President’s Corner – Social Housing Finance Corporation

SPEECHES

Mensahe ni SHFC President & CEO Federico Laxa sa Groundbreaking Ceremony ng Makabagong San Juan Pambansang Pabahay

MARCH 18, 2025
San Juan City

Sa aking boss, ang kalihim ng DHSUD, Secretary Jerry Acuzar, Mayor Francis Zamora kung ‘yan ay makulit talagang ‘yan ang inyong masipag na Mayor, at sa ating Congresswoman Belle Zamora, Vice Mayor Angelo sampu ng konsehales ng San Juan, at iba pang mga opisyales ng San Juan, ‘yung DHSUD at SHFC family ko, ‘yung mga taga San Juan po, lalong-lalo na ‘yung mga member-beneficiaries po ng ating Makabagong San Juan Pambansang Pabahay. One, nakita niyo one, so isa lang po ito, may susunod pa.

So, kung maaalala ko po, mahigit isang buwan siguro, mga January 24, Friday ‘yun, naatasan po ako ng ating mahal na kalihim na kausapin si Mayor Francis Zamora tungkol sa napipinto niyang proyekto sa housing para sa 4PH.

Right after that, on a Monday, ang bilis ni Mayor e, Monday po, January 27, nagkita na po kami ni Mayor. Nag-meeting po kami doon sa kanyang opisina sa city hall, sampu ng kanyang mga kasama, kasama ko na rin po ‘yung SHFC team ko at kami’y nag-usap-usap para pag-planuhin ‘yung napipintong proyekto rito para sa 4PH.

Doon po ay napag-usapan namin ang conceptual plan at nagkasundo po kami ni Mayor na magtayo kaagad ng Technical Working Group para mag-plano at tsaka mag-usap-usap at mag-meeting para paspasan ang pag-umpisa nitong proyektong ito. So, right after that, nag-ocular inspection kaagad tayo Mayor ano? Nakita na natin ang site na ito at doon din ay napag-usapan na namin kung ano ang more or less na gagawin para sa proyektong ito.

So, Secretary Acuzar, 37 days after na inatasan mo ako, nandito na po tayo ngayon at nag-uumpisa na tayo. Kasi gusto ni Secretary Acuzar talaga mabilisan talaga, hindi pupwede sa kanya ‘yung papatay-patay ka, kung papatay-patay ka, patay ka sa kanya.

So, ito pong proyektong ito ay napag-planuhan na natin at napag-agreehan namin ni Mayor Francis na magtatayo tayo ng isang gusali dito na mga 30-storeys po. Tama nga si Secretary so far, dito sa Pambansang Pabahay, ito ang pinakamataas at this point in time. Pero palagay ko, marami pang mga gusali ang itatayong kamukha nito.

Dito po naman ay magkakaroon tayo ng 1,029 housing units na 25 square meters more or less ang average floor area po. Tapos, ito po rin ang itatayo natin sa lote na ito ay may sukat na 2,577sqm, magkakaroon din po ng mga amenities.

Kanina nagtatanong po si Secretary, magkakaroon ba ng amenities dito, may swimming pool ba ito, merong mga clubhouse ‘to? Ay talagang dapat lagyan natin Secretary, syempre high density housing ito.

Ang bilin sa akin ni Secretary, pagka high density housing, meron tayong multipurpose area na kung saan magkakaroon ng area ang ating mga beneficiaries na kung saan pwede silang magpunta at magkaroon ng entertainment at tsaka iba-ibang pasilidad para sa kanilang pangangailangan. So, meron din yatang commercial area ito Mayor na itatayo naman ng San Juan at sila naman po ang mag-aasikaso doon sa commercial component nito.

So, huwag po kayong mainip, nandito na po kami, mag-uumpisa na po tayo kaagad, papaspasan namin, magtiwala po kayo at kami ng aking team, ‘yung DHSUD at tsaka SHFC at tsaka ‘yung tanggapan ni Mayor at mga opisyales ay talagang papaspasan namin ang pagtatayo nito.

Ang iba pang mga pagpapaliwanag tungkol sa 4PH program ay ipapaliwanag syempre ng aking mahal na Kalihim ng DHSUD mamaya pero makakaasa po kayo na magkakaroon ng katuparan dito sa proyektong ito ang inyong pangarap na magkaroon ng disente, maganda, at abot-kayang pabahay dito sa San Juan.

Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat!

2025 CORPLAN MESSAGE

MARCH 14, 2025

First of all, I would like to thank Jojo and his team for organizing once again this successful planning activity. It’s nice to see our SHFC Family once again engage in fruitful and meaningful discussions about our operations and other important issues in order to formulate a roadmap for our agency going forward.

It’s important for me to listen to you and hear your voice as we plan our future together. Thank you for your participation and cooperation. Your valuable inputs are highly appreciated. It is important to learn our lessons from our experiences with the goal of making things better. I hope you also learned from our invited guests on important matters impacting on our operations.

On the lighter side, I enjoyed our fellowship night, I discovered how talented you are in singing and dancing. I enjoyed as well all the funny and crazy stories that we talked about last night over a few drinks. It is important to be with you during those unguarded moments to foster camaraderie and friendship among us. I would also like to thank our supportive Board Members who joined us in this important event.

Now my parting message on this important and successful event. Let me start my message today with this: “What was a dream before is a now reality.” That perfectly sums up, what we’ve been through all these years. That “long and winding road” illustration of our project cycle is not really too “long” as we are about to reap the rewards of our efforts that started about two years ago. It’s not really “winding” as implementation has been smooth except for a bit of bumps every now and then, a characteristic of a unique program that has not been tested before.

The bumps are not really our own doing: the absence of a firm arrangement on legislated tax incentives for socialized housing, a pre-agreed template for documentation, and a firm fund sourcing strategy to finance our project have made things a bit challenging for us. But despite all the odds, the obstacles and multiple challenges that we faced, here we are, almost at the finish line. With these, I would like to congratulate all of you for a job well done.

The story of this conference started with Jojo’s narrative on where we started and where are we now. Allan’s presentation of our achievements and accomplishments. Beth’s story of her NHA experience in project development, management and implementation.

The second day was marked by discussions on fund sources, collections and documentation. We learned also from our resource person on collection strategies and practices. We invited Joseph Q. of HDMF to discuss not only our JV arrangement with them but on take-out documentation as well. Lorna Dee accommodated our request to walk us through a complicated title transfer and registration processes for SHFC’s 4PH Projects.

All of these were designed to address what we see as remaining bottlenecks in our processes: documentation-a critical step toward the finish line.

Charting The Future

Reaching the finish line will enable us to formulate a template for 4PH that will smoothen and fast track the implementation of 4PH projects that will follow. I perfectly understand that anything new and out-of-the box will face many challenges along the way but once we have developed the road map, the blue print and the template for its implementation, everything else will be easy and smooth.

Don’t expect though that it will be a perfect plan, there will still be minor adjustments as we execute. I always believed that all plans should be evolving and should adopt to the constantly changing environment. This will enable us to formulate short and medium term plans for SHFC.

The Finish Line

We are almost there. But as I have repeatedly said: “starting is an important step to every journey – but finishing is where the magic happens.” Please return to your respective offices as wiser and better public servants. I wish you all safe and pleasant trip back home. Rest assured, that I will miss you all.

Again, thank you everyone, and may the Lord bless us all in our present and future endeavors as we chart SHFC’s future toward greatness and excellence.

WOMEN’S MONTH MESSAGE

MARCH 03, 2025

Good Morning, Ka-SHFC!!! Especially to the beautiful, talented and hardworking women of SHFC Every March of each year, we honor the amazing women who make a difference in our workplaces and lives. Celebrated every March 8, this day recognizes women’s achievements and promotes gender equality.

