Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1708

HOUSE BILL NO.

law, and
continui
affordabl
citizens
employ
the State

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estimat

Introduced by Representative Ivan Howard Guintu

EXPLANATORY NOTE

ion 9, Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution provides that “the State shall, by
for the common good, undertake, in cooperation with the private sector, a

program of urban land reform and housing which will make available at
cost decent housing and basic services to underprivileged and homeless

urban centers and resettlement areas, It shall also promote adequate

t opportunities to such citizens. In the implementation of such program,
hall respect the rights of small property owners.”

ding to the census by the Philippine Statistics Authority there is an
2.3 million homeless Filipinos since 2015. The National Economic

Development Authority's medium-term plan, the Philippine Development Plan 2017-
2022, highlights the importance of healthy housing conditions and well planned urban
development in achieving inclusive growth and a globally competitive economy.

housing
made dis
receive a

In

‘ket. It shall be an option for displaced families due to natural and man-
ters to address their temporary relocation. Eligible beneficiaries would
rental subsidy to help them have decent living conditions.

rit bill will give informal settler beneficiaries access to the formal

view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2°
HOUSE BILLNo._1708
Introduced by Representative Ivan Howard Guintu

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A RENTAL HOUSING SUBSIDY PROGRAM FOR INFORMAL
‘TTLER FAMILIES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be| it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress ussembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Rental Housing Subsidy
Program Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to:

(a) Promote a just, equitable, and inclusive urban development through programs providing
adequate social services, broader housing options, livelihood and employment, and an
improved quality of life for the Filipino people, especially the underprivileged;

(b) Pravide an innovative housing program that makes available affordable, livable, and
it housing, as well as access to basic social service, especially for the
underprivileged;

(c) Protect the urban poor from the impact of immediate dislocation due to eviction and
demolition arising from government projects; and

(d) Provide interim housing for dislocated families due to natural and man-made disasters.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:
|

(a) Dislocation refers to the state of being displaced from one place to another due to causes
such as eviction and demolition;



(b) Informal Settler Families refer to households living on a lot, whether private or public,

wit

pr
t

w

(

2

(c) Re

pay
hot

SE

thout the consent of the property owner; or those without legal claim over the
perty they are occupying; or those living in danger areas such as esteros, railroad
ks, garbage dumps, riverbanks, shorelines, and waterways, as defined in Section
) of Republic Act No. 11201, otherwise known as the “Department of Human
‘lements and Urban Development Act”; and

al housing subsidy refers to the financial assistance provided by the government to
for the temporary use or occupancy of a residential unit in the public and private

using rental market.

IC. 4. Rental Housing Subsidy Program. ~ There is hereby established the Rental

Housing Subsidy Program, hereinafter referred to as the “Program,” to provide social

protection,
market. It

and support to informal settler families (ISFs) in accessing the formal housing
‘shall be made an option to address the temporary relocation of displaced families

due to natural and man-made disasters.

Eli
pesos (PI

ible ISFs shall receive a flat rental subsidy rate of Three thousand five hundred
3,500.00) for those living in Metro Manila and a rental subsidy rate to be determined

by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the National

Economic’
considerat
thousand
the actual
years, suc!
the prevail

Development Authority (NEDA) for those living in all other regions, taking into
jon the prevailing minimum wage and rental rates per region, but not to exceed Three
ive hundred pesos (PhP3,500.00): Provided, That the rental subsidy shall not exceed
nt: Provided, further, That at any time, but not more often than once every two (2)
subsidy may be reviewed or revised by the DHSUD and NEDA to conform with
ing economic conditions.

Rental subsidy shall be granted to eligible beneficiaries until the date of completion of

the perm:

housing pr
the permai
the agence

jent housing project intended for them or upon their actual transfer to the permanent
yject, whichever comes first: Provided, That, in case of a delay in the completion of
ent housing project, the rental subsidy shall be extended: Provided, further, That
implementing the permanent housing project shall bear the cost of the extended

rental subsidy.

