground shall not be liable for:

**Indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages**
**Lost profits or business opportunities**
**Property damages or personal injury**
**Transaction failures or delays**

Maximum Liability

Our total liability shall not exceed the amount paid for our services, if any.

Waiver

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties. The above exclusions may not apply to you.

13. INDEMNIFICATION

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Palawan High Ground from:

Claims arising from your use of our services
Violations of these terms
Violations of Philippine laws
Infringement of third-party rights
Fraudulent or illegal activities

14. DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Jurisdiction

These terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of the Philippines. Any disputes shall be resolved in the appropriate courts of Palawan or Makati City, Philippines.

Arbitration

We encourage amicable resolution of disputes. Before filing legal action:

1. Submit a written complaint to us

2. Allow 30 days for resolution

3. Consider mediation through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)

Class Action Waiver

You agree to resolve disputes individually and waive any right to participate in class actions.

15. MODIFICATIONS TO TERMS

We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. Changes will be:

Posted on our website
Effective immediately upon posting
Emailed to registered users (for material changes)

Continued use of our services constitutes acceptance of modified terms.

16. TERMINATION

By You

You may terminate your account at any time by:

Contacting customer support
Deleting your account through settings

By Us

We may suspend or terminate your access for:

Violation of these terms
Fraudulent or illegal activities
Inactivity for 24 months

Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

Your right to use services ceases immediately
We may delete your account data
Financial obligations remain outstanding

17. COMPLIANCE WITH PHILIPPINE LAWS

Real Estate Service Act (R.A. 9646)

We comply with all requirements of the Real Estate Service Act, including:

Licensing requirements for brokers
Continuing professional education
Ethical standards and practices
Documentation requirements

Consumer Act of the Philippines (R.A. 7394)

We respect consumer rights, including:

Right to information
Right to choose
Right to safety
Right to redress

Anti-Money Laundering Act (R.A. 9160)

We comply with AMLA requirements for:

Customer identification
Transaction reporting
Record keeping

18. ADDITIONAL TERMS FOR SPECIFIC SERVICES

Property Viewing

Scheduled appointments are required
Cancellations must be made 24 hours in advance
No-show may affect future viewing requests

Property Submission

Submitted properties must be legally owned
Accurate information must be provided
We reserve the right to verify ownership

Newsletter Subscriptions

Voluntary subscription with opt-out option
No sharing of subscriber data

19. CONTACT INFORMATION

For General Inquiries

Palawan High Ground

📍 Location: Palawan, Philippines

🌐 Website: https://palawanrealestate.ph

📧 Email: [email protected]

For Legal Concerns

📧 Email: [email protected]

For Consumer Complaints

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)

🌐 Website: https://dti.gov.ph

☎️ Hotline: 1-384 (DTI 1-384)

☎️ Landline: (02) 8111-384

Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB)

For housing-related concerns:

🌐 Website: https://hlurb.gov.ph

☎️ Hotline: (02) 928-8327

20. ACKNOWLEDGMENT

By using Palawan High Ground services, you acknowledge that you:

1. Have read and understood these Terms of Service

2. Agree to be bound by these terms and Philippine laws

3. Are at least 18 years old with legal capacity to contract

4. Have had the opportunity to seek legal advice

5. Waive any claims against Palawan High Ground for authorized actions

THIS DOCUMENT IS A LEGALLY BINDING AGREEMENT GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES.