SMDC brings Pag-IBIG Fund partnership to Visayas in nationwide homeownership push

SM Development Corporation (SMDC) has brought its homebuyer outreach with Pag-IBIG Fund to Visayas, giving families in Iloilo and Bacolod an opportunity to explore properties and seek guidance on housing finance.

The October 16–18 Home Ownership Weekend follows the partners’ September 8 agreement in Metro Manila. It takes the collaboration into regional communities, where prospective buyers can visit SMDC developments, discuss their housing needs and learn how to prepare for a home purchase.

The regional effort was marked on October 16 by a walkthrough at Glade Residences in Jaro, Iloilo, followed by a symbolic handover ceremony at Molo Mansion. SMDC also presented its Visayas portfolio and growth plans to local and regional media.

The venue added a local connection to SMDC’s homeownership vision. Molo Mansion, the Yusay-Consing ancestral house, was acquired and restored by the SM Group and adapted into a destination for Ilonggo culture, crafts and local products. It brought the discussion of future homes into a place that preserves part of the city’s past.

The activities reflect a broader goal: to help Filipinos pursue homeownership in the places where they choose to live and work. For SMDC, that means developing communities beyond Metro Manila and making information on housing choices and financing easier to access.

“People build their lives in a community long before they buy a home there. Their work, their family and the people they count on are already part of that place,” said Jessica T. Sy, vice president and head of design, innovation and strategy of SM Prime and SMDC. “For us, building a nation of homeowners means helping more families own a home where they have chosen to build their future. As we grow in the regions, our responsibility is to create housing choices that respect those roots.”

In Iloilo, Glade Residences offers studio and one-bedroom homes in Barangay Balabago, Jaro. Its development plan includes landscaped open spaces, swimming pools and a children’s playground. The location provides access to schools and healthcare institutions, including Central Philippine University and Metro Iloilo Hospital and Medical Center.

In Bacolod, Smile Residences offers condominium living beside SM City Bacolod, while Parkville provides residential lots along Burgos Avenue for buyers planning to build their own homes. These options allow households to consider different ways of owning property based on their space needs, preferred location and plans.

SMDC’s regional portfolio also includes Vail Residences in Cagayan de Oro. This existing Mindanao presence supports its wider ambition to reach more prospective homeowners across Visayas and Mindanao, with the current activities centered on Iloilo and Bacolod.

Through the Pag-IBIG Fund partnership, buyers can ask about participating accredited SMDC projects, request estimated financing computations and understand the documents they need to prepare. The effort builds on SMDC’s established help desk and seller preparation, outlined when the partnership was announced in September.

SMDC also has a regional office in Iloilo that handles sales processing, contract documentation and customer support for buyers in Iloilo and Bacolod. This gives regional customers a local point of contact as they move through the purchase process.

“Under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ‘s Expanded 4PH Program, we are working closely with our developer partners to make more quality homes available to Filipino workers and their families at prices and monthly payments they can afford. Through our partnership with SMDC, we are bringing more housing choices closer to our members in Iloilo, Bacolod and other parts of the Visayas,” said Marilene C. Acosta, chief executive officer of Pag-IBIG Fund.

“We want our members to have homes that suit their needs and budgets, preferably close to their workplaces, their children’s schools and their loved ones. With homes from SMDC and affordable financing from Pag-IBIG Fund, we hope to help more Filipino families achieve their dream of owning a home in the place they have chosen to build their future.”

Pag-IBIG Fund financing is available for qualified borrowers purchasing eligible properties in participating accredited projects. Pag-IBIG Fund determines borrower eligibility, property appraisal, actual loan amounts and final approval under its applicable requirements.

For a family that wants to stay close to work, school and loved ones, owning a home in its own city can be a step forward. Helping more families pursue that choice is how a nationwide homeownership vision becomes meaningful in everyday life.

For information on participating accredited SMDC projects, financing guidance and property viewings, visit smdc.com/pag-ibig.