I must admit that I have looked forward to this event with a feeling of excitement and inspiration.

            I am excited to see all of you because you represent your provincial legislative and advisory bodies, practically the collective governance wisdom of your provinces.

            And I am inspired because you came together here to learn two important things as well. First, to help build the nation (our ultimate job), and second, to help build houses for the people—a very specific and basic job.

            It is as if all of you are saying that building the nation entails building actual houses for the people. To which I would like to add, that having a house of one’s own is the beginning of a better life.

            Nothing can be more inspiring for someone like me who shares exactly the same sentiments.

            For beyond the rhetoric and the most vilified waiting shed and street sign projects, what better way to assure our people that we have their interest at heart than to build houses for our kababayans?

            That is why your organization’s initiative to organize this seminar is proof of the change that has indeed come into our politics and our concept of public service. Learning about some of the technical aspects of housing delivery is one way to equip yourselves for genuine service.

            And in fact, you seem to have read my mind precisely. What my officials and colleagues from the different housing agencies will share with you are exactly what you need to learn about housing.

            As you probably know, we have recently concluded our Pabahay Caravan. We went around the country explaining to local officials the workings of the government’s housing program and how national housing strategies can fit into local housing needs, about which the local government units are the experts.

            And I am happy to tell you that the Pabahay Caravan exactly fits in with the objective of the PBMLP in this event, which is captured in your theme: “PBMLP Thinking Outside the Box: Building the Future Through Effective and Responsive Housing and Land Use Planning”.

            Indeed, we can build the future through responsive housing and land use planning.

            Mga kapwa lingkod-bayan at kapanalig sa paglilingkod, alam po nating lahat kung gaano kahalaga sa ating mga Pilipino ang pagkakaroon ng matatawag nating sariling bahay. Gaano man ito kaliit, ang sariling bahay para sa atin ay isang kayamanan.

            Naniniwala ako na kapag pinagsama ang aming mga programang pabahay at ang inyong interes at determinasyon; kapag ang pambansang pangarap na kaunlaran ay iugpong sa inyong matiyagang pagpapatupad sa mga proyektong pabahay para sa inyong mamamayan, tayo ay magtatagumpay.

The partnership between the national and local governments, with the support of our private partners, is key to achieving our goal of providing a roof over the heads of every Filipino family.

            Kaya hayaan ninyong direkta at matuwid na ibahagi ng kinatawan ng key shelter agencies ang mga teknikal na kaalaman sa programang pabahay. Sila ang eksperto sa mga programa at patakaran, kayo—ang mga LGUs—ang  eksperto sa pangangailangan at sitwasyon ng inyong lokalidad.

            We have three branches of agencies in the national housing program: those in the regulatory branch, the finance branch, and the production branch.

            The regulatory branch can help you with your planning for housing, the allotment of your resources, such as those you carefully orchestrate in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan or CLUP and the Local Shelter Plan or LSP. The CLUP and LSP are your basic planning tools for housing.

            We are also advocating for your formation of Local Housing Boards or LHBS, which will closely coordinate with our agencies.

            In housing finance, we have several agencies with specific programs for lending housing loans and financing home-building, either through PAG-IBIG, the Social Housing Finance Corporation, or the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation.

            The actual building of houses and relocation of informal settlers, when necessary, comes under the purview of the National Housing Authority.

            All these agencies have a variety of programs with one objective: make possible the delivery of housing especially for the those with limited capacities to buy houses. And in achieving this, to use all possible resources, especially those identified by local government units, in making housing a realizable dream for every Filipino.

            Mga mahal kong kababayan, katrabaho sa pamahalaan, at kapanalig sa pabahay, narito tayong dalawang pangkat ng mga eksperto sa usaping ito: ang mga taga-national housing program at ang mga LGUs. Ang pagsasalubong ng ating mga kaalaman ang magbubunga ng tama at epektibong implementasyon ng mga programang pabahay sa inyong lugar.

            Pag-usapan natin ito nang mabuti. Let our wisdoms meet.

            Maraming salamat po.​