RP architects call for all sectors to focus efforts to help preserve the environment

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Groups of certified architects in the country are calling for all sectors to focus their efforts to help in the preservation of the environment.

With this, the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Association (CREBA) Inc. in Davao, in cooperation with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and other government agencies, is holding a conference on real estate focusing on green development.

CREBA Davao president Carlos Omar A. Vargas said the conference is being held amid the need to push strongly their advocacy of recognizing the need to adopt green development in the real estate industry.

Vargas said the event will be held on October 6 at the SM Event Center of SM City Davao with the theme “Challenges of Global Warming on the Real Estate Industry. Green Development our contribution to the future.”

He said among the topics that will be discussed are the new approaches to green technology and sustainability in the real estate development, planning of sustainable communities, best practices (for real estate developers, local government units and alternative source of energy), and the green financing of the Development Bank of the Philippines.

He said there will be recognition of best practices among builders in the region on green development.

Vargas said such act of recognizing them could perhaps serve as inspiration to others so that their success could be replicated.

As the present state of the environment calls for all sectors to focus their efforts in helping to preserve it, the construction industry is doing its share even as it is considered as the biggest threat to the environment.

Meanwhile, Architect Florizel C. Chavez, manager of Designways Construction and president of Real Estate Brokers Association of the Philippines, Davao Chapter admitted that in construction, lumbers are used extensively.

But there are already substitutions on the use of lumber for scaffoldings to steel. It is now being used in other countries although still in limited scale in the Philippines.

He said there are not enough businesses engaging into this kind of services for rental of steel forms for building constructions aside from the fact that it is expensive on the part of the builder.

Chavez said adopting Green Architecture and Green Building is more expensive but if this is quantified in terms of longer use and the effect to the environment, the impact is advantageous.

He said based on estimate, it could be 20 percent higher in cost of a particular project.

However, he said architects already infused basic green architecture in designs of buildings and houses like the big windows and should be positioned it in the southeast as concentration of more air emanates from this direction.

“Bigger and more windows would lessen the use of light and air conditioning units,” he said.

Also, the collection of rain water is already a part of the new design for houses while septic tank must follow three chambers in compliance with the Clean Air Act, he said.

He said they are extensively advocating the Green Building, and events are held to sustain our education campaign among our members into this endeavor. (PNA) LDV/DDB/lvp

Gov’t to focus on socialized housing projects – Binay

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 21 (PNA) — The government will further lower the interest rates of housing loans for socialized housing packages to allow more people to access housing loans, especially the informal sector at very affordable rate.

 Vice President Jejomar Binay, the country’s Housing czar, announced during the national conference of the Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP) on Friday at Grand Men Seng Hotel here that studies are ongoing to lower the interest rate to 3 percent.

He said current packages offered by the government housing agency of about P400,000 with monthly amortization of P2,300 is not a realistic package for the lower sector but this can be split to packages of P200,000 or P100,000 and with the lowered interest rate the amount for monthly payment could be at P350.

The amount, he said, will only be the cost for the house and the land will be sourced out through the local government units (LGUs) utilizing some of their idle properties through usufruct agreement.

Binay said in administering this kind of project, the developers can be given incentives from the Bureau of Internal Revenue in support to the lowering of cost of business operation.

He said the LGUs will identify the land and put in the roads and they will provide the financing for the construction of houses.

He admitted, however, that there are not enough funds in the government for socialized housing except that of Pag-IBIG Fund even as he said that because the Fund is already tax-exempt, the P2.5 billion savings could be used for projects under socialized housing.

Vice President Binay also addressed the luncheon General Membership Assembly of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCCII) where he said the relationship between government and the private sector is both through cooperation and coordination.

He said business is a continual dealing with the future and they deal not only with communities but the customers and consumers.

“As head of HUDCC, I also ask you to consider investing in building of homes and we should not only build houses for families but homes for families where their bodies could rest, their spirit soar and find love and peace,” he said.

He said this dream could not be possible without the help of the local government units of finding areas where these projects can immediately take off.

“We need to sustain this confidence and we need to show this to the world,” he said. (PNA) scs/Digna D. Banzon/lvp

Big demand for socialized housing, backlogs continue to grow in the country

“There is really a big demand for socialized housing and the backlogs continue to grow in the country’s housing business, according to the Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP).