Last year, I chronicled the many struggles of women for decades which started in New York in 1909. Since then, it has grown into global celebration of women’s accomplishments and a platform to raise awareness about many issues like equality in pay, education and healthcare. Discrimination has also been a focus of a series of discussions. On this important event, allow me also to recognize the remarkable SHFC women who lead, inspire and make a lasting impact in our organization. Women as a whole, have, since in early 1900’s, been important figures in many facets of our society. There have been accomplished women in politics, in business, in government, in arts and in the education sector. Women have truly been breaking barriers for many years. I have heard of many women excelling in many areas dominated by men for decades.

I salute women for this outstanding achievement. I have an endless list of SHFC women leaders in our workplace who made a difference: JoBang who made inroads in improving our collections, Salie who is in charge of enhancing our partnership with our communities and has consistently achieve GAD recognition for SHFC, Elsa and Garret in operations, Mel in legal, Oline as our Board Secretary and Compliance Officer, Marla and Ethel in HR and recently Marissa and Irish in take-out documentation. I have also seen capable women supporting our men leaders either in operations or in support areas like Jaja, Ren, Lei, Naden and many others (I’ll be running out of space if I’ll mention them all here). I’ve also witnessed many skilled, gifted and talented women in our organization.

My office is dominated by women: Chloe, Jhoan, Wyndee, Nikki and Christelle. I am who I am today because of an amazing woman who raised me well. I have great, wonderful and caring daughters. In closing, allow me to share this quote from Margaret Thatcher: “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.”

Mabuhay ang mga kababaihan.

Mensahe ni President & CEO sa Ceremonial Turnover ng Laon HOAs Federation, Inc. sa Valenzuela City

Magandang umaga po!

Masaya kaming nag-uusap ni Mayor kanina dahil napakaganda ng relasyon ninyo dito sa Valenzuela. Very smooth ng implementation ng projects natin despite the fact na napakaraming challenges dito at napakaraming taon ang ginugol eh tagumpay pa rin ‘yung ating dinatnan. So, Mayor Wes Gatchalian, congratulations po. Kasama ko rin dito ‘yung aking kapamilya, si DHSUD Undersecretary Sam Young, kaibigan ko po ‘yan, si Vice Mayor Lorie Borja, sabi nga n’ya, last term na niya pero sabi ni Mayor, kailangan ka pa niya. At kasama natin dito ‘yung District Engineer ng DPWH, Ruel Umali, at iba pang mga city officials at barangay officials na nandito ngayon dito sa Valenzuela, ang ating SHFC team, at opisyales at miyembro siyempre ng Laon HOA Federation. Palakpakan po natin kasi mukhang napakasaya nila ngayong araw na ito, nakikita kong nakangiti lahat at masayang-masaya sila doon sa pabahay na binibigay natin sa kanila ni Mayor at iba pang panauhin sa araw na ito.

Tandang-tanda ko pa po na nandito ako ‘nung ika-13 ng Disyembre noong nakaraang taon, upang isalin sa inyo ang 192 units sa lahat ng 528 units dito po sa Phase 1. Sa pagbabalik kong ito ay magkakaroon tayo muli ng ceremonial turnover of keys para sa natirang 336 units sa ating mga beneficiaries dito sa Phase 1 na magkukompleto sa nasabing 528 units. Mayroon din tayong pirmahang magaganap ngayon sa pagitan ng SHFC at DPWH para sa pagpapatayo ng karagdagang gusali at housing units dito sa ating proyekto. So, magtutuluy-tuloy po ito, nandiyan po si District Engineer at magpipirmahan na tayo mamaya. Siguro mauumpisahan na ni District Engineer kaagad, para naman matuwa si Mayor, gustong-gusto na talaga po ni Mayor matapos ito.

Isang magandang balita na naman po ang lahat ng ito para sa ating mga beneficiaries na matiyagang naghintay sa pagkakataong ito. Hayaan n’yo po akong batiin kayong muli sa mahalagang kaganapan sa araw na ito. Maraming salamat po. Syempre pinasasalamatan ko at binabati ko ring muli si Mayor Wes Gatchalian na matiyagang sumusubaybay sa proyektong ito. Sa walang-sawang pagpupursige ni Mayor na maipagpatuloy natin at matapos ang proyektong ito. Palakpakan naman po natin ang magaling n’yong Mayor Wes Gatchalian ng Valenzuela. Pero kailangan talagang masabi ko sa inyo kung paano niyang tinututukan ang proyektong ito. Nakatutok talaga si Mayor sa project na ito. Layunin po namin ni Mayor na tapusin ang proyektong ito.

Pinasasalamatan ko rin po ang aking SHFC team sa pangunguna ni VP Elsa Calimlim na matiyagang tumutulong para maisakatuparan ang aming pangkalahatang layunin na matagumpay na pagsasagawa ng proyektong ito. Nandito rin po ang ibang officials, vice presidents ng SHFC na nandiyan para maipakita na sumusuporta sila sa ating proyekto at iba pang miyembro ng aming SHFC team.

Sa ating Laon Federation HOA, marami pong salamat sa inyong kooperasyon, partisipasyon, tulong, at suporta sa ating proyekto. Mahalaga po ang inyong papel sa tagumpay nating lahat. Salamat sa lahat ng officials na patuloy na tumutulong na maisakatuparan ang ating layunin. Napakaganda po ng proyekto ninyo kasi napakaganda ng kwento ng Laon. Nag-umpisa doon sa pabahay na hindi mo alam kung saan ka susuot sabi ni Vice Mayor.

So, noong araw po kasi, sa Ministry of Human Settlements, ‘yung nakita ko, lahat ng programa na urban-assisted project, either ‘yung tinatawag nating slum of breeding po at tsaka ‘yung tinatawag na land re-blocking. Sa Tondo po, ginagawa ‘nung araw, isinasaayos lang ng konti ‘yung mga roads, nire-reblock ng konti at tsaka inuupgrade ‘yung slum areas kung saan walang drainage system nilalagyan po ng drainage system. Pero, malayong-malayo po sa ginawa natin dito, ito po ay talagang bago, binago po natin ang landscape ng Laon. So congratulations Mayor kasi mahirap ‘tong gawin itong ginawa ninyo na inumpisahan ni Secretary Rex Gatchalian tapos pinamana kay Mayor Wes. Pero si Mayor Wes, talagang nakikita kong passionate talaga dito sa proyektong ito.

So, congratulations po muli sa inyong lahat. Alam kong magiging masaya kayo ngayong araw na ito at maisasalin na natin ‘yung mga susi ng inyong pabahay na 336 para makumpleto natin ‘yung 528.

Maraming salamat po at mabuhay po kayong lahat!

Mensahe ni SHFC President & CEO Federico Laxa sa Groundbreaking at Capsule-laying Ceremony ng Bagong Los Baños Residences

Magandang umaga po sa punong bayan natin, Mayor Genuino, na kanyang kaarawan ngayong araw na ito, syempre ‘yung iba pang opisyales ng bayan ng Los Baños na tumulong para maisakatuparan ang proyektong ito, ‘yung mga konsehales, at tsaka ‘yung mga department heads, ‘yung ating barangay captain na nandito at tsaka ‘yung SK natin na nagsama-sama para maisakatuparan ito.

‘Yun pong ating mga kasama sa SHFC, nandiyan din po ‘yung ating SVP, si Atty. Leo Deocampo, nandyan si Jimmy Manes, ang OIC-VP namin para maipakita namin sa inyo ‘yung buong suporta ng SHFC dito ay nandiyan po ang aming mga opisyales.

At ‘yung aking kasama syempre, ‘yung ating DHSUD Representative, ang ating RD dito, si JP Ilao, sa kanyang suporta dito sa proyektong ito dahil siya po talaga ang magbibigay ng mga permits natin at tinitiyak ko na mapapabilis ang proyektong ito sa suportang ibibigay ng ating regional office dito sa DHSUD.

