CREBA sets 26th annual confab on Oct. 25-28 in Davao

The Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations, Inc. (CREBA) launched its 26th annual national convention last month in Makati City. Slated from Oct. 25-28 at the SMX Lanang Premier at the “King City of the South”, Davao, the event is the biggest national gathering of stakeholders in the real estate and housing industry.

CREBA is the umbrella organization of real estate developers, professionals, and other entities engaged in development, building and construction, technical consultancy, marketing, supplies and other related services. With its advocacy programs and initiatives for the past 43 years, it has become government’s strongest ally in pursuing a truly rational shelter program.

The annual convention held every October, declared by government as “National Housing Month,” fosters fellowship and networking among members, generates business interaction among CREBAns and their business counterparts, and discusses workable measures to address various housing concerns.

According to Charlie A. V. Gorayeb, national president, this year’s theme, “A Home for Every Filipino: Closing the Housing Gap” embodies the aspirations of CREBA’s five-point agenda for housing, a package of policy and legislative reform proposals aimed at raising housing production to the level of 500,000 units per year over a timeline of 20 years.

Gorayeb underscored the three major issues that must be addressed to curb the country’s at least 5.7 million housing backlog: finance, land and governance.

The five-point agenda covers: (1) long-term and affordable funds for socialized and economic housing; (2) affordable homes in urban areas; (3) equitable allocation of lands for human settlements, agriculture and the environment; (4) efficient housing regulations; and (5) the creation of a housing and urban development department to provide housing concerns the attention it deserves at the highest level of government.

National chairman Noel Toti M. Cariño said that the Chamber remains vigilant in its dream to see the dawning of the age of shelter security for all Filipinos. Its initiatives and advocacies have been consistently focused not just on the interest of its members, but also on enabling the millions of homeless families to acquire decent, affordable homes.