Low-cost houses coming up for Payatas residents

Hans Joshua Dantes

Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE QUEZON City government will provide low-cost houses to informal settlers in Barangay Payatas to move the families away from dangerous areas like sidewalks, roadways and flood-prone waterways.

A memorandum of agreement was signed Thursday by the city government with the Pag-ibig Fund and Habitat for Humanity for the low-cost housing project.

Mayor Herbert Bautista led the signing, along with Pag-Ibig Fund chairperson Darlene Marie Berberabe and Habitat for Humanity managing director Ricardo Jacinto.

The project will be built on a 1.58-hectare site in Barangay Payatas not only for informal settlers but for homeless public school teachers as well.

This will form part of the city government’s Housing Board shelter plan for Quezon City, Bautista said in a press conference.

The members of the Housing Board are: Bautista, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, the Urban Poor Affairs Office and urban poor groups Alyansa ng Maralita sa Nova and Urban Poor Council Leaders of Quezon City.

Firm budgets P200M for 2 projects

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By Katlene O. Cacho

A NEW player in the real estate industry in Cebu will be investing P200 million for the development of two housing projects this year.

Softouch Property Development Corp. (SPDC) said they are optimistic about business prospects because of the robust growth in the real estate industry, particularly in the demand for housing.

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SPDC president Manuel Dy said they will be building houses in Barangay Sudtunggan, Lapu-Lapu City and Barangay Jugan in Consolacion this year.

Dy is the owner of MDR Microware Sales Inc., a supplier of computer parts, computer accessories and peripherals in Visayas and Mindanao. He said he diversified his business by venturing into real estate because of the robust growth of the industry in the past years.

SPDC started its operations in 2009. Its first project was Softouch Subdivision in Upper Cala-joan in Minglanilla.

Market feedback

Last Saturday, the company launched its second project called Anami Homes, a mid-range development in a 10-hectare property in Barangay Sudtunggan in Lapu-Lapu City.

According to Ely Jumao-as, Softouch general manager, the company will initially develop 1.3 hectares of the property, which will have about a hundred houses. He said they will first look at the market’s feedback before expanding.

Anami Homes features four model Asian contemporary house units like townhouses with or without a terrace and single detached houses with or without a terrace with prices ranging from P1.7 million to P3 million.

Among the subdivision’s amenities are a multipurpose hall and a covered basketball court. The company hopes to complete development in the first quarter next year and residents can start moving in the middle of next year.

“This project specifically targets the middle-class, start-up families, employees and overseas Filipino workers,” Jumao-as said.

He said people now prefer owning homes rather than renting houses because of affordable rates and good payment schemes.

Apart from the Anami Homes, the company will also develop a 2.1-hectare property in Consolacion into an economic-housing project starting November this year. The project will have about 250 house units.

Growth

According to National Economic Development Authority Director General Cayetano Paderanga, real estate and private construction will continue to remain upbeat this year, given the bright prospects in the property market like office, residential, retail and hotel/leisure submarkets.

Jumao-as said they are optimistic on the real estate industry despite the presence of big players in the market today because of the robust growth of commercial establishments and manufacturing industries in Cebu.

“The company is open to build condominiums or beachfront communities depending on the needs and opportunities in the market. But what we are focusing now, since we are a new player in the industry, is to build the company’s brand by delivering affordable yet high quality houses to the Cebuano market,” Dy said.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on September 20, 2011.

Useful Tips When Purchasing Land

February 27, 2011, 4:34pm

If you are considering purchasing land, you should first remember that you may incur risks and expenses, consider the inconveniences that you might encounter, think about renting before buying land, remember that utilities may be more accessible in the city compared to the countryside, research the region’s laws and requirements, and go over the natural features of the place.

Many people aspire to live on a land that they own. Owning your own land may give you a number of benefits, however, it will still be helpful to think about the following tips before buying Property Tangier:

It is important to consider the possible risks and expenses

Finding an experienced craftsman who will want to work outside the city can be challenging. Alternately, the work of professionals can be quite expensive. Also, you should consider the transportation costs involved in moving construction materials and tools from the city to your new property.