At ‘yung aking kaibigan na sabi nga ni Mayor, ilang dekada ko nang kaibigan at isa po talaga sa masugid na nag-follow up sa amin para maisakatuparan ang proyektong ito. Halos every week ata kinukulit ako n’yan at hangga’t hindi maisakatuparan itong groundbreaking natin na ito. Marami kaming challenges ni Chairman Genuino, alam niya ‘yan. Pero ‘yun pong mga pagpaplano na ginawa namin, na ilang buwan din naming pinag-uusapan ay dahil gusto po naming maibigay ‘yung napakagandang plano.

Hindi po kami tumigil ng brainstorming namin kung ano ‘yung pwedeng ilagay na ikakaganda ng ating proyekto. Ang gusto nga po ni Mayor at ng Chairman natin ay mabigyan kayo ng kalidad na pabahay, na hindi talaga siya socialized housing kung titingnan mo dahil nandito lahat ng amenities. ‘Yan po talaga ang gusto naming ipatupad sa 4PH program. Mamaya, bibigyan ko pa kayo ng briefing kung ano talaga ‘yung gagawin natin dito sa Pambansang Pabahay ng ating Presidente.

Syempre may mga ka-partner po tayo rito, ‘yung CCFG Development Corporation na pinangungunahan ni Adam over there. At ang bida ngayong araw na ito, ‘yung ating beneficiaries sa Bagong Los Baños Residences, ‘yung Homeowners’ Association natin na nandiyan.

Nagagalak po akong makasama kayo ngayong umagang ito dahil ito ay napakahalaga para sa inyo dahil ito po ay magiging groundbreaking ng ating Los Baños Residences matapos ang ilang buwang pagpaplano at pag-uusap para mapaganda itong proyektong ito.

Dito po ay magtatayo tayo ng mga 17 gusali na kung saan ay magkakaroon tayo ng mahigit dalawang libo, 2,120 in fact na housing units dito sa proyektong ito. So, mahigit 2,000 pamilya po ang magkakaroon ng benefits dito sa proyekto nating ito.

Dito po ay maglalagay tayo ng tinatawag nating vertical housing, ‘yung 5-story building, bawat gusali dito doon sa 17 ay magkakaroon po tayo ng limang 5-story. Ito po ay naaayon doon sa programa natin sa Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program o 4PH – flagship program po ito ni mahal na Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. Ito ay sa ilalim din ng supervision ng ating mahal na Secretary, Kalihim ng Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development na si Secretary Jerry Acuzar.

Ang 4PH program po talaga ang layunin niya ay magtayo ng pabahay all over the Philippines para po matugunan ‘yung tinatawag nating housing gap. Ang housing gap po dito sa ating bansa ay lumobo na ng 6.5 million.

Napakalaki po nito, na kung titingnan mo ‘yung datos, napakarami ng pamilya na walang pabahay dito sa ating bayan. At sa unang pagkakataon po, ‘yung DHSUD po ay gusto niyang matugunan ‘yung pangangailangan at mabawasan ang ating housing gap na 6.5 million. Noong unang panahon po, hindi natin tinitingnan ito, ako rin po ay nasa housing even before SHFC. Ang ginagawa po natin noon, kung ano lang ang ibibigay na budget sa atin ng gobyerno, ng national government ay ‘yun lang po ang itinatayo natin. Pero hindi po tayo nakatutok doon sa tinatawag na housing gap na lumobo na over the years na talagang hindi po kaya.

Siguro on the average, mga 200,000 lang ang nai-poproduce ng ating mga housing agencies all in all. So, paano mo matutugunan ‘yung pangangailangan ng milyon-milyong Pilipino kung ganon lang po ang housing production natin every year? So, ito pong pag-upo ni Secretary Acuzar, sabi niya sa akin noong mag-usap kami, sabi niya “Pare, gusto kong matingnan natin itong tinatawag nating housing gap o ‘yung housing backlog.” Sabi n’ya, napakalaki na, lolobo na ito, ‘pag hindi natin tiningnan ito, in a few years’ time, siguro by the end of the term of the President, baka mag-lobo ito ng 10 milyon.

So, ‘yan po ‘yung gusto nating matugunan, hindi man po natin buong matugunan ‘yung buong 6.5 milyon at the end of the term of the President, dahil ilang taon na lamang po ito, ay mababawasan po natin ito. At least by the end of 2028, ang balak namin nina Secretary Acuzar, depende doon sa suporta na ibibigay ng iba pang ahensiya at government financial institutions eh baka more than 3 million eh maitayo na natin by the end of the term of the President. Pero ‘yung 6.5 million, doon pa rin po tayo nakatutok at sana maumpisahan din natin ‘yung iba pang proyekto at least kahit na hindi matapos, para ‘yung malaking porsyento ng 6.5 million e magawan ng paraan during the term of the President.

‘Yun pong 4PH program, kung makikita ninyo, eh ang talagang gusto naming maitayo ay mga vertical housing projects. Bakit po kaya? Dahil po talagang sa nakita namin, kapag tinayo mo ‘yung 6.5 million ay mauubos po ‘yung mga lupain na gusto nating gamitin at baka hindi po maging sapat ‘yung available na land, especially namimili po tayo ng lupain sa mas malapit talaga sa mga tinatawag nating amenities.

Gusto namin malapit sa mga eskwelahan, malapit sa mga commercial centers, malapit sa mga health centers, sa mga ospital. Dahil ayaw po naming mahirapan ‘yung ating mga beneficiaries kapag nakatira na po sila doon sa kanilang pabahay. So, ang talagang konsepto po dito, ay halos nandiyan na po lahat sa tabi ninyo ang mga amenities, kung hindi man sa loob ng proyektong ito ay at least malapit lang po doon sa kinaroroonan ninyo. ‘Yun po ‘yung konspeto ng pabahay ng 4PH program.

So, especially dito po sa Metro Manila po talaga, nagtatayo na po kami ng high-rise buildings sa kadahilanang mahal na mahal na po ang lupa d’yan sa Metro Manila. At pangalawa, talagang kokonti na lang po ‘yung available na lupa. Meron po kaming proyekto diyan sa SHFC diyan sa Port Area Manila, meron din po kami sa Sta. Mesa, meron din po kami sa Quezon City at sana karamihan ay maitayo natin dito sa Metro Manila rin at talagang napakalaki po ng problema ng pabahay sa Metro Manila. Ang dami po ng nakikitira lang, ang dami po ng nag-isquat lang, ang dami pong nag-occupy ng government lands na dapat mabigyan din natin ng chance na magkaroon ng pabahay.

Ang SHFC po ay talagang suportado itong 4PH program, sa totoo po, mahigit 100 proyekto na ang nai-submit sa Social Housing Finance Corporation na kung maitatayo nating lahat ito ay mahigit kalahating milyon pong housing units ang mapoproduce natin kasama po itong Bagong Los Baños Residences na magkakaroon ng mahigit 2, 000 housing units.

So, asahan po ninyo itong Social Housing Finance Corporation ay full support po dito sa proyektong ito. Gusto ko pong magpasalamat sa lahat ng naging instrumento sa proyektong ito, syempre pinangungunahan ‘yan ni Mayor Genuino, si Chairman Efraim na maraming beses na pumunta sa aking opisina para mapag-usapan ang proyektong ito, at sampu ng kanilang mga kasama diyan sa local government ng Los Baños na alam ko kung hindi n’yo po susuportahan ang proyektong ito ay hindi po mangyayari ito. Nagpapasalamat na rin ako in advance kay JP Ilao, sa suportang ibibigay niya dito sa inyo para mapabilis natin ‘yung ating pagpapagawa ng mga plano ninyo para eventually ay maitayo na natin itong mga gusaling ito at maibigay na natin, mai-deliver natin sa ating mga beneficiaries.

Sa amin pong experience, itong mga five-stories na ito, meron na din po tayong ginagawa diyan sa Davao City, ‘yung People’s Ville. Sa aming experience, mga 6 to 8 months ‘yung pagtatayo ng building kapag 5-stories. So, sa Davao City na nauna na, meron na po tayong 14 buildings na nakatayo diyan at maipamimigay na namin ito bago matapos ang taon na ito ay magkakaroon na po ng turnover ng units diyan sa Davo City.

