Xevera homeowners pack the session hall of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Mabalacat City during Tuesday’s hearing of their complaint. Photo by Ashley Manabat
MABALACAT CITY – The Xevera Mabalacat Homeowners Association, Inc. (XMHAI) has finally acknowledged the legitimacy of Westchester Development Corp. (WDC) as the new owner of the Xevera Housing Complex here as WDC agreed to extend the grace period for two months to settle their delinquent housing loans.
The settlement was reached Tuesday during a hearing on the complaint raised by the XMHAI board at the sangguniang panlungsod headed by Vice Mayor Geld Aquino.
The XMHAI, on June 16, requested the SP “to conduct a hearing/investigation to shed light on the current controversy” on the status of WDC and Globe Asiatique Realty and Holding Corp. at Xevera Mabalacat.
During Tuesday’s hearing, WDC also offered other avenues to help homeowners settle their housing loans.
“Okay na sa amin yun…at least nabigyan kami ng chance na maliwanagan at nabigyan pa ng palugit para maayos ang aming account,” said Ricky Salvador, the leader of Xevera Unity Group who earlier questioned the legality of Xevera Mabalacat sale.
Salvador said he stopped paying the housing unit he acquired through a loan from the Home Mutual Development Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund since 2009 after the controversy involving Globe Asiatique and Pag-IBIG Fund erupted.
“Siguro ang naibayad ko lang sa aking housing loan ay one year and half. Since then hindi na ako nagbayad dahil nga nagkasuhan na,” admitted Salvador during the hearing.
It was learned that aside from his housing unit, Salvador is also maintaining several units which he offered for rent – a clear violation of the housing loan rules.
For his part, Vice Mayor Aquino expressed his gratitude to WDC, Globe Asiatique and Pag-IBIG for attending the hearing despite a short notice. “You have showed a genuine compassion to the people of Xevera [Mabalacat] especially in this time of pandemic,” he said.
WDC acquired Xevera Mabalacat, Bacolor and Samera Housing, all situated in Pampanga and formerly owned by Delfin Lee’s Globe Asiatique, from Pag-IBIG Fund.
Former congressman Rodolfo G. Valencia, chairman of WDC, earlier offered a 30-day grace period to settle delinquent accounts of house buyers while he is preparing legal sanctions against them.
He appealed to Salvador’s group to meet and negotiate with WDC to iron out issues involving their housing loans. He said eviction and bringing the issue to a legal battle and filing of a case is the last option for them.
“Masaya ako at nagkaayos na sa araw na ito ang kaunting gusot sa Xevera Mabalacat project, kasi ito po ang modelong proyekto ng Westchester dito sa Pampanga,” said Valencia adding that he will reach out with Salvador’s group hopefully to find a solution and an end to the problem.
“Tutulungan ko sila…I will train them to become sales agents to boost their income,” said Valencia.
Representatives of Globe Asiatique led by Alexander Cauguiran, the city government, Pag-IBIG and other stakeholders vowed to help Salvador and his members.
Meanwhile, Cauguiran made a passionate appeal to Pag-IBIG to help “blacklisted buyers” to re-acquire their housing units.
“Pakiusap ko lang sa taga Pag-IBIG, sana yung blacklisted dahil may pampabayad naman sila, why don’t we open our doors…be compassionate dahil katungkulan naman natin na matulungan sila,” Cauguiran said.
Lawyer Joseph Quiboloy, representative of Pag-IBIG, has taken note of Cauguiran’s appeal which he said will be brought to the management’s attention for consideration.
