THE CHAMBER of Real Estate & Builders’ Associations Inc. (CREBA) gathered developers, investors, and industry leaders for the Vis-Min Regional Housing Conference at the Dusit Thani on Friday, July 24, amid the quickly shifting economic tides in the country.
Atty. Diosdado Mahipus Sr., CREBA Davao City Chapter chairman and CREBA national director, said the participants all agreed to push for better policies, easier processes, and solutions that benefit both developers and Filipino families.
“Beyond business, we are here to reaffirm our mission. We are builders, and we don’t just build subdivisions and condominiums. We build homes. We build communities. We build this nation, our country, the Philippines,” Mahipus said.
Noel M. Cariño, CREBA national president, urged developers to champion sustainable, affordable, and inclusive housing solutions to match the rising demand for residential and infrastructure projects outside Metro Manila.
“You are no longer the next growth corridor; it is already happening,” Cariño stated, noting more and more businesses are relocating outside of the capital in favor of Visayas and Mindanao.
He highlighted the steady influx of investments further south across logistics, manufacturing, renewable energy, tourism, and modern urban community developments.
During the address, Cariño outlined CREBA’s recent policy engagements with national government agencies, including the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Congress, and the Senate.
CREBA successfully lobbied against a circular that sought to centralize project approvals in Manila, ensuring processing remains at regional offices to prevent project delays.
Cariño also reported that ongoing discussions on Balanced Housing Act reforms aim to make socialized housing compliance (15% for subdivisions and 5% for condominiums) more responsive and effective for developers.
In terms of real property reform & legislation, Cariño said active technical working groups are reviewing the Real Property Valuation Assessment Reform (RPVA) and proposed amendments to the 40-year-old Maceda Law.
“We’re also working on the amendments to the Maceda Law, which has been there for the last 40 years, to reflect today’s housing realities while, of course, safeguarding buyers,” Cariño said.
CREBA also highlighted the upcoming renewal of its exclusive bilateral partnership with the National Association of Realtors (NAR) of America, the biggest association of professionals in the United States, and its Executive Program in Real Estate Management (EPREM) offered with De La Salle College of Saint Benilde.
The regional gathering serves as a precursor to the upcoming CREBA National Convention, which will take place in Cebu City from October 21 to 23, 2026.
In his official message, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte emphasized the local government’s commitment to urban resilience and infrastructure planning.
“Infrastructure development remains a key priority of the city government. As such, we continue to strengthen our collective efforts to advance urban development and innovative infrastructure planning to create safer and more resilient spaces that serve as the foundation for sustainable community development,” Duterte said in a message delivered by Councilor Diosdado Angelo Mahipus Jr.
