PIA Press Release
2008/03/19
by Prix D Banzon
Davao City (19 March) -- Various housing agencies of the government put up a housing fair in Davao City this time exclusive to teachers of Southern Mindanao.
The fair which was set up at the gymnasium of the Davao City High School and opened on Tuesday (March 18) was graced by officials of the government housing agencies.
Housing Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) assistant secretary Pamela B. Felizarta representing Vice President and housing czar Noli de Castro was joined by Pag-IBIG Fund vice president Jose W. Banzon, Jr., National Home Mortgage Corporation officer-in-charge Jose H. Macuto, Social Security System regional manager Manolito Tagalog, National Housing Authority officer-incharge Engr. Carolina Angel and Director Susana Teresa Estigoy, regional director Department of Education XI.
Felizarta in her brief message said the housing fair has been launched nationwide since 2006 and is the fourth sector that they had served which included the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police and the DepEd.
"We need to bring the benefits of housing to the teachers who are our frontline providers for the education sector," she said.
According to Felizarta, the housing fair for teachers will be the first for the country and is being held here in Davao City, she said.
She said that VP De Castro has been pushing for affordable housing units and they had been working to make reasonable terms and conditions so the different sectors could avail of a decent home.
"This is because many government employees including teachers can not afford to buy a home," she said.
She cited that t some teachers still occupy land that they do not own and they are among the informal sector of our society.
Banzon for his part said that when one borrows at Pag-IBIG Fund, the borrower becomes the owner of the home compared to renting a house where they remain a renter and not a homeowner.
He said with the interest rates at 6 percent for a P300,000 house and lot package amortization would only amount to about P1,800.
There office he said offers several options to borrowers depending on his or her needs and when they opt to buy the Fund's acquired asset, the borrower is entitled to discounts plus other options.
He said their office is ready to entertain influx of clients as a result of the housing fair staged by government housing agencies.
He said that if all the documents submitted by the borrower is complete, processing time for real estate loan is within 15 working days even as he assured the teachers that their staff extends service without utmost courtesy and are facilitating.
Other housing agencies that offer housing loans which are participating in the fair are the Home Guarantee Corporation, National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Government Service Insurance System, and Social Security System.
The housing fair will run until March 18 for Public School Teachers and Non-Teaching Employees of Region XI. (PIA)
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