Noel Toti M. Cariño, CREBA national president

CREBA bares housing proposals for 20th Congress ahead of national confab

The largest national group of stakeholders in the real estate and housing sector has put forward a package of inter-related priority legislative and reform proposals to sustain economic growth while addressing the country’s 6.5 million housing backlog.

Appealing to members of the 20th Congress, the Chamber of Real Estate & Builder’ Associations, Inc. (CREBA) offered its full support and cooperation, especially to the newly-elected lawmakers saying that the trust and confidence of the Filipino people in their vision and leadership presents a fresh opportunity to build lasting, meaningful change, especially against the problem of homelessness which has persisted for decades.

As the umbrella organization of the country’s real estate and housing sector, CREBA has had a track record of championing policies that promote inclusive growth, sustainable development, and access to decent housing for all Filipinos. With over five decades of advocacy and engagement, it once again offers to continue serving as a key partner in shaping policies that empower both communities and industry stakeholders.

According to CREBA, its priority legislative proposals are aimed at resolving the nation’s nagging housing shortfall, streamlining property development, and improving the overall investment climate in real estate to more effectively respond to the large-scale goals of the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program (4PH) recently recalibrated and expanded under the leadership of Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) in consultation with private developer groups.

Among the group’s proposals is the amendment of the balanced housing provisions of Republic Act 7279 to encourage greater private sector participation in the delivery of socialized and economic housing units.

It is also seeking fundamental changes to Republic Act 6552 or the Maceda Law to promote equitable consideration of developers and buyers’ welfare in cases of defaulted home purchases.

Meanwhile, the group has forwarded several proposals towards a balanced and equitable National Land Use Act to provide a clear, long-term framework for rational use of our land and natural resources while ensuring optimum growth of all sectors while promoting food security, environmental preservation, infrastructure and human settlements. While the bill has been, time and again, certified as an urgent measure, several versions of the NLUA bills have continued to languish in the legislative mills for close to thirty years for lack of consensus among stakeholders.

CREBA is once again echoing what they said has been a long-overdue legislation of a Comprehensive Home Financing Program to expand access to long-term, affordable housing credit for low and middle-income families, while continuing to train its attention on the need to either amend or beef up existing laws on property registration, taxation, fiscal incentives, and rental housing, with hopes of eliminating bottlenecks and improve efficiency in land development and the delivery of the much-needed housing units in support of national government goals.

The group sought the support senators and congressmen in championing these measures, citing the urgency of advancing policies that deliver real, measurable impact.

“We are ready to work with our lawmakers toward a future where every Filipino has a place to call home—and where housing becomes the cornerstone of a stronger, more resilient economy,” the statement read.

 

In the lead up to its national convention slated in Baguio City from October 15 to 17 of this year in time for the National Shelter Month, CREBA promised to engage government leaders, experts, and key stakeholders to present solutions and rally behind a policy agenda that puts housing at the center of national development.