SHDA Marks 56 Years of Leadership, Housing Industry Leaders Convene to Push for Greater Sector Synergy

Manila, Philippines — As the Philippines continues to confront housing needs projected at 3.7 million until 2028 according to Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) is calling on the housing sector to move forward in greater synergy as it marks its 56th year of housing leadership, with its celebration set on May 20, 2026, at Marquis Events Place in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Anchored on the theme “Synergy — Onward Together!”, SHDA’s milestone gathering will bring together housing developers, government agencies, industry stakeholders, and partners. The event underscores the association’s call for stronger collective action to accelerate housing delivery and advance policy alignment across the sector.

“At 56, SHDA stands at the convergence of legacy and urgency,” said SHDA Chairman of the Board Engr. Francis Richmond Z. Villegas. “The work of making housing affordable, sustainable, and accessible to every Filipino is far from finished, and it is work that none of us can do alone. As we face challenging times in both the global and local landscape, we are reminded not to lose sight of our goals and to continue moving Onward Together.”

The timing of the milestone reflects a deliberate position. Over the past years, SHDA has actively participated in the technical working groups led by DHSUD, particularly on the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program, the streamlining of housing permits and licenses, and the review of socialized housing price ceilings.

The association also provided industry input to the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) on the Joint Memorandum Circular streamlining permits and licenses for housing developments. SHDA also maintains active participation in key advisory and consultative bodies, including housing boards, inter-agency committees, and congressional hearings in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, enforcing its role in multi-level policy formulation and oversight.

“The progress we have seen in the past year on price ceilings and regulatory streamlining is a testament to what genuine dialogue can accomplish,” said SHDA National President Mr. Kerwin Padua. “These outcomes did not happen overnight. They are the result of sustained engagement, Technical working group meetings, regional consultations, committee hearings, and frank conversations with our government partners.”

At the regional level, SHDA’s eight chapters have facilitated direct dialogues between local developers and government agencies, including DHSUD, Land Registration Authority (LRA), and Pag-IBIG Fund, helping address region-specific concerns on project development and financing.

Founded in 1970, SHDA has grown into a 350-member organization and is widely recognized as one of the industry’s most consistent voices in housing policy formulation. Its support for the institutionalization of DHSUD through Republic Act No. 11201 underscores its long-standing advocacy for structural reform.

SHDA also collaborates with academic and research institutions, such as the Center for Research and Communication of the University of Asia and the Pacific, on the Collaborative Housing Roadmap (2025–2040). It also organizes the National Developers Convention, now in its 34th edition, one of the country's longest-running annual gatherings of housing developers and stakeholders.

As part of its anniversary celebration, SHDA will pay tribute to partner institutions that have supported its mission and sustained collaboration across the public and private sectors. The association will also continue advocating for open dialogue, regulatory alignment, and inclusive participation to help address affordability, sustainability, and financing challenges in housing.

SHDA’s 56th Anniversary Celebration begins at 6:00 PM on May 20, 2026, at Marquis Events Place, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Interested industry stakeholders and partners may confirm their attendance by registering at shda.ph/56th-anniversary/ or contact shda.secretariat@gmail.com for event and sponsorship inquiries.