The housing fair last October 28-30 at the NCCC Mall Davao attracted a swarm of homebuyers when Pag-IBIG Fund also offered its acquired assets for sale at discounted rates.
Bryan Pojas of Davao Prime Philippines, a Pag-IBIG Fund member for two years, said a monthly amortization of about P2,000 is very affordable.
“I am interested to own a house because we are only renting a space, but I need to attend the seminar first so I will be guided properly on how to avail myself of the housing loan,” he said.
Pag-IBIG Fund Davao branch manager Manolito Olegario said a 10-percent growth in housing loan borrowers was noted as of September 30, compared to the same period last year.
He attributed the increase to their active promotion of the program even as he said that there is a demand for more units.
He said 50 percent of borrowers are from outside of Davao City, as far as the Cotabato and Surigao provinces.
Assistant manager Marie Antoniette D. Diaz said Pag-IBIG Davao was able to sell 849 foreclosed units worth P278.9 million during the first nine months of the year. For disposal starting last October are 566 additional units in established subdivisions within Davao City and Davao del Sur.
She reminded Fund members to attend counseling sessions in the Pag-IBIG office at Pryce Business Park, J.P. Laurel Avenue to understand fully the scheme, especially the housing loan program.
Meanwhile, Eduardo Manicio, executive vice president of the Social Housing Finance Corporation, said the firm was able to assist informal settlers in Davao City by legalizing the tenure of their occupancy in the area. SHFC, a subsidiary of Pag-IBIG, spent some P84 million for this purpose.
Manicio said organized events like the housing fair cultivates the public’s interest in the housing policies and thrusts of the government and private sector.
The goal of SHFC is to assist those who are already on site through the community mortgage program, he said.
For this year, SHFC has allocated about P700 million for various projects around the country, These projects have so far been able to assist some 1,500 communities, representing some 180,000 individuals.
Davao City Councilor Peter T. Lavina said there should be wise utilization of land resources for human settlements
He said the local government unit has encouraged involvement of land developers in the training of beneficiaries of the city’s human settlement programs, this way the resources of the city dedicated for housing will be properly assessed and utilized.
Private exhibitors who participated in the housing fair included Uraya Land Development Inc., Robinsons Home Inc., Kisan Lu Realty, Filinvest Land Inc., Primeland Marketing, Davao Joyful Homes, DMC Urban Property Development, Inc., Santos Land Development Corporation, HLC Construction and Development Corporation, Crown Communities, Foothills Realty and Development Corporation, Chula Vista Residences and Holcim Philippines. [Prix D. Banzon]
