BRIA brings affordable housing to OFWs in Samar


Bria Homes, a subsidiary of GOLDEN MV Holdings, Inc. owned by the Villar Group, has announced its expansion to Calbayag to offer affordable housing to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Samar.

Ed Aguilar, Bria Homes division head, said that OFWs returning to their roots in Samar can find new beginnings in BRIA Calbayog’s sleek and comfortable house-and-lot units such as the two-storey Bettina Select and bungalow house models Thalia and Alecza.

According to Aguilar, BRIA Calbayog is strategically located in the heart of Calbayog City, a fast-rising center of industry and commerce in Samar. Calbayog is the most populated city in the province, surpassing the capital city of Catbalogan.

“Because of the city’s growing population, progressive education sector, and bustling trade and commerce centers, Waray OFWs are being spurred to move back home. BRIA Calbayog is rolling out the welcome mat to its native sons and daughters, offering them a wholesome residential community to retire in,” he said.

“What’s more, BRIA Calbayog is designed to be an executive village set against a lush natural backdrop, giving our kababayang OFWs the peace and tranquility they need in an idyllic retirement home.”

The Eastern Visayas region leads in the deployment of OFWs, Aguilar added noting that building a decent community to reunite with their loved ones means ensuring a better, safer, and more secure life for them.

This is the reality that drives foremost property developer BRIA Homes to present not just viable housing options but also a better quality of life to these hardworking migrant workers from Samar, said Aguilar.

Fortunately, he said, a great number of them have acquired financial literacy and a flair for sound property acquisitions. “If they once dreamt of buying or investing in their own modern homes, these days they are making it happen,” he added.

Returning migrant workers will likewise be pleased to know that BRIA Calbayog is secured by perimeter fences, 24/7 CCTV coverage, guardhouses, and LED-lit streets. Residents can foster friendly community ties as they enjoy green walkable spaces and leisure amenities like a basketball court, village pavilion, and a kiddie playground.

Currently employed OFWs who are considering investing in BRIA Calbayog will have access to a 24/7 Customer Relations Management (CRM) team on their online platforms. The team will be ready to handle inquiries, and ensure digital resolutions for any future property-related concerns.

Aguilar noted that when Covid-19 unexpectedly hit the country in 2020, sending businesses and industries reeling from quarantines and intermittent lockdowns, it was “the country’s migrant laborers that helped bail us out through the money they sent to loved ones back home.”

This is validated by data recently released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) disclosing that OFW remittances grew by 4.4 percent to $3.06 billion in June 2022 from $2.94 billion in the same month last year.

Today, with the virus currently contained, hordes of OFWs are understandably raring to fly home and spend time with their loved ones. Those who have completed their job contracts are looking forward to quiet retirement in the old hometown.