OSDHP press relation officer Santiago F. Ducay, however said they are hoping the new administration responds quickly to issues– citing for instance that new housing czar Vice President Jejomar Binay vowed to look into the possibility of lowering further interest rates to make housing more affordable.

Ducay said the current interest rates for socialized housing of a package of P400,000 is about six percent.

He said the current backlog by accumulation through the years is at 3.8 million and as the population grows at 2.8 percent about 900,000 new housing units are needed annually. Of the 900 thousand units, 70 percent of this is for socialized housing.

“If the government build 200,000 for socialized housing, the private sector match this with the same number or about 400,000, there’s still a backlog of 500,000,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ducay said their organization supports the call of President Simeon Benigno Aquino III to fight corruption. He said they respond to the challenges of the Aquino government in fleshing out and flushing out corruption in the construction agency.

Linda A. Tan, national president of OSHDP said they had been true to the call and in fact dropped one developer from their rooster for engaging in activities contrary to their principles of sound business operation.

Tan also heads RJ Lhinet Development Corporation, a builder of medium rise buildings and condominium in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Tan was in the city for a two-day housing convention which opened Thursday and ends Friday at the Grand Menseng. Tan said OSHDP polices its ranks and closely monitor their members.

The OSHDP, she said has to date 150 members. Before a developer is accepted, he has to pass a thorough screening and assessment by looking at one’s background and tract record.

Tan said Congressman Rodolfo G. Valencia, House Committee Chair on Housing and Urban Development disclosed he is filing a bill so that the Social Security System will be compelled to implement 30 percent of its investible fund to be dedicated to housing as stipulated in its charter.

She said when this will materialize, there will be more funds for socialized housing and citing the statement of Congressman Valencia that because Pag-IBIG Fund is now tax exempt perhaps the savings of P2.5 billion could be used to fund socialized housing projects.

“It has been the clamor of our sector for the government for sustainable funds to be made available for socialized housing developers,” she said.

On the other hand, Ducay said Congressman Valencia is also supporting the proposal of the housing sector for the creation of the Department of Housing.

The creation of the housing department will upgrade the Housing Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) to a department status.

“Right now processing of projects is quiet difficult as they deal with different shelter agencies. But if there will be a single department, transaction will be uniform with requirements and procedures,” he said.

The Land Use Law is equally important because developers will have concrete guide how and where to locate subdivisions especially so that lands in the provinces are mostly for agriculture and tourism.

In this aspect, Davao is a focused location city because it is ready with its city/municipal land use plan. All this specific concerns needed in the housing projects, will now be acted upon by the Department of Housing, the body that will regulate and issue policies related to housing.

The other concern that Tan raised is for socialized housing developers to be exempt of cash advances when utilities such as light and water will be introduced to the subdivision.

Tan said for the installation of power in the project site would cost them about P120,000 per post. If there will be more than 10 posts, the cost would be P1 million or more and the return of investment will take long because the refund will only be made when connections are tapped and the utility company starts to earn.

She said they do not expect overnight change but they are willing to cooperate with the government to polish and straighten out policies, so that socialized housing is acted upon and more poor people will have access to housing projects at cheaper cost. (PNA) LOR/Digna D. Banzon/lvp

RP’s home builders holds first nat’l confab in Davao City

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 18 (PNA) — About 200 members of the Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP), will hold their first national convention to know the direction of government towards addressing the housing needs of the working class of the country to be held on August 19 to 20 at Grand Men Seng Hotel, this city.Dennis Molina, public information officer of OSHDP Davao said the Housing Czar who heads the Housing Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Vice President Jejomar Binay will grace the convention.

Molina said expected to attend are heads of the government’s Shelter Agencies under HUDCC among them the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), Home Guarantee Corporation (HGC), National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC), Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) and National Housing Authority (NHA).

He said House committee chair on Housing and Urban Development Congressman Roodolfo G. Valencia is guest speaker during the opening and will discuss their legislative agenda while Congressman Romero Federico Saenz Quimbo of Marikina City will discuss the highlights of existing or proposed laws that can simulate a better environment for Philippine housing.

He also said Senator Teofisto L. Guingona III is expected to present the Senate Legislative Agenda.

Meanwhile, Engr. Sol Lagmay, vice president of OSHDP Davao Chapter said they want to know which way the government is heading and a clear cut direction needed especially for socialized housing.

Lagmay said there is a big demand for socialized housing but then there are some concerns that their sector need to thresh out with other government agencies.

