GMA to address Creba, HUDCC national confab today

President Arroyo will speak today on government efforts to speed up the housing program for the homeless families at the joint National Convention of the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Associations (CREBA) and the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) at the Holiday Inn Hotel at the Mimosa Leisure Estate of the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga.

Housing for the poor and middle-income families has been one of the top priorities of the GMA administration since the start.

Recently, in an effort to revitalize public-private sector partnership in carrying out reforms and policies affecting the industry, CREBA forged an alliance with five other private organization of real estate developers and builders to pledge the delivery of half a million socialized and low-cost housing units to help ease the present housing shortage.

The historic declaration was signed by CREBA national president Florentino S. Dulalia Jr. before President Arroyo with HUDCC, the Builders’ Alliance Towards Action (BATA), Organization of Socialized Housing Developers Association of the Philippines (OSHDAP), National Real Estate Association (NREA), and the Women in Shelter and Environment (WISE).

To help make the pledge possible, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) offered to provide at least 200,000 hectares of land for housing and urban development within the next 20 years.

With the theme "Sustainablle Urban Development: A Key Element Towards A Strong Republic", the convention forward on the key issues of housing and sustainable urban development, according to Dulalia and overall convention chairman Pedro C. Tario. HUDCC vice-chairman Amado S. Bagatsing and Purita R. Soliven, CREBA executive vice-president, are overall convention co-chairpersons.

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando, who made the keynote speech, has stirred public attention with his no-nonsence drive and political will to resolve the metropolis’ development problems. To a hitherto unbelievable extent, some observers said, Fernando has succeeded in changing the face of the metropolis and the habits of some hardy sectors. The mayor of Marikina City for three terms, he was credited with having transformed the city into a model Metro Manila urban center.

The convention coincides with the 30th anniversary of CREBA as the largest and oldest industry organization. It was formed by a small group of developers and real estate professionals led by lawyer-businessman Manuel M. Serrano to buttress efforts to make housing and urban development a major pump-primer of the national economy. CREBA has been serving as an active industry advocacy group with an eye on public welfare and overall national development.

During the second plenary session, HUDCC Chairman Michael T. Defensor will talk on "Urban Development and Housing Framework", Bagatsing on Private Sector Housing Delivery and Regulatory and Shelter Finance Reforms", Sen. Rodolfo G. Biazon, past chairman, Senate committee on housing, and Rep. Prospero C. Nograles, chairmen of the House housing committee, updates on Congress housing agenda.