Breaking barriers, revolutionizing the Philippine housing industry

The much-anticipated Affordable Housing Summit 2024 opens today at Solaire Resort North, bringing together government officials, industry leaders, and international experts under the theme “Breaking Barriers: Revolutionizing the Philippine Housing Industry.” This year’s summit is set to be a pivotal event, addressing the urgent need to scale up housing production and implement innovative solutions to the country’s housing crisis.

Key discussions, insights

The summit commenced with a series of high profile addresses, setting the tone for a day packed with strategic discussions.

Gino Olivares, national president of the Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP), will welcome attendees with an opening message that underscored the critical role of both the public and private sectors in overcoming the nation’s housing challenges.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte is set to emphasize the importance of collaboration across all levels of government to ensure the success of affordable housing initiatives. Keynote messages from Senator Imee Marcos and DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino “Jerry” Acuzar are expected to highlight the government’s commitment to address the housing backlog and the steps being taken to streamline processes and incentivize private sector participation. Furthermore, Atty. Kristine Joy Diaz-Teston, Assistant Secretary of Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (SAPIEA) will also be giving her message of support for the Affordable Housing Summit.

Global perspectives, local innovations

Today’s morning sessions will feature insights from international experts, including urban planner Mazrina Binti Abdul Khalid from Malaysia and Dr. Sang Keon Lee from South Korea, who will share global best practices in urban development and design. These sessions, hosted by Boysen Philippines, will provide attendees with valuable perspectives on how the Philippines can draw inspiration from global cities to enhance its urban planning and housing strategies.

One of the summit’s highlights will be the fireside chat on “Closing the Housing Gap: Key Strategies and Programs to Scale Up Production,” to be moderated by OSHDP director Billy De Leon. The panel will include top executives from Pag-IBIG Fund, the Social Housing Finance Corp., and the Philippine Guarantee Corp., who will discuss the challenges and opportunities in scaling up housing production through innovative financing and public-private partnerships.

Focused breakout sessions

In the afternoon, the summit will feature breakout sessions about specific challenges and opportunities in the housing sector. Topics will range from affordable financing and public-private initiatives to innovations in socialized housing and bridging the gap between theory and practice in construction. These sessions are seen to provide a platform for in-depth discussions and the exchange of ideas among experts and industry practitioners.

Summit resolutions and closing

At the summit closing, OSHDP vice president Charlie Brown Tan will read the resolutions passed during the event, reflecting the collective commitment of all stakeholders to push forward with the initiatives discussed. His closing remarks is poised to reiterate the need for continued collaboration to overcome the barriers facing the housing sector.

Fellowship night: Building relationships

The day’s formal proceedings are to be followed by a Fellowship Night, where attendees can enjoy a networking dinner, live entertainment, and opportunities to build relationships in a more relaxed setting. The event will provide a fitting conclusion to a day that will be as much about forging partnerships as it will be about addressing the critical issues in affordable housing.

Looking forward

The Affordable Housing Summit 2024 is setting the stage for transformative changes in the Philippine housing industry. As the summit’s discussions and resolutions begin to take shape in the coming months, stakeholders from across the sector are expected to play a crucial role in realizing the ambitious goals set forth during the event.