The Home EveryJuan Deserves
Bringing together real estate and financial experts, the Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers the Philippines (OSHDP), alongside The Global Filipino Investors (TGFI) launches its two-day free virtual summit, which aims to educate Filipinos on the basics of buying, building, and investing in affordable housing.
In a press conference held last October 21, OSHDP National President Gino Olivares stressed the predicament the housing industry is in. “Throughout the past year, housing and real estate, as with the rest of the country, is an industry in the midst of a crisis – a health pandemic, and definitely an emergency that has increased the degree of difficulty in doing the private sector’s partnership role with the government, which has the primary mandate in addressing the housing situation, particularly that pertaining to the homeless and underprivileged Filipino families.”
With the theme “The Home EveryJuan Deserves,” AHS2021 is a manifestation of the housing sector’s commitment to overcome the crisis as it highlights housing as a human right and prime necessity. An estimated 5,000 individuals will be on the same online platform, immersing themselves and interacting with content and information related to affordable housing. More than 30 key leaders and experts in the real estate industry will give advice, share innovations and practical strategies in owning a home every Filipino deserves.
Gino Olivares (OSHDP/Ecoverde Homes), Sec. Eduardo Del Rosario (DHSUD), David Leechiu (Leechiu Property Consultants), Anthony Leuterio (Filipino Homes) and Cesar Wee (OSHDP/ WeeCommunity) will share their expertise and insights on making homes affordable for Filipinos. Pammy Vital (Ovialand), Nica Masilang (Co-founder, Centro Mavens), Dr. Ruth Ang (Co-founder, Centro Mavens), and Camille Reyes (Sales Manager, Sun Life of Canada) will join one of the panel discussions taking up insights of women in real estate and promote inclusion.
Tomorrow, November 13 (Saturday), Pag-IBIG Fund CEO Acmad Moti will open the 2nd day to discuss accessible financing options for working Filipinos. This will be followed by the sought-after celebrity engineer and content creator, Slater Young (Liteblock and Monterrezas Prime) who will discuss “What to look for when buying a home.”
To share their knowledge on interior design and construction, Architect and actor-vlogger Dax Augustus (Delta Designs+Construct) and Interior Designer Roxanne Roxas (Rox Interiors) will take part in the discussion, to be moderated by Hausland Group’s Kat Tan-Hipol. Other notable speakers include CNN Philippines’ host and serial entrepreneur, John Aguilar (The Final Pitch), Cesar Wee (Wee Community), Jason Buensalido (Buensalido Architects), Mary Gaw So (Rehub Realty), Emma Imperial (Imperial Homes) and Dr. Gia Sison (Women’s Wellness Center).
“I believe that we, in the private housing sector, must continue to make this definition. The Filipino’s resolve to own a home remains strong. Conditions set by the pandemic, such as work from home and online class arrangements being the new norm, only makes us realize that owning a home is an urgent and primary need for everyone,” Olivares continued.
Join and experience this two-day collaborative event and learn from real estate leaders and industry experts. You may still register for free through tgfiph.com/OSHDP.
OSHDP pushes mass housing as economic recovery driver
Adhering to its commitment to affordable housing stakeholders, Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers the Philippines (OSHDP) Chairman Marcelino Mendoza urges DHSUD and other key shelter agencies to continue elevating housing to the same level as the infrastructure sector, thereby scaling up actual housing production with increased funding support. “NEDA Secretary Karl Chua has pointed out the construction spending of 5% of GDP as the ‘magic number’. Housing is an important part of that magic number that will likely drive an economic recovery,” Mendoza said.
The leading mass housing group emphasized housing development as an important recovery strategy that must receive economic stimulus from the government. In its discussion paper submitted to the legislators and relevant government agencies, OSHDP calls for the provision of stimulus funds to support the mass housing sector; lowering interest rates for institutional loans to developers; and incentivizing programs and projects that will encourage urban dwellers to return to their provinces thereby reducing population density in highly urbanized centers. The overall strategy must be coupled with sound and consistent policies of regulatory rollbacks, reliefs on end-user amortization payments, first time home-buyer’s incentives, and rationalization of building design standards and fair market driven price ceilings.
Providing fiscal stimulus to housing achieves the State’s aim of allotting resources for programs that will provide sustained economic growth and support the country’s transition out of an economy adversely affected by the COVID-19.
OSHDP likewise pushes for housing initiatives through its 6-point private sector shelter agenda as part of its partnership commitments with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).
These agenda include: (1) institutionalizing private sector participation under the new DHSUD by designating an active and permanent private sector representative to the National Human Settlements Board and all housing policy working committees; (2) further easing of doing business; (3) expanding housing finance and sustainable incentive program for homebuyers; (4) upholding fair access to land through a genuine national land use policy; (5) redefining affordable housing; and (6) promoting green building, resilient settlements, and post-pandemic approach in designing spaces.
OSHDP President Gino Olivares stressed the importance of housing especially in the time of a pandemic where shelter is consequential to public health and safety. He describes the ongoing housing crisis, which was officially recognized by Congress through House Resolution 1677, as a denial of a basic human right to Filipinos that also proves crucial in surviving the health crisis.
Olivares calls upon private stakeholders to join OSHDP and the government in bringing solutions to this crisis, and to advocate for policies that strengthen the housing sector.
To ensure viability of the affordable housing sector’s continued participation to resolving the overwhelming housing needs, OSHDP calls for the mandatory review of housing price ceilings. More than three years have passed since the last evaluation of the socialized housing price ceiling. It is even longer for the economic housing price ceiling, which was last adjusted in 2015.
“It is timely that these private sector initiatives be considered in the 20-year housing sector plan of the DHSUD,” Olivares added.
The Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP) is the outcome of dedication of private development companies and individuals who relentlessly sought means to establish a vibrant, productive and responsive housing sector.
OSHDP envisions a society that “achieves growth through dignified, descent and affordable housing.
OSHDP is the lead group of mass housing developers, always committed to address the country’s housing needs.
OSDHP has 250 plus members and affiliates, with 11 local chapters across the country.
OSHDP is presently the only private sector organization with national membership of real estate developers primarily engaged in socialized and economic housing (B.P. 220 projects).
