Mass housing research center established

The Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines, Inc., (OSHDP) has created a research center to gather data about low-cost housing in the country that could be of help to the government and private sector.

Dubbed Center for Housing and Independent Research Synergies or CHAIRS, the research center aims to come up with studies on the state of low-cost housing in the country such as what drives couples to buy their first homes, and other research findings that would help the government calibrate its response to private sector initiatives.

Leading mass housing company 8990 Holdings, Inc. spearheaded the concept by providing the seed fund of 1 million for the establishment of the center which was also tasked to come up with a housing journal that would have timely topics about socialized housing.

It also aims to fund research whose findings will be presented to the public, including the government sector and the academe.

According to 8990 Holdings president Januario Jesus Januario Atencio, CHAIRS is a "personal dream come true" as for the past five years he had been mulling the establishment of a research center that is "sorely needed" by the industry.

He added that the research group will “provide lasting benefits of valueadded knowledge in the ever-changing market place of ideas that will be relevant today and for generations of builders to come.”

Atencio likened the research center to being the industry's "runway lights" that become the information guide for the industry which has been flying by the seat of its pants.

The body "will become our information guide to help us navigate our business and industry" which has become fast and complex by the day.

The affordable housing industry sorely needs data on, say affordability analysis, he said, adding that "without updated statistics and relevant information doing business felt like flying a plane in zero visibility."

"We need all kinds of data to make the best decisions on basic housing demand and supply, market research, affordability analysis, and statistics and analysis in support of a position on issues like national land use, BP 220 price ceilings or income tax holidays," Atencio said.