Take into account any possible inconveniences

Purchasing land outside the city could make it difficult for you to have access on certain necessities. For example, you might need to travel to the city for your grocery shopping or to buy other essentials. Also, the countryside may not have infrastructure and road systems that are as accessible and convenient compared to those in the city.

Consider renting first before purchasing land

If you are not familiar with the neighborhood where you are thinking of buying a property, it might be wise to think about renting a house in that same place prior to buying the property. Renting will allow you to get to know your neighbors and find out about your new community.

Remember that utilities may not be as readily available in the countryside

Rural locations might not offer all the comforts that urbanized areas have. Learn as much as you can about the land to make sure that all of the utilities you will need are accessible from it. It will be very disadvantageous if you only find out later that the place does not have access to electricity lines, cable or any phone lines.

Research the region’s laws and requirements

It is very important to find out as much as possible about the land if you intend to build a house on it that matches your exact specifications. Find out important legal details such as the zoning requirements imposed by the local government. Zoning ordinances may prevent some types of building projects. For example, the city of Sacramento disallows building any edifices on land that is less than 20 acres. Get a natural hazard disclosure which will alert you to any possible soil hazards. The same document will also give you information about protected areas that prohibit any construction.

Take into account the area’s natural characteristics

You should also consider the natural characteristics of the area. If the land is near hills and other elevated formations then you should find out the likelihood of disasters such as landslides. If the place was a swamp or has a swamp then you should check the condition of the building foundations in the area by asking residents.

To get the most out of your land purchase, make sure you find out as much information as you can about the advantages and disadvantages of the land.

IN THE KNOW: Pag-IBIG Fund

Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—The Pag-IBIG Fund, which stands for Pagtutulungan sa Kinabukasan: Ikaw, Bangko, Industriya at Gobyerno, seeks to provide a national savings program and affordable shelter financing for Filipino workers.

Under Republic Act No. 9679, or the Home Development Fund Law of 2009, signed by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in July 2009, Pag-IBIG membership is mandatory for all employees covered by the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System; uniformed members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and Philippine National Police; overseas Filipino workers; and Filipinos employed by foreign-based employers, deployed locally or abroad.

The law also grants the Pag-IBIG Fund exemption from tax payments.

For employees with a monthly compensation of P1,500 and below, the contribution amounts to 1 percent of their income plus 2 percent covered by their employer. For employees with a monthly compensation of over P1,500, contribution amounts to 2 percent of their income plus 2 percent covered by their employer. These contributions are deducted from the gross income before the computation of income tax.

A member may withdraw his savings after 20 years of membership in the fund and after having made a total of 240 monthly contributions.

Circumstances like retirement, permanent departure from the country and permanent or total disability also allow a member to withdraw his savings.

Pag-IBIG also offers short-term loans to members who have made at least 24 monthly contributions.

Moreover, Pag-IBIG offers housing loans to members under its end-user financing program. Eligible members are those with at least 24 monthly contributions; not more than 65 years old at the time of application; and those who have passed satisfactory background/credit and employment/business checks conducted by the developer and the Pag-IBIG Fund.

Members availing themselves of a housing loan should also have a legal capacity to acquire real property; no outstanding Pag-IBIG housing loan; and have not availed himself or herself of a foreclosed or canceled Pag-IBIG loan.

Lawrence de Guzman, Inquirer Research

Published in Philippine Daily Inquirer September 9, 2010.

A glittering showcase in Iloilo

By DENNIS LADAW

The driveway is lined with majestic Royal Palm trees. (Photo by PRANZ KAENO BILLONES)

The house is located in an affluent neighborhood in Iloilo City, but it could look right at home in any of the ritzy enclaves of Beverly Hills, California. In particular, the Beverly Hills of yore, when legendary screen stars like Rudolf Valentino and Gloria Swanson were on the Hollywood A-list. This was a time when stars lived lavishly, partied decadently, and built mansions fit for an empress like Cleopatra.

Fittingly, the name of the ebullient and gracious lady of this Iloilo residence is Beverly Abordo. Her husband, Dr. Popoy Abordo, is a retired dentist who had a successful practice in San Francisco, California.  Both were born and raised in Iloilo but they met in the U.S, where Beverly worked as a nurse and as a professional singer. It can be said that the Tony Bennett hit song about hearts being left in San Francisco applies to them. Prior to moving back to Iloilo, the Abordos lived in a house at Hillsborough.

