Here at Whitestone Holdings (including its employees, agents, consultants, or other personnel), we respect your privacy and are committed to safeguarding your personal data. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and protect your personal data when you interact with our website and avail of our services, in compliance with Republic Act No. 10173, also known as the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (the “DPA”). Any information you provide to us indicates your express consent to our Privacy Policy.
1. What Data Do We Collect?
To perform our services and as part of our transactions and dealings, we may collect personal data and information from you, including, but not limited to, the following:
Personal Information: Name, birthdate, nationality, civil status, gender, ID details, email address, residence, phone number, office and mailing address, Tax Identification Number, when you fill out a contact form, reservation/inquiry form, offer to buy, intent to lease, subscribe to our updates, as part of our transactions and dealings with you.
Financial Information: Credit card information, bank account information, and other payment details when you make a reservation, submit an offer to buy or intent to lease, or payment to avail of our products and services.
Technical Information: IP address, device type, browser type, browsing, and social media behavior on our website or when you tag or mention us on your social media accounts.
Other Information: Any additional data you voluntarily provide to our sales, operations, legal, and marketing teams to update your personal data or information on record; in relation to your inquiries or requests made to our employees and/or agents; when you visit, interact, and connect to our website and social media pages; or any other event or activity that may be similar or related to any of the foregoing.
2. How Do We Use Your Data?
Your personal data may be used by Whitestone Holdings, its employees, agents, consultants, or other personnel handling your transactions, services, or requests, for the following purposes:
To provide and manage our services, including processing reservations, sale and lease of properties, and payments.
To communicate with you regarding your reservations, inquiries, or other services.
To process any offer to buy, intent to lease, or application, and conduct due diligence for, and documentation of, our transaction.
To send you promotional materials, updates, and information about our properties, services, and listings.
To enhance and improve our website, services, and customer experience.
To comply with legal and regulatory obligations, including those under the Data Privacy Act of 2012.
3. How Do We Protect Your Data?
We implement appropriate technical, physical, and organizational measures, such as limiting access to personal data and information on a need-to-know basis, to protect your personal data from unauthorized access, unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction, or damage. These measures are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure the highest standards of data protection.
4. Who Do We Share Your Data With?
We do not share your personal data with third parties, except when necessary to:
Provide our services to you, including financial, administrative, technical, and ancillary services (e.g., payment processing, payment of taxes and other necessary fees, transfer of ownership of property, registration of lease, etc.).
Comply with laws, rules, or regulations that require us to disclose your personal data and information.
Protect the rights, property, or safety of Whitestone Holdings, our employees and agents, clients, or others.
5. Your Rights
Under the Data Privacy Act of 2012, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
Right to be Informed: You are being informed that your personal data and information are being processed.
Right to Access: You may request access to and a copy of the personal data we hold about you, the manner and reason for data processing, how the data and information were obtained, and by whom it is being processed.
Right to Correction: You may request the correction of any inaccuracies in your personal data unless the request is vexatious or otherwise unreasonable.
Right to Suspend, Withdraw, Erasure, and Blocking: You may request the suspension, withdrawal, removal, deletion, or order the blocking of your personal data under certain conditions provided under the DPA.
Right to Damages: You may be indemnified for any damages sustained due to such inaccurate, incomplete, outdated, false, unlawfully obtained, or unauthorized use of personal information.
Right to Object: You may object to our processing of your personal data, including processing for direct marketing purposes.
Right to Data Portability: You may request a copy of your personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond to your request in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
6. Cookies
We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. Cookies help us understand how you use our site and improve its functionality. You can set your browser to refuse cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent. Please note that some parts of our website may not function properly if you disable cookies.
7. Retention of Data
We retain your personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy unless a longer retention period is agreed upon by the parties to a contract, or as required or permitted by law. We will securely delete or anonymize your data when it is no longer needed.
8. International Data Transfers
If your personal data is transferred to and processed in countries outside the Philippines, we ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable laws.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically by posting a new version on our website. We encourage you to review this page regularly to stay informed of any changes. Significant changes will be communicated to you directly, where possible.
10. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, your personal data, or our data protection practices, please contact us at: