SPEECHES
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.
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.
