UTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
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“04 JUL -6 ATU:14 
S E N A T E  
S. BILL NO. 
f. 3 2 4 
Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto 
Explanatory Note 
Shelter is one of man’s basic needs. Deprive him of his home and he will find a way 
to put a roof over his head -- be it a cardboard or a G.I. sheet, banana leaves or nipa shingles 
- and sleep where he can -- be it in small places beneath bridges or along waterways, be it 
beside railroad tracks or under street lamps, be it under the trees in parks and open spaces or 
even in garbage dumps. 
It is no wonder that next to food, rent of a dwelling unit makes up the biggest share 
in the total family expenditures with 15.1%, based on estimates of the National Statistical 
Coordinating Board (NSCB) for year 2000. But this does not even approximate present day 
realities as modest apartments now cost on the average P7,OOO a month. For a family of six 
earning the minimum daily wage of P280, rental would easily eat up almost SO% of their 
disposable income. 
This bill therefore seeks to lighten the load of stmgghg apartment dwellers and 
lessees by extending the term of Republic Act No. 9161, otherwise known as the “Rent 
Reform Act of 2002” to three (3) years more from Dec. 31,2004 to Dec. 31,2007. 
Realizing that prices of commodities, including monthly rental fees have 
considerably gone up 3 years after the enactment of RA 9161, this measure also seeks to 
provide protection to lessees from arbitrary increases in rental rates by maintaining the 
allowable maximum increase of rental rates at ten percent (1OYo) per annum. 
It also 
proposes to increase the coverage of the monthly rental of residential units from those not 
exceeding Seven thousand five hundred pesos fJ‘7,SOO.OO) in the National Capital Region 
and other highly urbanized cities to Ten thousand pesos (PlO,OOO.OO), and all other area$ not 
exceeding Four thousand pesos (P4,OOO.OO) to Five thousand Pesos (PS,OOO.OO). 
In view of the increasing oil prices, transport rate hikes and increases in the prices of 
prime commodities, it is hoped that the benefits from this bill will go a long way in providing 
much needed relief to our hard-pressed countrymen. 


nTH 
CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
S.BILLN0. 
13 
AN ACT 
AMENDING SECTIONS 3 AND 11 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9161, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE “RENTAL REFORM ACT OF 2002” 
Be it enacted b_y the Senate and House of Repnsentatives ofthe Phil$pines in Congress assembled 
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SECTION 1. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 9161, otherwise known as the “Rental 
Reform Act of 2002” is hereby amended to read as follows: 
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“Section 3. Month4 Rental and Mm’mrm Increase. - Begmning 01 January 2002 
and for a duration of SIX (G) [three (3)] years thereafter ending on 31 December 
2007 [2004], the monthly rentals of all residential units in the National Capital 
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Region and other highly urbanized cities not exceeding TEN THOUSAND 
PESOS (PlO,OOO.OO) [Seven thousand five hundred pesos Q?7,500.00)] and the 
monthly rentals of all residential units in all other areas not exceeding FIVE 
THOUSAND PESOS (P5,OOO.OO) [Four thousand pesos (P4,000.00)] shall not be 
increased annually by the lessor, without prejudice to existing contracts, by more 
than ten (IOYo). 
SEC. 2. Section 11 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“Section 11. Coverage ofthis Act. - All residential units in the National Capital 
Region and other highly urbanized cities the total monthly rental for each of which 
does not exceed TEN THOUSAND PESOS (PlO,OOO.OO) [Seven thousand five 
hundred pesos Q?7,500.00)] and all residential units in all other areas the total 
monthly rental for each of which does not exceed FIVE THOUSAND PESOS 


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(P5,OOO.OO) [Four thousand pesos (P4,000.000] as of the effectivity date of this Act 
shall be covered, without prejudice to existing contracts. 
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SEC. 3. SeparabiLig CLawe. -If any provision ofthis Act is declared unconstitutional 
or invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
SEC. 4. Repealing CLume. -All laws or parts thereof, decrees, orders, rules and 
regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
SEC. 5. Efectivip CLause. -This Act shall take effect immediately following its 
publication in a newspaper of general circulation or in the O_Hiriaal GaTeh'e, whichever comes 
titst. 
Approved,