Mahigit 400 pabahay ang ipamimigay na namin bago magpasko at ‘yung 1,000 pa by the first quarter of next year po. Sa San Fernando, Pampanga po, meron na po tayong nakatayo diyan na 12-story, four high-rise buildings na kung saan ‘yung isa pong building diyan na merong more than 300 units ay maidedeliver na natin at maii-turnover na natin sa kani-kanilang beneficiaries bago mag-Pasko. ‘Yan pong sa Tagoloan, meron na pong nakatayo na isang cluster diyan sa Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental na malapit sa PHIVIDEC. So, ito po ay ebidensiya at proof na magagawa po natin ito at sa tulong ninyo, by next year, gusto natin nakikita na natin ‘yung mga gusaling ito ay nakatayo na dito sa Bagong Los Baños Residences.

So, maraming salamat po, mabuhay po kayong lahat! Congratulations doon sa ating beneficiaries diyan sa Los Baños.

Mensahe ni SHFC PCEO Federico Laxa sa TCT Awarding sa SJDM-Bulacan Housing Caravan

San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan
November 6, 2024

Sa ating panauhing pandangal ngayong araw na ito, Sen. Imee Marcos, ang Chairperson po ng Senate Committee on Urban Planning, Housing, and Resettlement. Hayaan po ninyong batiin ko ng maligayang kaarawan sa susunod na linggo ‘yung ating mahal na Senado.

At ‘yung mga opisyales po ng lungsod ng San Jose del Monte, of course sa pangununa ni Congresswoman Rida Robes at si Mayor Arthur Robes, at ang aking SHFC team, ang ating maswerteng beneficiaries, at iba pang panauhin.

Isa po sa mga pinakahihintay ng lahat ng tao ay maisakatuparan ang katunayan ng pagmamay-ari ng kanilang tahanan. Pagkatapos ng maraming taon ng paghihintay, pagsusumikap, at sakripisyo, isa itong napakahalagang kaganapan sa ating buhay. Ito ay hindi lamang kayamanan, kundi isang mahalagang pamana sa inyong mga anak, apo, at susunod pang henerasyon.

Tandaan po ninyo, ang pabahay po ay isa sa pinbakamahusay at pinakamagaling na pinamuhunan ninyo sa inyong buong buhay.

Ngayong araw na ito ay ipapamahagi ng Social Housing Finance Corporation ang 67 titulo sa beneficiaries sa mga iba’t ibang Homeowners’ Association pagkatapos nilang matiyagang hinulugan ang kanilang pabahay ng maraming taon. Ito po ay katunayan na inyo na at pagmamay-ari niyo na ang inyong mga tahanan.

Ipapamahagi rin natin ngayong araw na ito ang humigit kumulang 150 certificates of award na nagpapatunay ng kasiguruhan ng inyong karapatan sa mga pabahay d’yan sa Phase A ng Alpas Homeowners’ Association.

Hindi po nagtatapos dito ang programang pabahay ng ating pamahalaan. Isang taon na ang nakakaraan mula nang inilunsad ang Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program o 4PH – isang flagship housing program ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., sa ilalim ng pamamahala ni kalihim Jerry Acuzar ng Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.

Sa katunayan, ang SHFC po ay isa sa major implementer ng programang ito at malapit nang mamahagi ng mga housing units sa mga natapos naming units sa 4PH. Halos isang libong pabahay ang ipapamahagi ng lungsod ng San Fernando, Pampanga at Davao City na kung saan ay matatapos namin ang 2,377 housing units ngayong taon na ito.

Malapit na rin pong matapos ang isang cluster ng building sa Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental na magbibigay ng 384 na pabahay sa mga empleyado ng mga kumpanya sa PHIVIDEC.

May siyam na iba pang proyekto na naumpisihan na ng SHFC sa iba’t ibang lugar. Sa kabuuan, ang mga ito ay magbibigay ng pabahay sa 45,000 pamilya. Nakatanggap na rin po kami ng proposals sa mahigit na 100 proyekto mula sa iba’t ibang local government units na kung saan kung ito ay maisasakatuparan ay magbibigay pabahay sa mahigit na kalahating milyong pamilya.

At dito naman po sa San Jose del Monte, ay isinusulong na rin ni Mayor Arthur at Cong. Rida ang isang malaking 4PH project na malapit na naming ilunsad.

Bago ko po tapusin ang mensaheng ito, gusto kong pasalamatan sina Mayor Arthur at Cong. Rida sa aktibong pagsuporta sa ating programang pabahay. Matagal ko na po silang kaibigan mula pa noong ako’y naging GM ng National Housing Authority na talaga namang masipag na nakipag-ugnayan sa amin sa mga pabahay dito sa San Jose del Monte. Sila po ay masigasig na nagtulak sa kaganapang ito para maipamahagi ngayong araw na ito ang inyong mga pabahay.

Marami ring salamat sa iba pang opisyales ng pamahalaang lungsod ng San Jose del Monte at ang aking SHFC team na pinangungunahan nina SVP Jo Banglagan, VP Mun, VP Jojo Carandang, Managers Prandy, Allan, Myrna, nandiyan din po si VP Sally na puspusang nagtrabaho para maisakatuparan ang kaganapan sa araw na ito. At syempre, ang aking taos-pusong pagbati sa ating mga maswerteng beneficiaries sa araw na ito.

Muli, congratulations po sa inyong lahat at magandang araw at mabuhay po kayong lahat!

Speech by SHFC President and CEO Federico Laxa at the Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Social Housing Finance Corporation, Pulilan LGU, and AVECS Corporation

Makati City
October 16, 2024

Good afternoon, everyone!

I would like to welcome our guests for today, headed by Honorable Mayor Maria Rosario Ochoa-Montejo, the Municipal Mayor of Pulilan, Bulacan, the 3-term Mayor. Patapos na ’yung term n’ya but the time na matapos na, she was able to put together this project for all of us and for all the Pulilan people who will be the beneficiaries of this project. Then we have Atty. Gerard Emmanuel Tayao, and we also have as part of our signing ceremony today, AVECS Corporation headed by its President Celestino Baldonado, Mr. Coriolis Geostro Baldonado, Vice President for Business Development; Engr. Joseph Marquez Project Manager; and Christopher Candelaria Marketing Head of AVECS Corporation.

I also have here with me our team here at SHFC, we have our EVP Atty. Junefe Payot, and then Leo Deocampo our SVP for Support Cluster, then we have in our team, our 4PH Team in Central Luzon, Mr. Prandy Vergara, Engr. Olalia, ‘yung Bulacan Branch po namin headed by Myrna Sipcon, and Ms. Lucia Enriquez.

I am truly honored to be in front of you today to be part of this significant milestone in our continuing journey toward providing decent, affordable, and resilient housing for our fellow Filipinos. The signing of these three documents, an MOU, a MOA, and a deed of donation will mark the beginning of a new chapter for the families who will soon call Mom’s Ville in Brgy. Peñabatan, Pulilan, Bulacan. I understand this will generate about 1,078 units, about eight buildings, and then we will be building five story building, appropriate for the location in Pulilan, Bulacan. I understand we already have identified beneficiaries. I would like to tell you that we are fortunate in this point in time, by this time SHFC has gained so much experience in 4PH housing. We have started this a long time ago since the President launched this program in 2022, the latter part of 2022 and we signified through our Secretary Jerry Acuzar our full support to this program. And from then on, we started working on certain projects and we have started the three major projects – one in San Fernando, Pampanga, another one in Davao City, and another one in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. All of these projects are already in full swing and some of these projects are ready to be delivered to their beneficiaries. For instance, ‘yung San Fernando, Pampanga, we are currently building four high-rise buildings there, 12-story buildings which will generate about 977 units, almost 1,000 units that will be completed within the year. One of them can be awarded in a few weeks’ time. And our project also in Davao City is in full swing. We have constructed about 14 buildings there that will house about 1,400 beneficiaries and 400 of these units are ready for delivery also and taken out by Pag-IBIG. All this will happen within the year and our Tagoloan project is also in full swing.

