Linking RP’s best to the world

The 2005 National Convention of the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Associations (CREBA) and the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) will focus on the country’s investment climate and opportunities for international financing for property and tourism development in the Philippines.

Efren "Choy" Alas, overall convention chairman and president of the CREBA Social Housing Foundation Inc. (CSHFI), said the convention with the theme "CREBA-HUDCC: Linking the Best in Philippine Property and Tourism to the World" will be held on Oct. 12-14 at the Tagaytay Highlands, Tagaytay City. Filipino and foreign experts will explore the various aspects of the convention topics, said Alas who is also the CREBA vice-president for chapter affairs.

Dr. Jaime A. Cura, CREBA national president, and HUDCC Vice Chairman Amado S. Bagatsing will formally open the convention on Oct. 13. Cavite Gov. Erineo S. Maliksi and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham N. Tolentino will welcome the delegates. Chairman Choy Alas will give an overview of the national gathering, while Avelina P. Acuna, 2004 convention overall chairperson will report on the accomplishments of last year’s convention.

The holding of the national convention at the venue marks the first time for Tagaytay Highlands, an exclusive membership recreation and residential golf community, to allow a national industry organization to use its conference auditorium and all other facilities and amenities. The Highlands sitting on Tagaytay City hills, overlooks the imposing Mount Makiling to the east, the placid Taal Volcano Lake to the south, and the serene Laguna de Bay to the west.

Expected to discuss the country’s investment climate for property and tourism development are Raymundo A. Yu Jr., chairman, Asia Pacific Region of Merrill Lynch & Company; Nelson G. Collantes, general manager, Philippine Retirement Authority; and General Manager Robert Dean Barbers, Philippine Tourism Authority.

"Development Opportunities in key Philippine Cities" will be taken up by Dr. Nathaniel von Einsiedel, chairman, CONCEP Inc.; Gemma Cruz-Araneta, president, Heritage Society of the Philippines, and Tom C. Zita Jr., president Kuok Philippines Group of Companies.