Lagmay mentioned that the slow release of Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) of the Register of Deeds (ROD) has a big impact on the processing documents especially with Pag-IBIG Fund because the latter would require the TCT in the takeout of loans and this becomes a nationwide problem.

Lagmay said there is really a big effect in the conversion and take out because from only a number of days waiting period before it will take months even for the issuance of a certified copy of the title although she said they don’t have problem with Pag-IBIG because takeout would only take seven days for as long as the requirements are complete.

She said they even learned that their counterpart in Marikina would rather have the ROD operations are back to manual to ensure a speedy delivery of the required documents.

“I know the problem is temporary but with the voluminous record stored through the years this will take time,” she said.

She said they expect positive updates from the Land Registration Authority (LRA) as the computerized land titling process will also be discussed.

She said there is big demand for socialized housing especially here in Davao saying that if they look at the profile of the working class, this is the sector that needs housing of this type.

She admitted that there are only about seven developers here engaging in socialized housing, the reason of which is the high cost of raw land.

Properties here she said is quiet expensive and developing units for socialized housing compared to low-cost subdivision is almost the same that is why many would rather choose to build low-cost or middle level subdivisions.

She also said socialized subdivisions nowadays are built with amenities unlike before when they only allocate open spaces.

“But we see this as marketing strategy because buyers even for socialized housing already check on what other amenities the subdivision has other than roads and drainage,” she said.

Meanwhile Molina also revealed that they incur losses in terms of financing because their supposed to be collection in that particular period will also be delayed as ROD could not release to them the corresponding titles.

“The amount could be rolled out as additional capital for their project. When ROD implemented their computerization system starting January this year the process of release became slow and the period of waiting is longer,” he said.

The other concern that Lagmay raised is the attitude of the borrower as to their obligation to pay their loan.

She said with the buyback mechanism of Pag-IBIG Fund, they are strict in terms of loan approval because this will become a problem later.

“We would rather do it the right way like conducting a comprehensive background investigation of the borrower to save us from incurring problem in the future.” she said.

She said they welcome this scheme applied by the Fund because it will also protect them — their company, the borrower and the government housing institution.

As to the public-private partnership scheme, Lagmay said the government really must be strict in the implementation so as to avoid another massive foreclosure with a private corporation like the Balikatan Housing Finance, Inc. (BHFI).

“The borrowers must be screened thoroughly and government must also come up with realistic projects where homebuyers are given options that they can really afford to pay based on their net take home pay,” she added. (PNA)

All set for Davao City’s Kadayawan Festival .. Aug 16 to 22

Davao City is all set for this year’s “Kadayawan Festival” celebration again with the public and private sectors working together to come up with a grandiose event despite the limited resources.

 

The Davao City government, along with its private partners, has optimized the resources even as it anticipates a maximum value in return for Kadayawan Festival 2010 or K10.

 

 In K10 the high quality of celebration does not come at a high cost.

 

Rizal Giovanni Aportadera, head of festival secretariat, promotions and documentations, said city mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has appointed city administrator Zuleika Lopez as chair of the steering committee with councilor Al Ryan Alejandre as vice chair for government sector and Engr. Roberto Quinto, vice chair of the private sector.

 

Aportadera said the festival is a yearly activity that Dabawenyos and those of the neighboring cities and provinces and even foreign and domestic tourists look forward as it highlights the rich cultural resources of Davao and the bounty of flora and fauna as well as its food, water and livelihood.

 

Among the awaited events during Kadayawan is the Pamulak, or Floral Float Parade, which is a mobile display of the blooming of flowers and ripening of fruits in creatively decorated floats on parade, showcasing the abundance of vegetation in the region. The other is the Indak-indak sa Kadalanan or street dancing.

 

Committee chair James A. Zimmerman said each year the number of participants increases and new things are featured every time the floral float parade takes the streets of the city.

 

The list of regular participants continues to increase even as he said that there will be both competing and non-competing categories, he said.

 

He said mounting an entry entails big expense compared to the prize that one gets as winner but I think the prize is not their objective of joining but their involvement of making Davao City as a must visit destination of the country.

 

The floral float parade will be on Aug. 22 starting at 8 a.m. with route starting at Magsaysay Avenue to Claro M. Recto Street then to Legaspi and San Pedro streets.

 

The parade will proceed after the Pasasalamat: Thanksgiving Mass at 7:00 a.m. at the San Pedro Cathedral.

