TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
. 
of ii;.’.'Z’ ',
25 AUG -5 P4 :28
SENATE
S. No. 964
RUCEiVED BV
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE RESETTLEMENT, AID AND REHABILITATION 
SERVICES FOR THE INFORMAL SETTLERS AFFECTED BY THE DEMOLITION 
OF HOUSES / DWELLINGS ALONG DANGER AREAS AS WELL AS THE 
VICTIMS OF DISASTERS AND CALAMITIES AND THOSE AFFECTED BY 
GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN URBAN AREAS AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Population growth and migration of Filipinos has contributed to the 
proliferation of illegal settlers in both public and private lands in urban areas all over 
the country. Unfortunately, the demolition and mass eviction of informal settlers is 
usually met with opposition and violent behavior. It results in injuries and damages 
to property even death.
According to the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, there are 3.7 
million informal settler families (ISF) who do not have security of tenure in 2021. 
"Moreover, the housing need estimates have accumulated to 6.8 million in 2017- 
2022. Housing backlog persists in the socialized segment due to affordability issues. 
Only around 96,269 socialized housing units were approved or demanded from 
2017-2020, which is indicative of unaffordability. From 2001 to 2018, around 10.16


percent of the housing supply has gone to the socialized segment, and the shares 
have been decreasing."1
This bill seeks to protect the informal settlers as well as victims of disasters 
and calamities and those affected by government infrastructure projects. It aims to 
provide funds for the immediate relief of the displaced underprivileged families and 
homeless citizens and the establishment of resettlement centers, home sites or town 
sites under local and national housing programs or under the other socialized 
housing programs of other agencies.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
INGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA
1 Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 - Philippine Development Plan


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. No. 964
.. .'Mticr of 1,)' 
’ i'l.
25 AUG-5 P4:28
RECEIVED 8V.
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE RESETTLEMENT, AID AND REHABILITATION 
SERVICES FOR THE INFORMAL SETTLERS AFFECTED BY THE DEMOLITION 
OF HOUSES / DWELLINGS ALONG DANGER AREAS AS WELL AS THE 
VICTIMS OF DISASTERS AND CALAMITIES AND THOSE AFFECTED BY 
GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN URBAN AREAS AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State
2 
to assist the underprivileged and homeless citizens in urban areas adversely affected
3 
by the demolition of houses / dwellings along danger areas such as esteros, garbage
4 
dumps, riverbanks, shorelines, waterways and other public places such as sidewalks,
5 
roads, parks and playgrounds as well as the victims of disasters and calamities and
6 
those affected by government infrastructure projects.
7 
Sec. 2. Statement of Objectives and Guidelines. - This Act is intended to help
8 
the underprivileged and homeless citizens who suffered damages to property and
9 
injury to persons resulting from the demolition in or the clearing up of the
10 
aforementioned danger areas as well as the victims of disasters and calamities and
11 
those affected by government infrastructure projects in urban areas. It aims to
12 
provide funds for the immediate relief of the dispiaced underprivileged families and
13 
homeless citizens and the establishment of resettlement centers, home sites or town


1 
sites under local and national housing programs or under the other socialized
2 
housing programs of other agencies.
3 
Sec. 3. Guidelines in the Allocation of Funds. - Government funds and
4 
resources shall be spent effectively in consonance with the principle of providing the
5 
greatest good for the greatest number. Accordingly, the following guidelines shall
6 
be observed in allocating the funds made available for the implementation of this
7 
Act:
8 
(a) Funds shall be allocated exclusively for the underprivileged and homeless
9 
citizens affected by the demolition of their houses/ dwellings in urban
10 
areas;
11 
(b) Funds shall be used exclusively for relocation or resettlement sites under
12 
local and national housing programs or under the other socialized
13 
housing programs of other agencies;
14 
(c) Funds shall be used, when necessary, for the construction of basic
15 
services and facilities such as schools, health centers as well as roads or
16 
access to places of employment and livelihood which should be sufficient
17 
to meet the basic needs of the affected families; and,
18 
(d) In no case shall any portion of the sum herein appropriated be used in
19 
payment of any subsisting obligation contracted before the passage of
20 
this Act.
21 
Sec. 4. Determination of Beneficiaries and Projects. - City mayors, in
22 
consultation with national and local government agencies, shall assist in the
23 
resettlement of beneficiaries under local and national housing programs or under the
24 
other socialized housing programs of other agencies.
25 
The Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, in coordination with the
26 
Local government unit concerned, shall take the census of beneficiaries and cross-
27 
check the same with the census of the National Housing Authority (NHA).
28 
Sec. 5. Alpha Listing of Beneficiaries. - The Department of Human
29 
Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) in coordination with local government
30 
units, shall produce an alpha listing of the beneficiaries covered under this Act.
31 
Sec. Penalty Clause. - Any person or persons who shall take advantage
32 
of the situation for undue personal and private gain by committing an act of


1 
profiteering in the purchase of lots or materials, or by committing an act of
2 
misrepresentation in the documentation, or by falsifying reports shall be imposed
3 
the penalty of not more than six (6) years of imprisonment or a fine of not iess than
4 
Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) but not more than One hundred thousand pesos
5 
(P100,000.00). Any other illegal act that may be committed in relation thereto shall
6 
be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
7 
Sec. 7. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of
8 
this Act shall be included the annual General Appropriations Act until such time that
9 
the total requirements for this purpose shall have been fully implemented.
10 
Sec. 8. Rules and Regulations. - The DHSUD, in coordination with local
11 
government units, shall within thirty (30) days from the approval of this Act, issue
12 
the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
13 
Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provisions of this Act shall be held
14 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain
15 
in full force and effect.
16 
Sec. 10. Repeating Clause. - Any law, decree, rules and regulations which
17 
are inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby amended or
18 
repealed accordingly.
19 
Sec. 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
20 
its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,