So SHFC will be the first to deliver under the 4PH program and being completed the entire project cycle. From the start, from the planning stage to the site development, construction of the buildings, and then documentation of their beneficiaries until they are taken out by the Pag-IBIG. The 4PH project is the brainchild of our Secretary and the concept really is based on our experience as real estate developers, based on the experience of the Secretary who has been a real estate developer for so many years. The mindset is really for us to be able to source financing without being heavily dependent on government appropriations. We source our funds from financial institutions, we develop the sites with the help and partnerships with the qualified contractors we construct the buildings and then we document the buyers until they are taken out by Pag-IBIG. This is the full project cycle and then we reinvest whatever are revenues that will be generated from these projects until the project is finally completed, that is the entire concept and I call this business in Social Housing. Because it was never done before because Social Housing has been dependent on government appropriations. But government appropriations are inadequate to cover the huge housing gap which is 6.5 million. For us to be able to bridge the housing gap, we have to innovate and be creative and this is the program that is going to address this huge gap in housing.

So today, I am glad that given all of these experiences, Madam Mayor of Pulilan, we are confident that we will be able to successfully deliver these housing units to the beneficiaries of Pulilan. Given the experience of our people, based on what they have done, what they already accomplished so far, at this point of time, we are confident that we will be able to deliver this within the timetable that we have committed to local government of Pulilan. So let me thank all of our partners, starting from our partner-LGU of course, headed by our good mayor, Mayor Maria Rosario Ochoa-Montejo, and our other partner of course our contractor AVECS Corporation headed by Mr. Baldonado, and of course my team, my SHFC team, thank you for this opportunity to be of service to the people of Pulilan and to our beneficiaries.

Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat!

Speech by SHFC President & CEO Federico Laxa at the HOME Awards Ceremony

DHSUD Auditorium, Quezon City
30 August 2024

When I assumed office as President & CEO of the Social Housing Finance Corporation in September 2022, I immediately asked our people to develop two Recognition Awards Program – one for the employees and another for our community associations. This is part of our effort to improve productivity and promote excellence in all aspects of our operations as I have always been guided by a quote from Kouzes and Posner’s book “Encouraging the Heart” that “what gets rewarded, gets repeated”. I have used this tool to motivate people to excel over the years. And my experience, whether in the public or private sector, has taught me that this is a very powerful tool indeed to achieve better outcomes and results.

Today, we are launching one of these programs, the HOME Awards Program that was developed by the Partner Relations Division under the stewardship of Atty. Sally Taguian. The program was designed to recognize Community Associations that excelled in managing their affairs in terms of their commitment to SHFC and their member-beneficiaries. Simultaneous with its official launching is the recognition and awarding of community associations that were found to have excelled based on the criteria and guidelines set by the Social Housing Finance Corporation.

We hope that this recognition will motivate them further to do even better and inspire others to work harder to achieve what their peers have achieved. They will serve as role models to other communities. Their achievements and experiences will serve as best practices for others to emulate. They will serve as roadmaps and frameworks for other communities on how to manage their affairs. They will set standards that provide the best course of action to take and the best way to do things that can produce the best possible outcomes and results.

Sa pagkakataong ito, pinaaabot ko ang aking pabati sa mga bibigyan ng pagkilala ngayong araw na ito. Alam kong lahat ng bibigyan ng parangal ngayong araw na ito ay karapat-dapat. Please accept my heartfelt congratulations to one and all. Sana ay maging uliran kayo ng iba pang community associations. Kayo ngayon ang aming mga bayani na magsilbing magandang huwaran para sa lahat.

Maraming salamat po at magandang umaga sa inyong lahat. Ito po ay araw ng pagdiriwang sa inyong pagsisikap, dedikasyon at tagumpay.

Speech by SHFC President and CEO Federico A. Laxa at the 15th SHFC Employee Provident Plan Inc. Annual General Membership Meeting

Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati City
July 19, 2024

Good afternoon and welcome to our annual general assembly of the SHFC Employee Provident Fund. It is truly a pleasure to see all of you gathered here today.

This assembly marks not just a reporting of numbers and updates. It is more of a celebration of the collective efforts that propel our organization forward. As we reflect on the past year, we are reminded of the challenges we have faced and the milestones we have achieved together.

First and foremost, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each member of the provident fund, par-ticularly to the officers led by Atty. Maria Rosalie Richa Taguian. Your contributions form the bedrock upon which our shared prosperity is built. Your diligence and foresight in planning for the future not only secure our financial well-being but also strengthen the fabric of our entire SHFC family.

Congratulations are also in order for all the members who have embraced this opportunity to build brighter futures for themselves and their families. Your prudence and stewardship have ensured that our provident fund remains resilient and robust. Your contributions have not only sustained our fund but have also enabled us to grow and expand our support for our members. You all deserved a round of applause!

As the landscape of financial planning evolves, we must adapt to meet the dynamic needs of our members. I encourage each of you to continue exploring opportunities for growth and di-versification while upholding the core principles of transparency and accountability.

Let us continue to build upon this success. May 2025 and the years ahead bring even greater achievements. Here’s to a productive and prosperous year ahead for the SHFC Provident Fund and each of its valued members.

Congratulations everyone! Maraming salamat at magandang hapon sa inyong lahat!

Speech by SHFC President and CEO Federico Laxa at the Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between DHSUD, SHFC, NHA, and Meralco

DHSUD Building, Quezon City
17 July 2024

DHSUD Sec. Jerry Acuzar
My colleague General Manager Joeben Tai
Meralco COO Ronnie Aperocho
Other DHSUD officials, Meralco representatives
And my SHFC team

One critical component in housing development and delivery is the provision of electric and water utilities. No development will ever be complete without these utilities and no successful delivery of housing units can take place without said utilities.

Historically, one source of delay in the delivery of housing units to their intended beneficiaries is the absence or delay in the installation of power utilities. The timely installation of power to fully energize a housing development is imperative to effectively ensure acceptance of such units by their beneficiaries. Who will want to reside and occupy a house without such important and essential services?

Hence, this collaboration with Meralco which covers an extensive electric power distribution franchise in 22 cities and 89 municipalities is important to ensure the timely energization of our developments especially as we embark on the full implementation of our Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing Program or 4PH – the flagship program of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., under the able stewardship of the chief architect of this innovative program, our DHSUD Secretary Jerry Acuzar.

This will also pave the way for future collaborations with other utility companies in other parts of the country to ensure the success and timely delivery of our housing units to their respective communities and beneficiaries.

Another essential component of 4PH is its self-generating feature to ensure project completion. The speedy recovery of project investment through take-outs to repay loans and regenerate revenues depends largely on the completion of projects including the critical and timely provision of electricity and water, hence, we cannot overemphasize, to say the least, the importance of this partnership, collaboration, and cooperation.

This is just the beginning and it’s only going to get better from here as we look forward to forging more meaningful partnerships with other players in the development of projects to hasten and fast-track their implementation. The big picture is towards establishing a one-stop shop that will significantly reduce time-consuming procedures in project development.

In closing, allow me to thank the Meralco management for this initiative as we look forward to the expedient and accelerated energization of our housing developments in their franchise areas.

Maraming salamat po.

Speech by SHFC President and CEO Federico A. Laxa at the Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Social Housing Finance Corporation, Cagayan de Oro City Government, and Johndorf Ventures in Makati

22 May 2024

On my way here, I had to write this message. I wanted it to be really personal because may memories ako diyan sa Cagayan de Oro City. (Good afternoon) Mayor Klarex Uy, and the esteemed Mr. Richard Lim and his beautiful wife over there. Our SVP for Support Services, Atty. Leo Deocampo, is also with us, and Felman Gilbang, (VP for North Western Mindanao & VizMin 4PH) of course, you know him, and our SHFC family who are also here today.