“We bought it from a businessman who had a pool built and had it shaped like a gun,” says Beverly while laughing. “The architecture was very modern and it seemed to have been inspired by the works of the architect Frank Lloyd Wright.”

Beverly says she and her husband love to collect things. They have an extensive collection of Guiseppe Armani porcelain dolls and countless life-size sculptures that vary in style and themes. “Unfortunately, the Hillsborough house looked too modern to house the collection we have. So when Popoy decided to retire and return to Iloilo permanently, we built a very different house.  We were through with modernism and we chose to build a Mediterranean-style house.”

Husband Popoy said that at first, they planned to sell the collection and the furniture to the Filipino movie producer who eventually bought the Hillsborough house. “But the offer he made was too low. The items were worth much more than that. The cost of shipping back the collection to Iloilo was high, but it was better than losing on our investment,” he said.

Moving back to Iloilo

Once the entire family was back in Iloilo, they shopped for property to build a house on. They found a huge lot that already had the shell of a big house standing on it. “The previous owner decided not to finish building it, and the place looked so perfect for us. It was providence!” says Beverly.

The unfinished house was already taking shape when construction was halted and when the Abordos bought it.  The style is Mediterranean, which was ideal for the things they were bringing in. The dramatic layout was already in place;  high ceilings that can accommodate such stunning chandeliers, spacious living areas with enough room for a baby grand piano, a spectacular staircase inspired by the two staircases at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel, and yes, enough room to showcase the beloved collection.

The open grounds are spacious and fully grown mahogany trees fill the back lawn. Beverly asked the famed designer Shirley Sanders to landscape the front lawn and rear garden. Sanders lined the long driveway with majestic Royal Palms. She built a gazebo, a grotto, and a pond filled with beautiful Koi fish on the front lawn.  Popoy added a putting green near the gazebo.

The Abordos were tasked to put in the finishing touches to the house, which took more than two years to accomplish.  “Metal work for all the windows and the gazebo in the pool area took two years to finish,” says Popoy. “It’s a very intricate design and we wanted every window in the house to have it.”

The bulk of the furniture in the house was shipped in from the previous home in Hillsborough. The few items that were acquired in the Philippines include two wooden sculptures that depict an Egyptian man and woman. The statues stand on each side of a glittering Egyptian table displaying a collection of crystal jars and plates and a golden clock adorned with a bust of an Egyptian pharaoh.  The Egyptian theme of this corner of the living room is reminiscent of the epics of Cecil B. De Mille (“The Ten Commandments”). The corner aptly marks the entrance of the theater room, which comes equipped with lazy boy seats, deep red interiors, and a giant LCD screen. Popoy says the design of the mini theater was inspired by the look of the Iloilo movie house he used to go to as a teen-ager.

As it happens, the house is a showcase of various themes. The pool area features the Greek and Roman look, what with the white columns, and copies of Venus de Milo and David statues watching over the pool. The highlight of this area is the all-white gazebo that houses a small fountain. It doesn’t exactly have a roof, as it’s covered by the same kind of metal work that adorns the windows of the house.  The pool Popoy had built is almost identical to the pool they had in the San Francisco home.

On the second floor, a TV room near the staircase is furnished with Chinese furniture and accessories. The bedroom of the two daughters is unmistakably French. Beverly says that all her children are fastidious when it comes to keeping their respective rooms in order. “The girls also put in their own decorating ideas. But now, my 11 year-old has plans of redoing their room. She wants to adopt the ‘Moulin Rouge’ look!” she gasps.

Upkeep of the entire house can be painstaking. Just keeping the porcelain collection shiny is a tedious chore. The cleaning has to be constant and done under intense supervision; otherwise something priceless is bound to break. The household work required by this home rivals that of the mansion in the movie, “Remains of the Day.”

The Abordos love watching movies and their DVD collection is as extensive as any other item they collect. It’s perhaps the reason why the house they live in could well suit a Hollywood star. It’s all there in the house; the glamour, the dramatic settings, and even the tall Palms, which recalls the palms that line the boulevards of Beverly Hills. The difference lies in the quiet life the Abordos live.  To keep a little busy, Popoy established a store in downtown Iloilo called Iloilo Radioshack Electronics, which sells high-tech audio equipment.

