Housing convention set in Bacolod

The Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Associations (CREBA) and the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) will hold a joint CREBA-HUDCC National Convention at the Bacolod Conventiion Hotel in Bacolod City on Oct. 18-20.

This was announced by CREBA National President Charlie Gorayeb and Secretary Michael Defensor, presidential adviser on housing and HUDCC chairman. Convention theme is "Housing: Key to National Healing and Economic Recovery," it is the prelude to the Housing Summit to be convened by President Macapagal Arroyo on Oct. 30-31 in Manila. Purita Soliven, CREBA vice-president for internal affairs, is overall national convention chairperson.

During the housing policy forum, Defensor will talk on "Housing: Policy and Directions." Rep. Prospero Nograles (first district, Davao City), chairman of the House committee on housing, resettlement and urban development, will discuss the priority legislative housing agenda while Rep. Eduardo Zialcita (lone district, Parañaque City) will talk on House Bill 1300, known as the Omnibus Housing and Urban Development Act which he principally authored.

A Property Development Forum will be held with CREBA Director Techie Bautista as overall coordinator. Speakers on the issue "How Developers are Coping with the Crisis" ate Atty. Anthony Charlemagne Yu, president, Empire East Land Holdings Inc.; Ricardo Pascual, president, Metro Pacific Corp.; Andrew Gotianun, president, Filinvest Development Corp.; Frederick D. Go, chief operating officer-second vice-president, Robinsons Land Corp.; Demetrio I. Posadas, chairman, Fortune Star Construction & Development Corp.; Rafael A. Poblador, president, Satellite Housing Contractors & Development Corp.

Donald G. Dee, president of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, will talk on corporate housing relative to employee productivity, while Wilhelm G. Ortaliz, deputy director-general of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority will discuss "Real Estate Development Opportunities in the Eco Zones."

The other speakers are:

Lt. Gen. Jose M. Calimlim, chairman, AFP Housing Board, the AFP housing program; Ernesto S. Pangan, Department of Education undersecretary for finance and administation, teachers’ housing program; Architect Prosperidad A. Luis, national president, United Architects of the Philippines, Innovative Housing Designs; and Engineer Isidro A. Consunji, president, Philippine Contractors Association, "Infrastructure Development in Support of Housing."

Housing delivery workshops will be conducted with Ms. Rosemarie C. Basa, CREBA public relations officer; and Atty. Cesilo A. Adaza, chair, CREBA Cagayan de Oro chapter, as overall coordinators.

Presentors on housing regulations and requirements are Commissioner-CEO Romulo Q. Fabul of Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, Agrarian Reform Secretary Hernando A. Braganza and Administrator Senecio O. Ortile, Land Registration Authority.

The workshop on housing targets and production will have General Manager Edgardo D. Pamintuan of National Housing Authority, President Angelico T. Salud, National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation; and President Gonzalo Bongolan, Home Guaranty Corporation. Demetrio L. Posadas, CREBA VP-chapter affairs, as facilitator and Engr. Manuel T. Ramos, as rapporteur. Presentors at the housing finance workshop are President-CEO Manuel C. Crisostomo of Pag-IBIG Fund, President Corazon dela Paz of Social Security System, Vice President Teresita S. Liwanag of Development Bank of the Philippines, senior vice President Rodrigo B. Supeña of Land Bank of the Philippines, President Placido Mapa of Bankers Association of the Philippines, and BSP Gov. Rafael B. Buenaventura.

Choy L. Alas and Florante C. Ofrecio of CREBA will be facilitator ad rapporteur, respectively.

Jaime C. Millan, chair of the CREBA Youth, will preside the signing of agreements under the CREBA members with those of others through mutually beneficial complementation.