Almost three decades ago, I saw the growth potential of Cagayan de Oro. I used to visit the city towards the mid and late 90’s. Matagal na po ‘yun, Mayor. During which my partner and I started developing projects in the area. Back then, Cagayan de Oro was already a growing city. Then, the last time I was there, late last year, I saw the significant progress in the area and I believe that it will continue to grow with the leadership, of course, of Mayor Uy over there.

Since 4PH or the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program, the flagship program of the President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and under the stewardship and guidance of our DHSUD Secretary, Jerry Acuzar, aims to address the housing backlog of our country, it is imperative that we have a presence in one of the most promising and fast-growing cities of the region of Northern Mindanao.

Cagayan de Oro has become a highly urbanized area and as a consequence of a growing economy, addressing the growing housing demand can be very challenging. So, we naturally want the program of the President to be there to be part of the solution in addressing the housing needs of the city. As a result of growth and progress, not only has land become scarce, but it has also become expensive. Vertical housing is therefore the appropriate mode to address the homelessness in the city.

Today is an opportune time to do that. The partnership that SHFC is about to forge today with the City of Cagayan de Oro, represented by its Mayor, the Honorable Klarex Uy, and developer Johndorf, headed by Richard Lim, who I met many years ago when we were much younger, is significant as it marks the beginning of our collaboration to address the homelessness in the country. Cagayan de Oro is the regional center and the logistics and business hub of Northern Mindanao and addressing homelessness in a constantly developing economy and growing population has become increasingly challenging.

This partnership therefore is important for all of us so that together, as a team, we will successfully address the growing housing backlog in Cagayan de Oro. Therefore, I extend my deepest gratitude to our partners, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Klarex Uy and Johndorf Ventures headed by its President and CEO Richard Lim. The leadership of Mayor Uy is important and crucial for the success of our project; on the other hand, the expertise and experience in housing of our developer, Johndorf, will ensure the success in the development of this project.

Mayor Uy and Richard, together, let’s start building lives.

Maraming salamat po at magandang hapon sa inyong lahat.

Speech by SHFC President and CEO Federico A. Laxa at the Groundbreaking Ceremony of Pascualer 7 & 10 HOAI in Novaliches, Quezon City

06 April 2024

Hon. Joy Belmonte
Mayor, Quezon City

Hon. Gian Carlo Sotto
Vice Mayor, Quezon City

Hon. PM Vargas
Representative, District 5, Quezon City

Hon. Joseph “Joe” Visaya
Councilor, District 5, Quezon City

Hon. Alfred Vargas
Councilor, District 5, Quezon City

Hon. Aiko Melendez
Councilor, District 5, Quezon City

Hon. Shay Liban
Councilor, District 5, Quezon City

Hon. Ram Medalla
Councilor, District 5, Quezon City

Hon. Muyta Castelo
Councilor, District 5, Quezon City

Ms. Lerma Soriano,
Community Organizer, HICER/HOA President

Distinguished guests, esteemed colleagues, and honored beneficiaries.

Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat!

With great pride and profound gratitude, I stand before you today as we mark a historic moment in our quest for inclusive and sustainable housing solutions. The groundbreaking ceremony for Pascualer 7 and Pascualer 10 Housing Projects represents not only the culmination of a long period of meticulous planning and hard work but also a giant leap forward in our commitment to address the pressing housing needs of our fellow Filipinos.

With Pascualer 7, we are embarking on a journey that will transform the lives of 298 families, providing them with not just houses, but homes where they can build brighter futures and pursue their dreams. Similarly, Pascualer 10 is set to benefit 1,052 families, offering them the security, stability, and dignity they deserve.

Together, these projects signify our unwavering dedication to leaving no family behind, ensuring that every Filipino has access to decent and affordable housing under the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program—the flagship initiative of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. that aims to address our country’s staggering 6.5 million housing backlog. Under President Marcos’ leadership and the guidance of DHSUD Secretary Jerry Acuzar, we at SHFC are committed to bridging this gap and creating vibrant, inclusive communities where every Filipino can thrive.

To the beneficiaries of Pascualer 7 and Pascualer 10, I wish you all the best. Sa araw na ito, kayo po mismo ang makakasaksi sa pagsisimula ng isang panibagong pabahay at panibagong buhay. Ang groundbreaking pong ito ay isang kongkretong hakbang sa pagsusumikap nating maisakatuparan ang inyong pangarap na magkaroon ng sariling tahanan.

Bagama’t “socialized housing project” po ang tawag sa pabahay na ito, hindi po ibig sabihin na hindi dekalidad ang mga units na ating ipapatayo. Makakaasa pa kayo na ang inyong future homes sa Pascualer 7 at Pascualer 10 ay hindi nalalayo sa mga ginagawang housing projects ng mga kilalang developers. Ganyan po ang mga itinatayong 4PH projects ng SHFC sa buong bansa.

Sa local government po ng Quezon City sa pangunguna ni Mayor Joy Belmonte na ipinakita ang walang-sawang pagsuporta sa mga proyektong ito at iba pa naming projects sa lungsod, saludo po kami sa inyo. Thanks to your dedication to our shared vision, we are poised to create stronger, more resilient, and fairer communities through the establishment of sustainable human settlements. Manatili po sana kayong kaagapay ng aming ahensya.

Nagpapasalamat din po kami sa aming partner na Performance Builders & Developers Corporation sa patuloy na pagsuporta sa SHFC sa pagtatayo ng dekalidad na housing projects para sa ating mga kababayan.

At sa lahat po ng mga tao, ahensiya, at grupong tumulong upang maisakatuparan ang Pascualer 7 at Pascualer 10 HOAI, marami pong salamat. Magandang araw po sa inyong lahat!

Speech by SHFC President and CEO Federico A. Laxa at the Turnover of Balubal Heights Subdivision Federation in Cagayan de Oro City

23 November 2023

Our honored beneficiaries

Esteemed guests

Ladies and gentlemen,

Maayong buntag ka ninyong tanan!

Today marks a momentous occasion as we all gather here to celebrate the turnover of 960 housing units to the members of the Balubal Heights Subdivision Federation. It is with immense joy and pride that we will be witnessing the realization of your dreams and the fulfillment of our commitment to providing secure and dignified homes to the Filipino people.

The journey leading up to this day has never been easy. It has been a road paved with obstacles and challenges, yet here we stand today, united and triumphant, reaping the fruits of our collective efforts. This achievement is not only about providing roofs over the heads of the beneficiaries but more importantly about empowering families and building communities.

On behalf of the entire SHFC organization, I extend my deepest gratitude to all those who have contributed to this journey. To all our partners, thank you for your passion and commitment. It is heartening to see that all our hard work has come to fruition.

To our member-beneficiaries, please accept my warmest congratulations. Today, you are not just receiving the keys to your own homes. You are opening doors to a brighter future filled with endless possibilities. These homes are more than just physical structures, they are the foundation upon which memories will be created, dreams will be nurtured, and lives will be transformed.

Let this day be a testament to what we can achieve when individuals, communities, and organizations unite with a shared vision of creating a better tomorrow. As we celebrate this occasion, I express confidence that Balubal Heights Subdivision Federation can make substantial strides in reducing the housing backlog of the country, creating a positive impact on the lives of the Filipino people and contributing to the broader goal of inclusive and accessible housing for all.

As President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said during his inauguration speech, let us “build on success that’s already happening.”

Muli, maayong buntag at daghang salamat ka ninyong tanan!

Speech by SHFC President and CEO Federico A. Laxa at the Internal Auditing Week Kickoff in Quezon City

16 October 2023

DHUSD Usec. Atty. Randy Escolango

Pag-IBIG Fund CEO Marilene Acosta
NHMFC President Renato Tobias

NHA Assistant General Manager Alvin Feliciano
HSAC Commissioner Melzar Galicia
DESIA Ricojudge Janvier Echiverri
COA Dir. Fidela Tan

DHSUD colleagues
My SHFC family
Ladies and gentlemen

Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat!