“But we rarely go out. Even the children seldom go to the malls,” says Beverly. “We have everything we might need here. We’re happy with what we have in the house.”

Published in Manila Bulletin August 3, 2010

This countryside is sleepy no more

By CARLOMAR A. DAOANA

Asian contemporary is the design theme of the houses that will be built in Legazpi Highlands.

With the boost of seaside residential projects, there has been now an intense focus on the real estate potential of the countryside. At economic level, this is good for the community as the investment will energize local labor and the production of raw materials. The future inhabitants of the development will nonetheless purchase locals goods and services and in the process contribute to the town or city’s growth. Because of this, a new social dimension will be opened up, providing the community with an invigorating diversity.

One of the places that is blinking in the radar of real estate developers is Legazpi City. Suncore Development (637-4959) is looking at this well-known Bicol metropolis as the next place to create dream houses and communities. “I know Legazpi by heart,” says Donnie Pile, president of Excore Inc. (a partner company of Suncore Dev’t.). “Through its projects and efforts it will not only spur economy but will address the quality of living of the locals and alleviate their worries and inconveniences especially under extreme weather conditions.”

Certainly, one can’t talk about Legazpi City without mentioning the breathtaking view of Mt. Mayon (with its sometimes intemperate moods) and its being a magnet of torrential storms. Suncore took note of this and more. The company feels that if it wants to be successful in this venture, it should be able to “meet the needs of Legazpi through innovative concepts, personalized service, and residential communities that are governed by a unique philosophy of creating physical environments that are in perfect harmony with its surroundings.” 

Suncore’s real estate foray in the province is the Legazpi Highlands envisioned to give a new and dignified face to the city. The development sprawls on about 12 hectares of the highland areas of Legazpi, minutes away from the city’s busy district. The residence will feature the amenities in a mid-range subdivision: clubhouse, swimming pool, parks and playgrounds, basketball courts, and other amenities. The only thing that sets it apart is the million-peso view of the Mayon volcano.

“Legazpi Highlands provides and guarantees Bicolanos, vacationers and tourist investors an expedient and luxurious way of living in the midst of mesmerizing scenery over viewing the shore, towns, Sleeping Lion and at its foot Embarcadero,”  Pile says of the property. “This development removes the fear of being stricken with neither flooding nor volcanic eruption because it is in the high lands.”

As the development will have a ripple effect, Pile envisions that Legazpi City will further attract investment not only in terms of real estate but as well as commercial and retail opportunities as well. “With elegant Asian contemporary designs and breathtaking views of the sea, Mayon Volcano and the whole metropolis, Legazpi Highlands will further enhance the district by becoming a cherished residence of the Bicol Regions’s well-to-do,” Pile concludes.

Published in Manila Bulletin August 6, 2010

Wiping out RP's housing backlog

By Mary Ann Ll. Reyes
The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Emphasizing the need to create a Department of Housing, the founder and chairman emeritus of one of the country’s most influential trade organizations has also urged whoever will be named government housing czar to work closely with the private sector and to have a firm resolve to address the country’s burgeoning housing problem.

In an interview with The STAR, lawyer Manuel Serrano of the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Associations (CREBA) emphasized that the mistake of all previous administrations is that there has been no firm decision to really address the housing dilemma. “And this is the reason why government does not have the funds to solve the housing backlog, especially mass housing,” he said.

Serrano, who is also the founder and chairman of Business Against Graft and Corruption (BAGCOR) and the Subdivision Owners Association of the Philippines (now Social Housing Developers Association or SHDA), said the country currently has a housing shortage of about seven million units.

“There should be around 500,000 units being built every year but what is actually being built is just 30,000 per year. If we consider that the number of households is increasing by about 250,000 to 280,000 families each year, not only are we not addressing the annual requirement, we are also not solving the backlog which is growing and growing,” he pointed out.

Widely acknowledged as the real estate guru given his 48 years experience in all aspects of real estate (starting with his first project in 1962 – Better Living Subdivision in Parañaque), Serrano noted that government may not realize it but the real estate sector is the major economic pump-primer and could take the country out of the economic rut it is currently immersed in.