Upbeat housing sector aims to push harder

National President
Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Associations

In view of the problems bugging the nation and the world at large, yes, most everyone’s expectation is it will be a difficult year. In the past, Filipinos faced hard, or harsher times. But they survived them all and emerged, perhaps, even generally better off, especially if one would look beyond material things. Indeed, in this country, as elsewhere, there are good and bad times. A basic reality as an offshoot of humanity’s imperfection and mortality.

As a people and individuals, with God’s help, we can, therefore, hope for a better lot. It will, however, take more than merely hoping to confront our problems, neutralize or overcome them. We have to work harder than we are won’t to do. We have to summon our best traits and talents, applying our native ingenuity and resourcefulness, and straining ourselves in the shining facets of our character and positive personal assets gained from training or experience in like situations.

Harnessing this same basic approach in our housing sector, there is ground for expecting a better housing development this year and in the next few years. What with a closer government-private sector partnership and cooperation at work. Bold, unified approaches to mounting a comprehensive mass housing program are being advocated by the private sector, particularly by the CREBA. The thrusts are to establish a full-fledged Department of Housing and Urban Development and put in place a sustainable financing scheme, aimed at benefiting the underprivileged and the middle income families. Congress is seriously looking at them. And the prospects are there for having a package of effective housing reforms take off sooner than the industry has expected.

All this, certainly, is good news for the some four million homeless families in the land. The 2002 CREBA team, happily, comes in at this historic, critical juncture. The officers, besides your new president, are Atty. Manuel M. Serrano, chairman of the board; Purita R. Soliven, executive vice-president; Orlando S. Bongat, vice president-finance; Editha L. Manansala, vice president-internal affairs; former Rep. Amado S. Bagatsing, vice-president-external affairs; Avelina P. Acuña, vice president-chapter affairs; Atty. Luis B. Pangilinan Jr., corporate secretary; Teresita C. Millan, treasurer; and Rosemarie C. Basa, press relations officer.