MANILA , Philippines - The Chamber of Real Estate & Builders’ Associations, Inc. (CREBA) yesterday, in a resolution, hailed the appointment of Vice-President Jejomar C. Binay of the appointment as the next chairman of the Housing & Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC). By agreeing to the offer made by President Aquino to be HUDCC chair, Binay becomes the second vice president to head the agency. Former Vice President Noli de Castro held the same post during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
In a statement signed by national president Florentino S. Dulalia Jr., CREBA said that the President’s choice for new housing czar is not only “timely and opportune” in the midst of current and emerging housing concerns that need to be addressed, paramount of which is an annual housing backlog of four million, but also a “well-made choice” considering Binay’s wealth of experience and strong will for implementation, both as a lawyer and as a long-serving local chief executive of Makati City.
As the highest policy making and coordination body on housing and urban development, HUDCC was created to facilitate access to a variety of housing options that are decent, affordable and responsive to the diverse and changing needs of homeless and underprivileged Filipino families.
Under its wings are the six key shelter agencies (KSA): National Housing Authority (NHA), National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. (NHMFC), Socialized Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC), Housing & Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), Home Guaranty Corp. (HGC) and the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), all of which are supervised by the HUDCC chief as concurrent board chairman.
CREBA maintained that housing and real estate development remains one of the most labour and capital-intensive industries whose effects stretch out to as much as 65 allied industries and professions, making it a pump-priming force in the economy. It is therefore vital for government to focus its attention on housing, and in the process develop the potential of more stakeholders through effective support programs to encourage them to develop new communities and infrastructure, thereby spurring over-all economic activity in as many areas as possible.
Binay shall be the guest of honor and speaker during the Chamber’s 7th Monthly Business Meeting to be held on July 29, 2010, Thursday at the Hotel Intercontinental in Ayala Avenue, Makati City at 7 p.m. During the same occasion, the Vice-President will induct into office the first set of officers and directors of the CREBA Young Members’ Council (CYMC) who are celebrating their inaugural ceremonies.
CREBA is the largest umbrella organization of professionals and entities engaged in real estate development, building and construction, technical consultancy, marketing and other related services. With its advocacy programs and initiatives, it has become government’s strongest ally in pursuing a truly rational and affordable national housing program.