TOPS-LRA Summit 2015: Measuring Our Gains and Meeting the Challenges Ahead

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The 2nd TOPS-LRA Summit was held at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati City on July 28, 2015. The summit is a collaborative project of The Organization of Property Stakeholders Inc. (TOPS) and the Land Registration Authority (LRA).

With a theme of "Measuring Our Gains and Meeting the Challenges Ahead," the summit aspires to provide new solutions and strategies to future challenges that might slow down the development of the property sector in the country. Experts and leaders talked about climate change, geological hazards, E-titling, computerized land registration, BIR initiatives, the Uniform Loan And Mortgage Agreement (ULAMA) and the real estate industry’s contributions to the national economy.

Giving the welcome address was Michael Jansen Abella, President of TOPS while Atty Rodolfo "Rudy" Fernandez, Vice Presidnet of BPI Family Savings Bank, gave the summit overview. Atty. Carla Uykim, Senior Assistant Vice President of Megaworld Corporation introduced the Keynote Speaker in the morning who was Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), while Hon. Nestor A. Espenilla Jr., Deputy Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) was the keynote speaker in the afternoon.

Hon. Arsenio Balisacan of NEDA

Hon. Arsenio Balisacan of NEDA

Motivational speaker, business consultant and author Francis Kong gave an inspirational talk to start the afternoon session. It was a much needed talk since his wisdom and humor brightened up the spirits of the audience who normally feel sleepy after a sumptuous lunch.

Roland Ortille, Deputy Administrator of LRA, Rommel Latinazo, President of Chamber of Thrift Banks of RCBC Savings Bank, Paul Tanchi, Vice President of Subdivision and Housing Development Association (SHDA), Oscar Victor Lizardo of Project NOAH, Dr. Renato Solidum Jr. of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Atty. Darlene Berberabe of PAG-IBIG, Atty. Chito Cruz of the National Housing Authority, Morgan McGilvray, Director of CBRE Philippines, Atty Cristina Ngo, Senior Vice President of BDO Unibank, Nestor Espenilla Jr, Deputy Governor of BSP, and Atty. Tony Bernardo of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), Eulallo Diaz III, Administrator of LRA, and Ernesto Camarillo Jr., Vice President of Land Registration System, as featured speakers and panel discussants. 

Moderators were Robert Nomar Leyretena, Deputy Adminsitrator of LRA, and Oscar Gumabay, Consultant for RCBC.

Hon. Ronald Ortille of LRA

Hon. Kim Jacinto Henares of BIR

Hon. Oscar Victor Lizardo of Project NOAH

Rommel Latinazo of RCBC Savings Bank

Afternoon panelists (Morgan McGilvray, Director of CBRE Philippines, Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and Atty. Chito Cruz of the National Housing Authority)

Afternoon panelists (Atty. Darlene Berberabe of PAG-IBIG, Atty. Tony Bernardo of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), Eulallo Diaz III, Administrator of LRA, and Ernesto Camarillo Jr., Vice President of Land Registration System)

Morning panelists (Ronald Ortille of LRA, Rommel Latinazo of RCBC Savings Bank, Oscar Victor Lizardo of Project NOAH, and Renato Solidum Jr. of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology- PHIVOLCS)

The summit culminated in a presentation of the consolidated collective inputs from the stakeholders and a stakeholders’ signing of commitment and resolution which will be an avenue for discussion about issues, trends and other developments in the real estate industry. 

The closing remarks was done by Eulallo Diaz III. Emcee of the event was Nino Jesus Raneses.

Middle of the day was a press conference held for the members of the media where we were able to inquire a few more questions from the officers of TOPS and LRA that were not yet asked in the morning session. Present at the panel were Paul Tanchi, Michael Jansen Abella, Eulalio Diaz III, Robert Nomar Leyretana, and Ronald Ortille. I took a video of everything that transpired at the press conference so I intend to upload it soon. Check it out soon at our YouTube channel at http://www.YouTube.com/wazzuppilipinas.

TOPS is a broad-based group of organizations that includes real estate developers brokers, banks, other financial institutions and government agencies involved in the multi-billion peso property sector. It aims to streamline coordination, cooperation and collaboration among its member organizations and the government to improve property registration processes and other matters involving real estate, chattel and other property transactions.

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