VP Noli to private sector: Get more involved in housing
25 May 2005
  

VICE President an concurrent Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Noli ‘Kabayan’ De Castro yesterday renewed calls for more private sector participation in the national housing program.

 

Speaking before homeowners, local government officials and key officers from the housing sector during yesterday’s awarding of certificates to Pag-IBIG home borrowers in Granville Homes, Malagasang 2, Imus, Cavite, De Castro admitted that the government needs the help of developers and banking institutions in sheltering millions of homeless Filipinos.

 

De Castro bared that out of the five million houses that the government plans to build by 2010; around two million have already been constructed. He said private developers and banking institutions would greatly help bridge the gap by being more active in the housing industry.

 

“The national housing program entails a huge task and the government simply cannot do it alone. The private sector has contributed a lot in our pursuit to put up shelters and I hope it can contribute more,” De Castro said.

 

The Housing czar lauded Confed Properties and Grand Metro Asia Incorporated, developers of Granville Homes, for continuously supporting the government’s housing thrust. He likewise noted the support extended by I-Bank and Asiatrust for partly financing the the housing project. Granville Homes is a 400-unit shelter project mostly funded by Pag-IBIG for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).

 

Meanwhile, De Castro, who was also designated palace adviser on OFW affairs, congratulated  the new homeowners and their families for realizing the dream of many Filipinos to own homes and urged them to work harder as the country’s modern day heroes.

 

De Castro reminded the new homeowners to comply with their obligations to Pag-IBIG and other financial institutions who helped their dreams come true. “Now that you already have yor own houses, allow me this time to encourage you to faithfully pay your monthly amortizations,” he said. “It is only through the timely payment of your loans can  Pag-IBIG and the other helping banks can they sustainably finance of other Filipins in need of shelter,” he added.

 

Also present during the occasion were HUDCC secretary general Lucille Ortille, Pag-IBIG President Romero Quimbo, Imus Mayor Homer Saguilayan, Malagasang Brgy. Captain Edward Saunar, I-Bank President Ramon Sy, Asiatrust President Dionisio Ong, OSHDAP President Willie Tan and SHDA officers. (end)