Chamber continues mission to provide a home for every Filipino
SEVERAL industry experts give credit to the real estate industry as one of the driving forces in the country’s economic growth. It is also considered as one of the major beneficiaries in the Asean integration when the Philippines would need to have better infras- tructure and accommodations to compete with others.
Judging by the number of construction happening not only in Metro Manila but also in other parts of the country, it seems that there’s no other way for the industry to go but up.
In the middle of the roller
coaster ride the real estate sector experienced in the past decades is the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations (CREBA). CREBA is the biggest organization of professionals and aggrupation, comprising the widest cross-section of the housing and real estate industry. It looks after real estate developers, builders, appraisers, architects, brokers, contractors, engineers, manufacturers, suppliers, and others engaged in the real estate business.
The chamber has been instrumental in policy-making to ensure the stability and protection of the stakeholders’ interests. CREBA has provided the needed push in the creation of the National Housing Authority (NHA), which has been looking after Filipinos’ need for better homes, among others.
Convention
CREBA holds its annual convention in October coinciding with “National Housing Month.” The convention serves as a venue for all stakeholders to discuss issues in the industry as well as foster fellowship and broaden their network.
CREBA gives voice to Filipinos who want to own their own homes by looking at how the industry could serve all sectors of society. That is exactly how this year’s convention theme “A Home for Every Filipino: The Dream Goes On” goes, which will be held in Bacolod City.
The convention will hold plenary and breakout sessions, fellowship nights, guided tours, business-matching activities, and presentations on market trends, product development technologies, government plans and policies, and emerging opportunities, all geared towards providing a home to every Filipino.
The importance of the chamber is recognized not only by the private sector but also by the government. This is one reason the convention draws support from government officials including Housing committee heads Rep. Alfredo Benitez and Sen. JV Ejercito, among others.
5-point agenda
Philippine housing has a 5.5-million backlog, according to Charlie Gorayeb, CREBA national chair.
“Overcoming such a deficit requires the industry to produce at least 500,000 housing units a year for 20 years,” Gorayeb says. “To be able to implement it, CREBA has been seeking a comprehensive government policy reform program that will establish long-term and affordable funds for socialized and economic housing; affordable homes for employees in urban areas; lands for residential, commercial and industrial development; efficient local government housing regulations; and a full-fledged Department of Housing and Urban Development.”
The 5-point agenda has been drafted into bills that seek to either introduce new measures, amend/rationalize existing laws or provide counter-proposals on bills filed in previous and present congresses.
“Putting this 5-point agenda on stream—from legislation to full implementation—demands the support and cooperation of various sectors as it also involves the proper and prudent use of resources of both the government and the business community,” Gorayeb says.
“A major step in that direction is this CREBA national convention, where all the concerned sectors will be gathered under one roof to pull their acts together,” explains Noel Cariño, national president of CREBA.
Also supporting this year’s convention are Boysen Paint, Camella Homes, DMCI Homes, Pag-IBIG Fund, Primehomes, VV Soliven Group, Megaworld Corp., Lamudi Philippines, United Coconut Planters Bank, Duraville Realty and Development, EC Gas (J&M Properties), E. Ganzon Inc., and Sta. Lucia Land Inc., among other sponsors.