GMA to attend SHDA convention

In her first formal appearance this year before leaders of the real estate and housing industry, President Arroyo will attend the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) National Developers Convention on June 18, at 10 a.m. at the Grand Ball Room of the Shangri-La Hotel Makati in cooperation with the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).

Expected to attend the convention to receive the President’s key note address are some 250 SHDA members and non-members as well that comprise the Philippines’ leading real estate practitioners involved in the development of subdivisions and housing projects all over the country. Also expected to be present at the two-day convention that starts on June 17 are bankers, suppliers and government officials headed by HUDCC Chairman and Secretary Michael T. Defensor.

SHDA Chairman Teofisto L. Guingona III said our theme of "Moving Beyond, Going Global", is a follow-through of the reforms that were instituted last year, and how developers can take maximum advantage of the current bullishness that the sector is experiencing."

Guingona said that developers are now emboldened to increase their investments in housing, paving the way for more housing prodution in the months to come.

SHDA national president Jesus B. Atencio pointed out that, "if there is anything that SHDA wishes to highlight as the hallmark of the Arroyo administration’s housing program, it is the "return of developers’ confidence" in the present state and future of the housing sector of this country."

He said that general industry statistics show a 35 percent increase in all aspects of housing activity, from the issuance of licenses, government-funded end-user financing. CIS developer’s financing by private banks "have all registered that much increase in business activity."

He added that developers would be interested in attending the convention to be updated with the latest trends and policies in housing, and also so that they won’t be left behind by the competition.

According to Malu Alferez, convention chairperson, the convention will cover a wide range of topics that include discussions of macro-issues: global trends, urban revitalization; and specific housing concerns such as developmental and end-user finance, fast-tracking housing program through legislation, OFW marketing, recent BIR rulings on Real Estate taxation (i.e. VAT), implementation of the SPAV law, housing bonds, and other special topics of interest to all practitioners in the housing sector. A much-awaited portion of the convention is the open forum with Defensor on the second day which will feature a "no-holds barred" dialogue between developers and heads of the key shelter agencies.