Binay accepts Aquino’s offer to become housing chairman

(Updated 9:52 p.m.) Vice President Jejomar Binay formally accepted on Thursday President Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III’s offer to head the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC). Binay already had a “discussion" with President Aquino about his decision to take charge of the country’s housing sector, he said in a statement on Thursday.
As head of the HUDCC, Binay will supervise the operations of the council’s key shelter agencies. These agencies include:

• the National Housing Authority (NHA), the agency that builds houses for all sectors and manages government estates for resettlement of informal settlers;
• the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), which sets standards for housing projects and as a judicial agency, handles disputes between subdivision property owners and developers;
• the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), more popularly known as the Pag-IBIG fund, a trust fund that allows members to secure housing loans;
• the Home Guaranty Corp. (HGC), which provides government guarantees for loans that bankroll housing projects;
• the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. (NHMFC), which buys secondary mortgages;
• and the Socialized Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC), a semi-private government entity that manages funds for socialized housing.

The HUDCC was formed in 1986 by President Aquino’s mother, the late President Corazon Aquino, “to serve as the highest policy making body for housing and coordinate the activities of government housing agencies." The HUDCC replaced the Ministry of Human Settlements, which was established during the Marcos administration. As housing czar, Binay will also be the chairman of all the housing agencies, save for the HGC, which is chaired by the Finance Secretary. Binay second VP to head HUDCC By agreeing to be HUDCC chair, Binay becomes the second vice president to head the agency. Former Vice President Noli de Castro held the same post during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. “I have always maintained that I am ready to be of assistance to our president in attaining his vision for our country and our people," he said. "After a discussion with the president, I am following his request to take charge of the housing sector as chair of the HUDCC." Binay added that he seeks to prioritize building “sustainable communities" with volunteer organizations as the new HUDCC chair. “I look forward to implementing the president’s objectives for housing and shelter, and working with volunteer organizations like the Gawad Kalinga, with whom I share a common dream of building not just homes but sustainable communities for our people," he said. The vice president earlier refused to accept the HUDCC post, along with three other positions offered to him by President Aquino. However, Binay reconsidered his decision to refuse any other government position after following advice from former President Joseph Estrada, his running mate during the May 10 elections. Palace welcomes Binay’s decision Malacanang on Thursday welcomed Binay's decision to accept one of the Cabinet posts offered him. "The President welcomes the Vice-President's acceptance of HUDCC. He had reiterated his offer, in view of his desire for a unified administration to serve the people," said presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda in a text message to reporters. "We look forward to the Vice-President's positive contributions to the administration's efforts," Lacierda added. Binay was previously asked to choose between the HUDCC, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and the Truth Commission. Binay, who expressed his preference to head the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), initially said he would no longer accept any Cabinet post after Aquino said he was not inclined to offer him the post he wanted. Former Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo eventually got appointed to the DILG; Virgilio de los Reyes to the DAR; and retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. to the Truth Commission. - with Johanna Camille Sisante, Robert JA Basilio Jr., GMANews.TV