 

Mayette Abayon-Ibuyan, chair of the street dancing committee, is optimistic of the successful conduct of this event, saying that participants come from provinces and cities of Mindanao.

She said the regular contingents are among those who will perform this year plus other new entrants making this event exciting, where it showcases the different colors, cultures and traditional dances of the different tribes of Davao and Mindanao.

The street dancing will be held on Aug. 21 starting at 7 a.m. along the streets of C.M. Recto, San Pedro, Bonifacio, Ponciano, Roxas Avenue and showdown will be at 3 p.m. at San Pedro Street.

Other highlights of K10 are the Kadayawan Tabo: Mag-negosyo Ta Day Fair Trade from August 16-22 at the Sangguniang Panlungsod lobby which showcases crafts and crops utilizing principles of fair trade by women’s groups and grassroots small entrepeneurs.

Hulagway or Faces and Places: Davao from August 11 to September 11 at the Museo Dabawenyo where portraits and landscape paintings of Engr. Manuel Mendros will feature Davao City mayors.

The Panagtagbo or Multi-Cultural Performances will be held from Aug. 16 to 19 and 21 at the People’s Park and NCCC Mall. This will feature cultural and traditional dance, music, chants and indigenous crafts and costumes of the 10 distinguished tribes of Davao.

Agri-Trade Fair from Aug. 1 to 31 at SM City Davao Future Development Site which is an annual display and sale of flowers, fruits and livestock and other locally produced products.

Hudyakaan or Street Food and Entertainment is scheduled from Aug. 16-22 at Bolton Steet at 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. It is a street revelry of foods and drinks with nightly concerts by local and national bands.

Kadayawan Tiangge sa Chinatown will be from August 20-22, Unity Arc at Ramon Magsaysay Avenue where street bazaar will be featured of various local and imported merchandises sold at bargain prices.

Dayaw or Kadayawan Opening Rites will be on Aug. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Rizal Park the official launch of the Kadayawan Festival Celebration.

It will be followed by the Hiyas sa Kadayawan at 8 p.m. at the Davao City Recreational Gym. It is a search for the Festival Gem, the indigenous lass who is knowledgeable of her indigenous culture and wisdom, through a pageantry of Mindanaoan myths and legends.

The Kadayawan 2010 celebration among others will also focus on the 10 keys namely Harmony in Diversity, Strong Governance, Community Support, Peace and Security, Sustained Abundance, Gender Sensitive, Dynamic Geography, Health and Wellness, Emergency Ready and Optimized Resources Maximum Value. (PNA)
RMA/Prix Digna D. Banzon/lvp

source : www.pagibigfund.gov.ph

PAG-IBIG LOAN APPLICATION GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

a. If Employed or Self-employed:

* Community Tax Certificate

* Proof of Billing (original)

* T.I.N. (Tax ID Number)

* Latest pay slip of borrower and spouse (original)

* 2 pcs HDMF Premium Contribution Certificate (original)

* Marriage Contract or Birth Certificate (Photocopy)

* W2 BIR form (photocopy)

* 2 pcs Notarized Certificate of Employment with Compensation (original)

* Post dated checks for down payment

* 24 month Pag-ibig contribution for members. For non-members, pay 24 months contribution upon reservation

b. If OCW:

* All of the above plus the following:

* 3 pcs Notarized Special Power of Attorney (SPA)

* Income Tax Return and W2 confirmation receipt for the last 2 years immediately preceding date of loan application

* Notarized Employment Contract and Employer’s Certificate of Income duly certified by employer.

Note: All original

BANK LOAN APPLICATION GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

a. If in the Philippines:

* Income Tax Return (latest)

* Certificate of employment with compensation

* Business Permit (if self-employed)

* Community Tax Certificate

* T.I.N. (Tax identification Number)

* Bank Statement (for the last 6 months)

* Marriage Certificate (if married) (Photocopoy)

* Proof of Billing

* Post Dated Checks

Note: All original except marriage certificate, Business Permit, Community Tax Certificate.

b. If Borrower is permanently abroad:

* Federal Income Tax Return (latest)

* Bank Statement (for the last 6 months)

* Special Power of Atty. (SPA) (consul authenticated)

* Certificate of Employment with compensation (consul authenticated)

* Proof of remittance

* Business Permit (if self employed)

* Marriage Certificate (if married)

* Post Dated Checks

Note: All original except marriage certificate

IN-HOUSE FINANCING APPLICATION GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

In-house financing requirements is similar to bank financing.

