De Castro, Mau to grace meet

Vice President Noli de Castro, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), and Malaysian Dato Alan Tong Kok Mau, president-elect of the International Real Estate Federation, known as FIABCI, will be guests of honor of the Philippine chapter of the International Real Estate Federation at the Centennial Hall of Manila Hotel on March 30.

Delegates from FIABCI chapters in 10 other countries will attend the induction of the FIABCI Philippines Chapter officers and charter members, and the chapter-sponsored investment forum.

This was announced by Florentino Dulalia Jr. and Victorio Soliven, president and chairman, respectively, of FIABCI Philippines international chapter. Both are former national presidents of the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Associations (CREBA), a direct principal sponsor of FIABCI since 2002, which formed the FIABCI Philippines chapter the following year.

The FIABCI event is expected to pave the way in establishing real estate education and training, information exchange and technology transfer in urban planning and development and investments, aimed at improving existing policies and regulations for a stronger economy.

The Philippines chapter now counts with the membership of 30 real estate and property companies with established reputation and track record in property development and management, and three public sector agencies, the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG FUND), the National Housing Authority (NHA), and the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation under the HUDCC. The chapter membership is open to other Philippine industry players such as practitioners and developers involved in tourism and resort projects and leisure estates and other urban development projects.

De Castro will induct the FIABCI Philippines chapter founding officers led by Dulalia, while Malaysian Mau will swear into office the chapter members. The Vice President will be conferred the honorary chairmanship of FIABCI Philippines.

FIABCI is a 53-year-old world-wide network of real estate players, with a more than 60 member countries embracing about 100 national real estate associations. Aside from individuals and private corporations, members include academic institutions and public sector agencies.

FIABCI Philippines chapter officers are Alejandro Cruz-Herrera Jr., executive vice-president; Lilia Aaron Paterro, treasurer; and Techie Bautista, assistant treasurer. Other vice-presidents on the board are Editha L. Manansala, Jerry M. Navarrete, Enrique O. Olonas, Felino A. Palafox Jr., Romero F.S. Quimbo, Carlos Sandico, Robert Marie Sy, Jose Peter Sison, Pedro C. Tario, former CREBA president. Atty. Luis B. Pangilinan Jr. is secretary-general, while Arsenio de Guzman Jr. is assistant secretary-general.