Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIV!

455

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives JEFFREY SORIANO, ERIC G. YAP, PAOLO Z..
DUTERTE, EDVIC G. YAP, JOCELYN P. TULFO, and RALPH TULFO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 9, Article XIII of the Constitution provides for the duty of the state to
undertake, in cooperation with the public sector, a continuing program of urban land
reform and housing which will make available at affordable cost decent housing and
basic services to underprivileged and homeless citizens in urban centers and

resettlements areas.

According to the Philippine Statistical Authority, about 4.5 million Filipinos are
homeless—3 million of them are found in Metro Manila. Among the main causes of
homelessness are poverty, domestic violence, human trafficking, and natural
disasters. Given the rising unemployment and loss of livelihood due to the
proliferation of the COVID-19 pandemic, these numbers are expected to rise even

more.

Following the very recent institutionalization of the Department of Human
Settlements and Urban Development by virtue of Republic Act No. 11201, a
comprehensive formal housing such as rental subsidy which is accessible to the

homeless would further assert the establishment of this newly created department.

This bill seeks to provide illegal settlers access to affordable formal housing market

through the aid of rental subsidy. Moreover, this would also serve as a response to the

families who are suddenly displaced due to natural and man-made disasters.


Most importantly, this proposed measure would allow our citizens to have an

alternative housing option for the furtherance of their welfare and security.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

J ;ORIANO, PAOLO 2 DUTERTE

JOCELYN P. TULFO

RALPH TULFO.



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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
I Regular Session

455

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives JEFFREY SORIANO, ERIC G. YAP, PAOLO Z.
DUTERTE, EDVIC G. YAP, JOCELYN P. TULFO, and RALPH TULFO

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

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

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

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Itis 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. Provide an innovative housing program that makes available affordable,
livable, and decent housing, as well as access to basic social service,

especially for the underprivileged;

. 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;

Informal Settler Families refer to households living on a lot, whether private
or public, without the consent of the property owner; or those without legal


claim over the property they are occupying; or those living in danger areas
such as esteros, railroad tracks, garbage dumps, riverbanks, shorelines, and
waterways, as defined in Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 11201, otherwise
known as the "Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development
Act’;

c. Rental housing subsidy refers to the financial assistance provided by the
government to pay for the temporary use or occupancy of a residential unit
in the public and private housing rental market.

SEC. 4. Rental Housing Subsidy Program. - There is hereby established the
Rental Housing Subsidy Program, hereinafter referred to as the "Program," to provide
social protection and support to informal settler families (ISEs) in accessing the formal
housing market. It shall be made an option to address the temporary relocation of
displaced families due to natural and man-made disasters.

Eligible ISFs shall receive a flat rental subsidy rate of Three thousand five
hundred pesos (PhP3,500.00) 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 Development Authority (NEDA)
for those living in all other regions, taking into consideration the prevailing minimum
wage and rental rates per region, but not to exceed Three thousand five hundred pesos
(PhP3,500.00): Provided, That the rental subsidy shall not exceed the actual rent:
Provided, further, That at any time, but not more often than once every two (2) years,
such subsidy may be reviewed or revised by the DHSUD and NEDA to conform with
the prevailing economic conditions.

Rental subsidy shall be granted to eligible beneficiaries until the date of
completion of the permanent housing project intended for them or upon their actual
transfer to the permanent housing project, whichever comes first: Provided, That, in
case of a delay in the completion of the permanent housing project, the rental subsidy
shall be extended: Provided, further, That the agency 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. bean ISF as defined under Section 3(b) hereof; and

b. vacate the informal settlement area presently being occupied and transfer
or relocate to a safer area.

SEC. 6. Conditions for Continued Entitlement or Eligibility. - All eligible
beneficiaries shall comply with the following conditions to continuously avail of the
benefits under this Act:

a. The beneficiaries shall not move or relocate back to the area in which they
were originally living in unless such move or relocation has been permitted


by the proper government authorities, taking into consideration the
purpose of the Program; and

b. The beneficiaries shall pay to the lessor that portion of the rental fee not
covered by the subsidy.

Beneficiaries 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.

SEC. 8. Roles of Government Agencies. - The various national government
agencies and instrumentalities involved in the Program shall perform specific
responsibilities.

a. ire DHSUD shall:

1, 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.

b. The National Housing Authority (NHA) shall:

1.

2.

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;

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


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

c. The Home Development Mutual Fund (HDME) shall enroll in its system at
least one household member of the applicant-beneficiaries of the Program
to facilitate their entry into the formal housing market.

d. The DSWD shall design the social preparation activities and conduct
workshops and training programs to ensure that beneficiaries are aware of
the benefits under the Program, including the parameters and conditions
for eligibility.

e. The PCUP shall:
1. Assist the DSWD in the design of social preparation activities,
workshops, and training programs for beneficiaries;
2. Conduct social preparation activities with the local government units.

f. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority shall provide
skills training to at least one household member of the beneficiaries.

g. The local government units shall:

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

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

3. Assist the DSWD and PCUP in conducting social preparation activities;

4. Contain the vacated areas of ISFs to help achieve the objectives of this
Program;

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

6. 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.

SEC. 12, Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is held
unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall
continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, proclamations, rules,
regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 14, Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,