Homebuilder offers high-end living @ affordable rates

by Prix D. Banzon
Davao City  — The Chula Vista Residences is now ready to accept buyers wanting to experience high-end living with acquisition cost at affordable rate.

Over the weekend was also the inauguration of its Grand Entrance Gate and Guardhouse at Cabantian, Buhangin, Davao City where the ribbon cutting ceremony was led by Pag-IBIG Fund vice president for Southern Mindanao operations Jose W. Banzon, Jr. and Hemeni Land Corporation (HLC) vice pesident and chief operations officer Andrea Leah V. Romero with HLC officer-in-charge Abigail Tao and Pag-IBIG Davao branch manager Rodrigo Suemith.

The project consists of 430 house and lot packages in an 8.5 hectares property where it is equipped with amenities like club house, swimming pool, sports facilities and parks and playgrounds.

Romero in her briefing said it also has concrete roads and excellent drainage system with perimeter fence and 24-hour guarded gates. Supply of water and power is excellent tapping both the Davao City Water District and Davao Light and Power Company, Inc. processing plants and others businesses.

She said they have designed seven model houses of either bungalow type and two-floor housing units for the buyers to choose from depending on their need.

“We do not impose on them and it’s always the buyer’s choice considering that our aim is to build a community where families could experience the vibrant and rich scenery of the place,” she said.

She said their company has been proactive in all its design features to give homeowners an ideal living environment.

Romero said the Chula Vista is intended for the middle income group who has the capacity to acquire property estimated to cost at close to two million pesos for the house and lot package.

With their initial offering she said about 40 percent of the site already has confirmed reservations of mix buyers and a good number of them are overseas Filipino workers.

“We also noticed that 80 percent of those who placed inquiries with us are Pag-IBIG Fund members who are interested to acquire property through the government financial institutions,” she said.

Pag-IBIG Fund offers among others house and lot package with a much lower interest rates based on the following bracket, over P1 million to P1.25 million at 9.5 percent interest rate, over P1.25 million to P2 million at 10.5 percent and over P2 million to P3 million at 11.5 percent.

Maximum amortization period of 30 years for a package of P1 million carries a monthly amortization of P7,689.13, P1.25 million at P10,510, P2 million, P18,294.79 and P3 million at P29,708.

Romero said they noticed that more Pag-IBIG Fund members are interested especially with the lowering of interest rates of real estate loan with the Fund.

Meanwhile Romero said they also partner with private banks like Banco de Oro and they intend to team up with Metrobank and Union Bank.

Chula Vista Residences is developed by HLC Group which is backed by over 25 years of experience and numerous successful housing projects and real property developments in Davao City, Tagum City, Panabo City, Digos City, Butuan City, Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte.

Like the other developers, HLC also caters to buyers from out-of-town cities and provinces within Mindanao.

She said home buyers would prefer their locations nearer to their place of work and these are also the market that they cater. Transportation cost is also a big portion of the day to day expense of the workers that is why they want to cut on travel from home to work.

As this developed she said their company is working on a low cost housing project within a 40 hectares property at the northern portion of the city in Malagamot, Panacan, Davao City.

The HLC Group is optimistic of the real property business this year that matches with the government planners’ projection that in Davao City real estate will still be the driving businesses in the economy this year. (PDB)

Housing developers hold national confab in Davao City on Aug.19-20, 2010

Manila (PNA) – The Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP) will hold its first ever National Convention on Aug. 19 – 20 at Grand Men Seng Hotel in Davao City, OSHDP president Linda A. Tan said Friday.

OSHDP is an assembly of private developers and allied interests nationwide involved in the development of socialized and low-cost housing.

Through the years, OSHDP has gained recognition from both the government and the private sector for successfully carrying its advocacies.

To boost the momentum and the gains that the housing sector has achieved in pump-priming the economy, the OSHDP Convention will focus on the theme: “Sulong Pabahay, Ginhawang Buhay”, A Stronger OSHDP – Government Partnership in Leaping Forward Through Socialized Housing.

The event will serve as an avenue for newly appointed government officials to share their views and their agency’s policies and programs affecting the sustainability of the real estate and housing sector.

All major stakeholders in the housing industry are invited to attend. The convention is expected to provide participants with excellent opportunity to be updated on relevant shelter issues, share insights and network with like-minded professionals in the real estate business.