SEC. 5. Eligibility. — To be eligible under this Act, a beneficiary must:

(a) Be

‘an ISF as defined under section 3(b) hereof; and

(b) Vacate the informal settlement area presently being occupied and transfer or relocate

to

safer area.

SEC. 6. Conditions for Continued Entitlement or Eligibility. — All eligible

beneficiari
under this

s shall comply with the following conditions to continuously avail of the benefits
Act:



beneficiaries shall not move or relocate back to the area in which they were
nally living in unless such move or relocation has been permitted by the proper

(a)
or
government authorities, taking into consideration the purpose of the Program; and

(b) a shall pay to the lessor that portion of the rental fee not covered by the
sul

Bet

dy.

ficiaries who maintain good payment standings shall be prioritized as beneficiaries

in government housing programs.

SEC. 7. Form of Payment. ~ The rental subsidy shall be distributed by the DHSUD in
such form |it may determine to be most beneficial and appropriate for the beneficiaries.

Sui 8. Roles of Government Agencies. ~ The various national government agencies
and in:

(a) The

entalities involved in the Program shall perform specific responsibil

DHSUD shall:
Coordinate with housing agencies to formulate Program targets and integrate
these to national housing policy;
Promulgate appropriate housing policies among the attached corporations of
DHSUD in line with the implementation of this Program;
Enlist beneficiaries and their lessors for the Program;
Set up monitoring and evaluation system, tools, exit strategy and methodologies
‘on compliance with conditions, implementation, output, and impact
assessments together with its attached agencies, the Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Presidential Commission on the Urban
Poor (PCUP), and the local government units; and
Recommend to Congress measures for the proper and responsive
implementation of this Act.

National Housing Authority (NHA) shall:

Certify to the eligibility of the applicants of the Program;

Coordinate with infrastructure program implementing agencies, including the
Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of
Transportation, the identification of areas suitable for housing projects and the
persons who need immediate resettlement;



(c) Th

5

Update the masterlist of beneficiaries to be resettled as part of the National
Resettlement Program which shall include their socio-economic profiles; and

Design and conduct appropriate monitoring and evaluation of the
implementations of this Program which shall include a grievance and redress
system.

Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMEF) shall enroll in its system at least one

pope member of the applicant-beneficiaries of the Program to facilitate their entry
tl

the formal housing market.

(d) The DSWD shall design the social preparation activities and conduct workshops and

trai
Pro

ining programs to ensure that beneficiaries are aware of the benefits under the
\gram, including the parameters and conditions for eligibility.

(€) The PCUP shal:

Assist the DSWD in the design of social preparation activities, workshops, and
training programs for beneficiaries;

Conduct social preparation activities with the local government units.

(f) The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority shall provide skills training

to

it least one household member of the beneficiaries.

(g) The local government units shall:

| Maintain a publicly accessible register of lessors in their respective areas of
jurisdiction;

| Assist the NHA in conducting census and tagging of ISFs in need of immediate
resettlement;

Assist the DSWD and PCUP in conducting social preparation activities;
Contain the vacated areas of ISFs to help achieve the objectives of this Program;

Assist the DSWD in monitoring and evaluating the implementation of this
Program; and

vi, Conduct field valuation of beneficiaries and their respective lessors with DSWD

in the rental housing units.



SEC. 9. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the effective implementation of
this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations for the DHSUD. Hereafter, such
amount as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~The DHSUD, in coordination with
relevant government agencies, shall issue rules, regulations, and guidelines necessary to carry
out the intent and purposes of this Act within six (6) months from date of effectivity.

SEC. 11. Mandatory Review on the Implementation of this Act. ~The DHSUD shall
submit to the Congress a report on the implementation of this Program at the end of the second
year from the date of effectivity of this Act and every two (2) years thereafter.

term of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, such parts not affected by such declaration

ce 12. Separability Clause. ~ If, for any reason, any section, subsection, clause or
shall res

in in full force and effect.
SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. ~ All existing laws, orders, decrees, rules and regulations,
or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby amended, modified or

repealed aecordingly.

SEC. 14. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Offi¢ial Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,