Friday, October 06, 2006 Gov't employees a priority in housing fairs: De Castro By Barbara Carla R. Quiero
GOVERNMENT employees will be prioritized in the housing fairs to be held this month in celebration of the National Shelter Month.
Vice President Noli de Castro issued this statement Thursday during the opening of the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association, Inc. (SHDA) National Developers Convention.
De Castro said simultaneous housing fairs in Manila and Cebu City from October 27 to 28 and the ongoing housing fair at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao City are government relentless efforts to fight poverty.
De Castro said these housing fairs are participated by government housing agencies, financial institutions, and groups of developers like SHDA.
It will be like a "tiangge" of the real estate industry, he said.
The Vice President said more than 60,000 foreclosed housing units are in their inventory in the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.
These will be offered in the housing fairs for sale on an affordable price with a low interest rate and longer repayment period.
"Our primary target market for this fair is the government employees sector. We knew how difficult it is for ordinary government employees to buy decent houses due to minimal salary they are receiving," de Castro said.
The Vice President said he activated the housing fair project after being approached several times by government employees and asked on how to avail affordable housing units.
He said those who have sought his help are mostly rank and file employees of the government, public teachers, soldiers, policemen, and employees of government corporations.
"They don't have the paying capacity and access to loan and they don't qualify for loan even if they are members of the Pag-ibig," he said. "You would really be moved that we could give to those informal settlers, then we can't do so to government employees?"
De Castro said in a six-month period they are hoping to transform more Filipinos into actual homebuyers through the housing fairs.
During the housing fair, de Castro said, they will not only limit to offering acquired assets, but as well as brand new units.
"We will give them options depending on their capacity and preference," he said.