The convention coincides with the week-long local celebration of the Kadayawan Festival in Davao City.

As such, participants are encouraged to extend their stay in Davao for a weekend of fun and entertainment. Separate local festivities and activities are being arranged specifically for convention delegates. (PNA)
RMA/JCA

ONB posts P7.4B in deposits for first semester of 2010

One Network Bank (ONB), the widest banking network in Mindanao, posted a growth in the volume of deposits for the first six months this year amounting to P7.4 billion.ONB President and Chief Executive Officer Alex Buenaventura said the increase grew by 26 percent compared to the volume of deposits of the same period last year with only P5.9 billion.

Buenaventura attributed this to the country’s resiliency and Mindanao’s agriculture business that has improved over the years and has been benefiting the banking sector.

He said the increase in deposits of about P1.5 billion came mainly from savings depositors who contributed an additional P900 million or 29 percent increase against last year’s. There are about 590,000 accounts for the small depositors as of June 2010.

Buenaventura said over the years, an average of 5,000 new accounts has been opened mostly by small depositors either through the affordable “PeraAgad ATM Pinoy Card” of only P100 or the affordable Regular Savings Account also of P100 for the opening amount.

He added the time deposit is also a major contributor to the increase in deposits which contributed P600 million, up by 34 percent from last year’s level.

He said this could be explained mainly by the placements from big depositors or high network clients who have now developed the confidence in trusting their money with a big rural bank.

On the other hand, Buenaventura said the outlook for the second half of the year in terms of net income is much better than actual performance in the first half.

He said the point of view is mainly due to the projected more aggressive lending under the Department of Education (DepEd) Salary Loan Program and One Business Loan Program.

The product features and delivery systems of both programs have recently been enhanced to be more competitive against other banks who have taken out market share from ONB over the last year of less P400 million, or six percent in ONB loan portfolio.

Given these drivers, Buenaventura said ONB accumulates P136 million net income within the first half of this year.

This represents a big 32-percent increase over last year’s net income of only P103 million.

“With our theme for year 2010 ‘The Big Bank in Countryside Mindanao’, now with 75 branches, we are greatly inspired by ONB’s new-found trust and patronage from new big depositors from all over Mindanao,” he said. (PNA)
LDV/DDBanzon/lvp

VP Binay bares his vision and plans as Housing Czar …

www.pna.gov.ph

Manila Aug. 1 (PNA) – Vice President Jejomar Binay said he envisions providing Filipino families with quality homes and communities, not just mere houses and neighborhoods.“My vision for the housing sector is simple –to provide families not just with the infrastructure of a house, but the framework of a home; to build not just a neighborhood, but a real harmonious community,” the country’s housing czar said.

Binay, who was appointed by President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III as the chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), disclosed his plans before members of the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Association (CREBA).

With this, he aims to gain the support and empower the local government units (LGUs), adding that it is important for them to have an active role in the planning and implementation of housing programs.

“They [LGUs] are in the best position to provide the inputs we need in ensuring that our housing programs truly address the housing needs in the locality. They are also in the best position to help us achieve our vision,” Binay said.

The Vice President also plans to develop an investment-friendly business climate for the housing sector, as he targets to solicit support and build strong partnership with the private sector in the implementation of localized housing projects for the poor.

“I will likewise seek to simplify the procedures and reduce red tape in the processing of housing loans, registration and issuance of land titles, and housing permits both at the national and local levels; give incentives to participating private donors; and rationalize the housing finance and subsidy framework for housing and urban development,” he said adding that this was consistent with President Aquino’s promise of a government responsive to the needs of ordinary Filipinos.

Binay said he also intends to strengthen the implementation of the asset reform program involving the utilization of idle and underutilized government lands, and to require the online publication of all projects and loans granted by the key shelter agencies.

“We can and we will succeed in building homes, and not just houses; in providing lasting opportunities, instead of temporary dole-outs; and transforming our seemingly forgotten human resources into productive members of the society,” he added.

Recently, Binay tapped the services of actor Robin Padilla to serve as his housing “ambassador” in Mindanao.

Binay said Padilla’s Muslim background will help the HUDCC address the housing shortage in Muslim communities.

Aside from the HUDCC post, Binay also asked Padilla to help promote membership in the Pag-Ibig Fund, especially among overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). (PNA)
LDV/CLTC