CREBA thanks GMA, cites industry partners

The Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Associations (CREBA) yesterday thanked President Arroyo for her sincerity in prioritizing the housing program and the government’s housing agencies for continuing to support the private sector efforts in housing development.

"It has been a year of continuing struggle for the industry, the government, and the homeless families out there, the poor and the middle-class families," said CREBA national president Charlie V. Gorayeb in a year-end statement.

"However, despite the enormity of the housing problems amid the overall economic crunch facing the nation," Gorayeb said, "there is much to thank God for." He cited the common government-industry effort in the fight against homelessness.

The CREBA and various industry organizations joined hands last week in forming the Private Sector Consultative Council for Shelter (PSCCS) to boost the strategic partnership of industry sector and government in housing development.

CREBA’s co-participants are the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) led by president Noel S. Gonzales, the Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Phils. (OSHDAP) under president Giovanni Olivares, the National Real Estate Association (NREA) headed by president Tars Pacheco and represented by chairman Jose Manalad, the Builders Alliance Toward Action (BATA) headed by president Ramoncito de la Rama and represented by chairman Romeo Thaddeus R. Llamzon, and the Women in Shelter and Its Environment (WISE) led by president Ms. Carol Osteria.

Llamson is the PSCCS chair. It will serve mainly as the umbrella consensus-building body for housing and urban development in the country. "This, certainly, is a welcome event in the common goal of housing our people," Gorayeb said.

For years, he said, CREBA’s foremost advocacy is for a workable and sustainable housing program. It has fought for the adoption of its specific proposals, a number of which Congress is now considering, particularly the measure seeking to establish a full-fledged Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Gorayeb said the measure principally authored by Rep. Eduardo C. Zialcita of Parañaque City, seeks to mount a unified national housing program, including a financing scheme.

The bill recently approved by the House committee on housing and urban development chaired by Rep. Prospero C. Nograles, and will soon be deliberated upon by the entire chamber.

The success of the CREBA advocacy on this and other issues, Gorayeb said rests on the support of the concerned industry groups and the government housing leadership

Gorayeb especially thanked Speaker Jose de Venecia, Rep. Nograles, Rep. Corazon N. Malanyaon, committee vice chairman, and Rep. Zialcita, and all committee members for their sincerity in helping our homeless people.

CREBA also cited Secretary Michael T. Defensor, chairman of HUDCC Secretary-General Armando A. de Castro and DSGs Desiredo D. Dimalibat and Lucielle P. Ortile, and the heads of state housing agencies, NHA General Manger Eduardo Pamintuan and HLURB Commissioner-CEO Romulo Q. Fabul, the other commissioners; and NHMFC President Angelico T. Salud. The heads of pension institutions, Pag-IBIG Fund President-CEO Manuel C. Crisostomo, SSS President Corazon dela Paz, and GSIS President Winston F. Garcia, were cited by Gorayeb for continuing to support the housing program.

"Not the least deserving of my commendation," Gorayeb said, are fellow CREBA officers, Atty. Manuel M. Serrano, CREBA founder and board chairman; executive vice president Flor C. Ofrecio VP-finance Jerry M. Navarrete, VP-internal affairs Purtia R. Soliven, VP-external affairs Avelina P. Acuña, VP-corporate affairs Demy L. Posadas, corporate secretary Owen DC Lagumbay, treasurer Tessie C. Millan, PRO Rose C. Basa, and Directors Celing A. Adaza, Techie P. Bautista, Jun S. Dulalia, Franklin Fuentebella, Pete C. Tario, Domeng D. De Vera, Jimmy A. Cura, immediate past president, and the heads of standing committees.