NOLI TO HOUSING SECTOR: KEEP MOVING FORWARD
October 16, 2008

VICE President and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) concurrent chairman Noli 'Kabayan' De Castro said the future of the mission to provide decent and affordable shelters for poor Filipinos depends largely on the focus, will and resolve of the housing sector to keep moving forward.

Speaking during the Gawad Kalinga Expo at The Fort in Taguig recently (October 11), De Castro said the housing sector has to keep on moving forward despite the challenges and distractions of the present times.

De Castro made the remarks as he cited speculations that the country will not be spared from the ill-effects of the economic meltdown in some first-world countries.

He said there are predictions that the local property sector will significantly feel the blow of the adverse developments in the global economic front.

Though it can be said that the global economic situation is marked by great uncertainty, De Castro pointed out that such uncertainty is just a challenge and possibly a distraction.

"And in this resolve to keep moving forward, we must tap, harness, and mobilize the power of friendship we have built with the various sectors of society who are now helping out in Gawad Kalinga," De Castro said.

According to De Castro, Gawad Kalinga has made 'transformative friendship' with various agencies of the government which have become their partners.

Such friendship, he said, has humbled, energized, and focused government agencies in their missions.

"In more ways than one, Gawad Kalinga has helped government appreciate what happens when there is synergy or resources and efforts. You have helped us appreciate what happens when we pool resources and strengths rather than pull each other down," he said.

"In more ways than one, you helped us regain our focus on what it means and what it takes to build a nation," he added.

He said he will exhaust all means to ensure that the cooperation between Gawad Kalinga and the government will continue to grow in pursuit of their common mission to shelter millions of homeless Filipinos.

home   |   Press Release main page   |