I am delighted to join you all today alongside my DHSUD and KSA families as we kick off the

first-ever Internal Auditing Week.

The fact that we are holding this event is significant. As you are well aware, internal auditing serves as a linchpin within any institution, including the entirety of the housing organization. It not only offers us a broader perspective on our collective responsibilities but also assesses the effectiveness of our internal controls, which are critical to the success of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s flagship initiative, the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program.

As emphasized in the theme of this endeavor, “Internal Auditing: A Partner in Enhancing Organizational Resilience with Integrity and Accountability,” internal audit plays a vital role in ensuring that we operate with the highest standards of responsibility and efficiency. Ultimately, our work as public servants relies heavily on the trust of the people.

The importance of this occasion lies in the synergy and cooperation between the DHSUD and the KSAs. Speaking on behalf of the entire SHFC family, I assure you of our unwavering support for all our internal auditors who are diligently and tirelessly upholding the utmost standards of integrity and professionalism. Your work and dedication will allow us to recognize strengths that we can build upon and identify areas that require improvement.

As we move forward, let us ensure the seamless integration of internal audit best practices to further enhance our organizational resilience and safeguard the integrity of the housing sector. After all, the trust of the people is our cornerstone, and internal audit fortifies that trust.

In conclusion, let us keep in mind that as public servants we are entrusted to make decisions that impact the lives of the people and ensure that the DHSUD and all KSAs operate in the best interest of the Filipinos.

Maraming salamat at magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat!

Speech by SHFC President and CEO Federico A. Laxa at the Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between the Social Housing Finance Corporation and Cooperative Development Authority in Makati

11 October 2023

I have encountered so many cooperatives during my career, starting with the Technology and Livelihood Center where we lent micro loans to several multipurpose cooperatives, and later on at the National Housing Authority.

Consider this:

Over one billion people in 96 countries had become members of at least one cooperative. Pre-Industrial Europe is home to the first cooperatives. There are over 10,000 reporting cooperatives in the Philippines with about 11.5 million members. SHFC has partners with several cooperatives.

Today, I am very pleased to be with all of you for the signing of our memorandum of understanding with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA). On behalf of my SHFC family, it is with great pleasure that I welcome our CDA partners and guests to this ceremony. This historic event opens the door for more collaboration in addressing the growing homelessness among the low- and moderate-income groups.

Considering that the Social Housing Finance Corporation’s main program relies heavily on the community and the cooperation of its member-beneficiaries, we see this partnership with the Cooperative Development Authority as a significant step towards the further strengthening of our collaboration with various collaboratives.

I thank the Cooperative Development Authority led by their Chairperson Usec. Joseph Encabo and their Administrator Asec. Myrla Paradillo. (Administrator Myrla and I had a fruitful meeting on May 16 this year precisely to discuss such collaboration) and other CDA key officers for this initiative.

This ceremony reaffirms our commitment to enhance our cooperation and work together towards the accomplishment of our goals. We look forward to a continuing alliance with CDA in serving the underprivileged, especially in providing them with decent and affordable homes.

Maraming salamat po!

Speech by SHFC President and CEO Federico A. Laxa at the Inspection of Crystal Peak Estates by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in San Fernando City, Pampanga

3 July 2023

Mayap a abak pu kekayu.

Mahal na Pangulo, this is it. Heto na po!

Malugod naming inihahandog sa inyo ngayong araw na ito ang katuparan ng inyong pangarap na mabigyan ng pabahay ang nakararaming mamamayan natin at tugunan ang malaking kakulangan sa pabahay sa pamamagitan ng inyong Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing Program o 4PH.

Mahal na Pangulo, heto na po ang katunayan na kaya natin ito. Ito po ang mahalagang sandali na pinkahihintay natin.

Heto na po. Ang oras at lugar kung saan ay maipapahayag na ninyo na ito na ang katuparan ng ating mga pangako.

Ang Crystal Peak Estates po ay magiging tahanan ng 10,250 pamilyang Pilipino na walang tirahan. Magtatayo po tayo sa proyektong ito ng 27 gusali mula 12 hanggang 25 palapag bawat isa. Ito po ay magkakaroon ng kumpletong pasilidad, komersyal at mga iba’t ibang institusyon sa halos 10 hektaryang lupain nito.

Ang proyektong ito ay nasa sentro ng negosyo at kalakalan na distrito ng San Fernando – ang kabiserang lungsod ng Pampanga at sentrong pang rehiyon ng Gitnang Luzon. Malapit po ito sa malalaking department stores, supermarkets, hotels, kainan, ospital, eskwelahan, at opisinang pang negosyo. Hindi rin po nalalayo dito ang ating regional government center. Sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, maglalagay pa rin po tayo ng espasyong pang negosyo sa mga piling gusali tulad ng convenience stores, health centers, learning centers, livelihood training centers, restaurants, at mini groceries. Magkakaroon din tayo ng transport terminal dito para sa madaliang at maginhawang pagsakay ng ating mga beneficiaries. Ito po ay katuparan ng inyong pangarap, mahal na Pangulo, na kung saan ang lahat ng pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan ay pawang malalapit sa kanilang mga tahanan lalo na sa kanilang mga trabaho at hanapbuhay.

Magbibigay din po kami dito sa proyektong ito ng alokasyon para sa ating mga military at uniformed personnel at OFWs, maliban sa iba pang empleyado ng pamahaalan, pribadong sector at kababayan nating nangangailangan ng pabahay.

Mahal na Pangulo, maraming salamat po sa pagbibigay ninyo sa amin ng matibay na suporta at inspirasyon para magawa namin ang inakalang di magagawa ng iba. Sec. Acuzar, salamat po sa inyong mahusay na pamumuno at walang sawang pag-gabay sa amin. Sa aming katuwang sa proyektong ito, ang Kaerland Development Corporation, ang pamahalaang lungsod ng San Fernando, ang SHFC, KSAs at DHSUD family ko, mga panauhing pandangal, salamat po sa motibasyon na binibigay ninyo para magsikap at pagbutihin pa naming lalo ang aming mga trabaho. At sa aming mga benepisyaryo na matiyagang naghintay sa proyektong ito para makamit ang kanilang pangarap na magkaroon ng sariling tahanan.

Dakal pung salamat at mayap a aldo kekaya ngan.

Speech by SHFC President and CEO Federico A. Laxa at the Groundbreaking Ceremony of Valley View Townships in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental

2 April 2023

Maayong buntag sa inyong tanan!

Masaya po akong nakasama kayo dito sa groundbreaking ng Valley View Townships project dito sa Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. Isa po ito sa mga kauna-unahang proyekto ng SHFC sa ilalim ng Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing Program o 4PH ng Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. at sa direksyon at pamumuno ng Kalihim Jerry Acuzar ng Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.

Nag-umpisa po ito sa isang simpleng meeting namin nina Cong. Romy Jalosjos at ni SHFC VP Felman Gilbang sa may Ortigas Center noong December 9, 2022. At doon po ay nabuo ang plano naming para gumawa ng 25 13-storey buildings na lilikha ng mga 10,400 condominium units na ang karamihan ay para sa mga empleyado nsa PHIVIDEC at mga kumpanya na nakapaloob dito.

Makikinabang po ang ating mga nagtatrabaho dito sa mababang buwanang bayad sa pamamagitan ng interest subsidy na magbababa ng interest sa isang porsyento lamang at ng graduated amortization scheme ng 4PH. Maliban po sa benepisyo sa ating mga manggagawa na magkakaroon ng sariling tahanan, ang Tagoloan at mga karatig pook nito ay makikinabang din sa dagdag na trabaho para sa site development at construction, sa benta ng construction materials, mga furnitures, at appliances. Malawak po ang benepisyo na magagawa ng proyektong ito sa pagpapalago ng inyong ekonomiya. Hindi bababa sa halagang P2.23B ang trabahong malilikha ng proyektong ito.

