THE Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines Inc., the umbrella organization of companies that provide affordable housing in the country, created a research center led by one of its stalwarts aimed at gathering data on the industry with the main aim of assisting the government and private sector.
The Center for Housing and Independent Research Synergies center aims to come up with studies on the state of low-cost housing in the country, including market research such as what drives people to buy their first homes, among others.
Publicly listed 8990 Holdings Inc. spearheaded the concept and has provided the seed fund of P1 million for the establishment of the center.
The center is also tasked to come up with a housing journal that would have topics about socialized housing. It also aims to fund research whose findings will be presented to the public, including the government sector and academe.
8990 Holdings president and CEO Januario Jesus Atencio said that the affordable housing industry needs data on topics such as affordability analysis. “Without updated statistics and relevant information, doing business felt like flying a plane in zero visibility,” he said. “The research group will provide lasting benefits of value-added knowledge in the ever-changing market place of ideas that will be relevant today and for generations of builders to come.”
He said the industry needs all kinds of data to make the best decisions on basic housing demand and supply, market research, affordability analysis and statistics and analysis in support of a position on issues like national land use, Batas Pambansa 220, price ceilings or income-tax holidays.
The establishment of the housing center was announced during the annual meeting of the socialized housing practitioners in the Philippines and the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council held earlier this month.
“The housing body aims to “ensure sustainability and support for housing from the government, private sector, financial institutions and the community beneficiaries as well,” Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines President George Richard Siton said in a statement.