CREBA acknowledges GMA role in making housing sector viable anew

The Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association (CREBA) presented President Arroyo with a resolution of gratitude for her "enormous support" to make the housing industry "economically viable again."

CREBA, an umbrella organizations of some 3,500 major players in the housing and real estate industry with 29 chapters nationwide, made the presentation when the President took time last Saturday to attend the joint CREBA-Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) at the Holiday Inn, Mimosa Estate, Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga.

The chamber is composed of private corporations, partnerships, single proprietorships and professionals engaged directly or indirectly in land and housing development, building and infrastructure construction, material production and supply, and services in engineering, architecture, community planning and development financing.

The CREBA resolution said the industry, especially the housing sector, was severely affected by the Asian financial crisis that started in 1977, resulting in financial bankruptcy for many developers.

Contributing to this difficulty, it said, was the slow manner by which government agencies involved in the approval of land conversion, environmental compliance certificates, and other required permits act on such applications, which results in increasing the cost of doing business, because of this delay.

This situation no longer exists, CREBA said, because of "the decisive action" made by the President in issuing Executive Order No. 45, which streamlined the permitting process by imposing fixed time frames for each involved agencies to act, and "this resulted in greater efficiency, less bureaucracy and reduced the cost of doing business."

President Arroyo "not only streamlined the permitting process for housing development but also directed the shelter agencies to increase the funding releases for mortgage takeouts and other support to make the housing developers become more efficient and increase their housing production and delivery," CREBA pointed out.

Thus, in behalf of the entire housing sector, CREBA said, it it expresses "its sincere and wholehearted gratitude to Her Excellency for the enormous support she has given the housing and real estate sector to make the industry economically viable again, and we hope that this kind of support will continue for many more years to come in the future."

In a later statement, CREBA national president Florentino S. Dulalia Jr. said: "No other president or administration, it can be truly said, has devoted as much time, effort and support to the housing and real estate sector as President Arroyo. This, despite the numerous problems that have bugged the government and the nation, which especially make the presidential support all the more deserving of our gra-titude.

"From the very onset of her governance, the President has prioritized housing and real estate development as among her top targets. The objective is not only to assist the industry perform its role in providing homes, particularly, the socialized and economic units for the homeless, but also, and more importantly, to promote public welfare or the lot of the people and the nation.

"Being conversant with economics and assisted by the government’s panel of experts, the President must have realized the vital role of the industry in overall economic development and the life of the people. For economic planners are convinced of the pump-priming influence of the housing and real estate sector on the national economy."

of measures to enable the industry the square up to the challenges of the times and therefore perform its historic role in national life.

The CREBA resolution was signed by Purita R. Soliven, executive vice president; Orlando S. Bongat, VP-finance; Editha L. Manansala, VP-internal affairs; Techie P. Bautista, VP-external affairs; Avelina P. Acuna, VP-chapter affairs; Teresita C. Milan, treasurer; Jaime A. Cura, Franklin G. Fuentebella, Thaddeus R. Liamzon Jr, Jerry M. Navarrete, Florante C. Ofrecio, and Demetrio L. Posadas, directors.

The document was attested by board chairman Manuel M. Serrano, Dulalia and corporate secretary Luis B. Pangilinan, Jr. other officers who joined the formal presentation of the resolution were VP-chapter affairs Avelina P. Acuña, auditor Choy L. Alas, PRC Rosemarie C. Basa and Edudrdo Gutierrez-Ong, and presidential adviser Pedro C. Tario.

This year’s national convention coincided with CREBA’s observance of its 30th year of founding. Its main objective is to unite the different industry sectors and provide a single vision towards national development. Atty. Manuel M. Serrano, CREBA board chairman, led a group of industry leaders in organizing the organization in the early 10-60s.

For the last three years, a joint CREBA-HUDCC national convention has been held to demonstrate private sector-government partnership in the housing program for the people.

As the industry’s collective voice, CREBA said, it has committed and has been recognized as an effective and dynamic partner of government in the attainment of national goals by direct participation or meaningful advocacy with public welfare being paramount.