Mabalacat City—Delinquent account holders of Xevera (Mabalacat) heaved relief after Westchester Development Corporation agreed to extend the grace period of their housing loan payments from 30 to 60 days, and offered other avenues to help homeowners settle their obligations.
“We feel good, at least we were given a chance to be clarified on and a grace period to pay our accounts,” said Ricky Salvador, 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 controversy involving Globe Asiatique and Pag-IBIG Fund erupted.
Aside from his housing unit, Salvador also maintained several units which he offered for rent—which observers said was a clear violation under the housing loan rules.
Vice Mayor Geld Aquino, presiding officer, expressed gratitude to Westchester, GA, and Pag-IBIG for attending the hearing despite short notice.
“You have showed a genuine compassion to the people of Xevera [Mabalacat] specifically in this time of pandemic,” he said.
Westchester acquired Xevera Mabalacat, Bacolor and Samera Housing, all situated in Pampanga and formerly owned by Delfin Lee’s Globe Asiatique, from Pag-IBIG Fund through a bidding process.
Former Rep. Rodolfo Valencia, chairman of Westchester, earlier offered a 30-day grace period to settle delinquent accounts of house buyers while he was preparing legal sanctions against them.
He appealed to the Salvador group to meet and negotiate with Westchester to iron out issues involving their housing loans.
He said the eviction and bringing the issue to legal battle and filing of the case was a last option for us.
“I will help them…I will train them to become sales agents to boost their income,” said Valencia.
Represeantives of Globe Asiatique led by Alexander Cauguiran, Mabalacat City local government, HMDF and other stakeholders vowed to help Salvador and his members to reacquire the housing units they are occupying to legitimize their stay.
Lawyer Joseph Quiboloy, representative of Pag-IBIG Fund, said he would bring the Salvador group’s plight to the management for them to appreciate.