Home ownership, post-recovery, gets full support from largest national housing developers association

Tiziana Celine Piatos·19 December 2022, 12:27 am·1 MIN READ

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Oversubscribed! First face-to-face conference in the housing industry since 2019. Sen. JV Ejercito calls for closer collaboration among policymakers and practitioners.

George Siy (SHDA), Atty. Gerardo Sirios (Land Registration Authority), Atty. Angelito Aguila (DHSUD), Dir. Anna Liza Bonagua (DILG), and Teddy Sumulong (Land Registration Systems).

"There is no social inclusion without home ownership." George Siy, Chairman of SHDA.

The Subdivision Housing Development Association, welcomed President Marcos Jr's prioritizing housing programs for the Filipino people to address the country's 6.5 million housing backlog and fast-track the country's post-pandemic recovery.

"Our Convention aims to spark new areas of synergy between the private sector, the national government, local government units, and local communities," SHDA president May P. Rodriguez said during the 30th National Developers Convention held in Grand Hyatt on 5 to 7 October 2022.

Home production is a major economic catalyst, whose effects have been estimated at 3 to 4.5 times multiplier.

"With more than 300 housing developers, it is our duty to respond to our country's housing needs by providing Filipinos with sustainable and affordable housing developments," 2022 Convention Chair Maya Colayco said.

"Home ownership leads to better peace and order in society and educational outcomes for the children, accelerate economic development, and more civic participation," SHDA chairman George Siy said at the Convention, the first face to face meeting for the key stakeholders in the housing industry since 2019.

Home Ownership and Nation-Building

Meanwhile, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said that President Marcos Jr.'s "Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (National Housing for Filipinos)" program that aims to build 1 million homes a year is "timely" as it will tap the huge economic pump-priming potential of the housing industry.

Streamlining the industry through
closer public-private collaboration

Senator Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito, principal author of Republic Act No. 11201, which established the DHSUD, said the Senate fully supports the closer collaboration of the government with the private sector, and to find a way to speedily and sustainably catch up to address the issues of disconnected programs of the various housing stakeholders.

Congressman Kiko Benitez, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Committee, via video message, also called on the stakeholders to "change-proof" the industry and adopt innovative ideas to better address the new disruptions.

With the theme "Change-proofing the Industry: Building Homes for Filipinos," the Convention also tackled the Marcos administration's priorities for the housing industry, policy reforms, urban development initiatives, and the importance of digitalization to resolve the emerging challenges.

The event also discussed innovative concepts and future partnerships with government agencies (DHSUD, DILG, BOI, League of Cities, Land Registration Authority, PAG-IBIG, etc.), private developers (Aboitiz Land, AyalaLand, SMDC, Century Properties, Phinma, PHirst Park Homes, 8990 Holdings, MyCitiHomes, Landcaster, Wenceslao, Damosa Land, Cebu Landmaster, Convergence Realty, etc.) and world-class professional service providers (Architects Joel Luna, William Ti, Sylvester Wong, etc.).

Last year, the National Convention had a record 7,000 participants in its first-ever virtual National Convention, when it explored the twin themes of innovation and green initiatives, which yielded the concept of the Smart Subdivision — now a new category in the Board of Investments' Special Investment Priorities Plan.