Government-industry partnership sought in housing the poor

President Arroyo has called on the members of the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) to forge a partnership with the government in addressing the country’s housing needs, particularly of the homeless poor.

The President made the call in her first policy forum with the private housing sector during the recent two-day convention of SHDA where she is the guest speaker.

"The success of what we are doing now, and what we intend to do will certainly greatly depend on the vitality and the commitment of you, the private sector, specifically the SHDA members, in meeting the housing needs of our people, especially the poor," she said.

In her speech, Arroyo reaffirmed mass housing as a centerpiece of the government’s economic program, recognizing the shelter sector’s role in making the economy grow faster and in generating a multiplier of economic benefits to the marginalize sectors of society, such as the provision of employment and promotion of entrepreneurial activities.

She also thanked the officers of SHDA, "for holding this important convention. . . where all sectors involved in providing decent housing for our people could put their needs together and find immediate and long-range solutions to the growing shelter need of our countrymen."

The President also cited SHDA’s housing initiatives, including the establishment of the SHDA Guaranty Fund that complements the Home Guaranty Corporation in assuring the sustainbility of housing finance to boost acquisition of affordable dwelling units.

"Now, to address the (society’s) perils, we must give a sectoral bias to balance our economic development. And in giving a sectoral bias to our economic development, we must have a bias towards the needs of the urban poor, a vital part of which is housing," Arroyo added.

Responding to the President’s call for private sector partnership, Mariano D. Martinez, Jr., SHDA national president, assured Arroyo of SHDA’s continuing support in strengthening the government and private sector collaboration for the advancement of the housing industry.