Inaanyayahan ko po ang lahat na magpalista na kayo sa lokal na pamahalaan ninyo at sa SHFC o RGJ Realty para masama po kayo sa mga makikinabang sa proyektong ito.

Nagpapasalamat po ako kay Cong. Jalosjos at sa kanyang RGJ Realty Corporation sa pagsali nila sa 4PH. Makakaasa sila na kami ay parating nasa likod nila para sa tagumpay ng proyektong ito. Nagpapasalamat din po ako sa lokal na pamahalaan ng Tagoloan sa pangunguna ni Mayor Nadya Emano-Elipe, sa ating mga Representatives: Cong. Emano at Cong. Rodrigues at Gobernador Unabia sa pakikiisa nila at sa suporta nila sa proyektong ito. Salamat din sa iba pang opisyales na naririto, sa PHIVIDEC sa pangunguna ng kanilang CEO/Administrator Jesus Mananquil at mga opisyales nila. Sa mga namumuno ng mga kumpanya na locators dito at sa mga manggagawang Pilipino.

Daghang salamat po sa inyong tanan. Mabuhay po tayong lahat.

Speech by SHFC President and CEO Federico A. Laxa at the St. Rosary Village Homeowners’ Association, Inc. in San Fernando, Pampanga

29 March 2023

Magandang hapon po.

Ako po ay lubos na nagagalak at nakamit na ninyo ang inyong pinakahihintay na titulo sa inyong mga lupa. Ito ang nagpapatunay na pagma-may ari na ninyo ang mga lupang ito. Pakamahalin po ninyo ang papel na ito. Ito rin po ang aming hangarin na mabigyan kayo ng karagdagang yaman na maipamamana ninyo sa mga susunod na henerayon. Ang tawag po namin dito ay “empowerment” – ang pagbibigay ng kapangyarihan sa inyong mga kamay, ang pagpapataas ng antas ng inyong pamumuhay. Ngayon po ay taas noo na ninyong masasabing “akin ito,” “ako na ang may ari nito.” Maipagmamalaki ito ng buong pamilya ninyo.

Ang SHFC ay nagsisilbing tulay para punuan ang puwang sa pagbibgay ng tahanan sa ating lipunan. Patuloy po naming pupunuin ang puwang na ito.

Ang ating Pangulo po at ang Kalihim ng Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development ay inatasan kami na lalo pang paramihin ang mga bahay para matugunan ang malaking pagkukulang sa pabahay. Kaya inilunsad po namin ang Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing Program o 4PH. Mapalad po ang mga taga-San Fernando at isa po ito sa mga unang-una na magiging benepisyaryo ng programang ito. Malaki po ang benepisyo ng ating mga kababayan dito: ang interest subsidy na magpapababa ng interest sa isang porsyento lamang at ang graduated amortization na lubos na magpapababa ng buwanang bayad. Inumpisahan na po namin ang proyektong ito at malamang na magkakaroon kami ng awarding ng mga unang beneficiaries sa taon ding ito. Kaya kung interesado po kayo ay magpalista na kayo sa pamahalaan ng San Fernando o sa SHFC. Nagpapasalamat din po ako kay Mayor Caluag at Vice Mayor Lagman at sa buong pamahalaan ng siyudad ng San Fernando sa buong-pusong suporta nila sa proyektong ito. Pati po ang Gobernador at Bise Gobernador ay nagpaabot na ng todo-suporta sa programa ng ating Pangulo.

Talaga pong inyad ku kang Sec. Acuzar a magumpisa kami keni Pampanga uling Capampangan ku pu. Niya pu misabi kami na keng Mayo mag schedule kaming munta ya keni ing kekatamung Presidente Bongbong Marcos at Sec. Jerry Acuzar. Pangaku ku pu a ing Pampanga muna ya kareng benepisyo na ning programang ini. Dakal la pu reng interesado keng programang ini. Keng kasulukuyan 1 milyon na la pu keng mabilog Pilipinas reng maka commit keng 4PH.

Muli, binabati ko po kayong lahat.

Dakal pung salamat.

Speech by SHFC President and CEO Federico A. Laxa at the 2023 Corporate Planning Activity in Clark, Pampanga

22 March 2023

It has been 6 months since I started with you and so far, it has been a very challenging journey.

By now, I have a full grasp of why we are here, our worth, our importance, and our critical role in providing homes for the low and moderate-income population.

I also know what sets us apart from others. We provide housing in consultation with the community that we serve. The community is the core of all these thereby promoting interrelationships, cooperation, participation, and collaboration as we work together towards our goal of bridging the homeownership gap.

Apart from our regular programs: CMP, HDH, and other special projects, we have been asked to participate in the government’s national shelter program – the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing or 4PH.

In this corporate planning exercise, we will formulate a roadmap on how we can achieve our goals and objectives of providing as many homes as possible to low and moderate-income groups.

The basic principle that we intend to pursue is to make our processes as simple as possible as complexity creates confusion, vagueness, and uncertainties. Uncertainties result in unpredictable outcomes.

We have already taken this major step of improving our processes when we re-examined and modified our CMP framework and established the Community Guided Framework.

We will also be guided by this principle as we implement our 4PH Projects to ensure the speedy delivery of housing units to the program’s intended beneficiaries. I will explain this as we present to you the initial list of projects that we will implement in support of this program.

Additionally, we will also be guided by the principle of ensuring effective management of our resources. We must exert effort in liquefying some of our long-term receivables to improve corporate liquidity and allow us to undertake as many projects as possible. We will also source additional funds through the capital market or other financial schemes to reduce our dependency on annual government appropriations which are unpredictable and unreliable.

Our goal is to ensure sustainable growth and prosperity. We can only do this if we manage our resources well, and achieve economies of scale and constant profitability.

As we go through this exercise, we will discuss various strategies that will lead us to realize our long-term goals and objectives.

Speech by SHFC President and CEO Federico A. Laxa at the Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Social Housing Finance Corporation, Hilmarc’s Construction Corporation, and Kaerland Development Corporation

8 March 2023

Today we will sign our second MOU for SHFC’s 4PH Project. This project, Crystal Peak in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, will generate a total of 8,352 units. This brings to 18,752 the total number of units that have been committed to SHFC for 4PH. This is the second among a series of MOUs that will be signed in the weeks and months to come.

This MOU Signing with our partner developers, Hillmarc’s Construction Corporation and Kaerland Development Corporation, is significant because this project will be the first among all the projects under 4PH that has formally started construction and will be ready for inspection by His Excellency, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in May. Similar SHFC projects have started construction in Misamis Oriental and Davao City but Crystal Peak will be the first that will be inspected by the President with significant progress.

Yesterday, DHSUD Secretary Jerry Acuzar has conducted an inspection of this project together with other DHSUD Officials. We also met, for the second time, with San Fernando Mayor Vilma Caluag and made a presentation on this project to ensure her full support and cooperation. I will also be meeting with VG Lilia Pineda to discuss, inter alia, this project. We will be holding regular meetings with different agencies and other stakeholders to ensure the smooth implementation of this project.

We are done with groundbreakings, it is high time that we start building. And it is SHFC and its partners that will deliver.

I would like to thank our partners in this project – Hillmarc’s Construction Corporation and Kaerland Development Corporation – for believing in us and in our mission to bridge the enormous gap in providing housing for the low and moderate-income population. I thank also our SHFC people for their hard work – EVP Payot, our OP Technical Team – Isaias, Ken, and Christelle together with our technical consultants. Our legal team headed by Atty. Leo Deocampo. Our Central Luzon group led by Atty. Vista and Prandy. Atty. Salie, for the accreditation of our partners and for the numerous jobs ahead that she will do for these projects. And of course, the rest of the OP staff who consistently worked with me up to late hours every day to make all of these possible.

When completed, these projects will bring SHFC to greater heights.

Mabuhay and to our partners, let’s do it.