Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. JOSEPH “JOJO” L. LARA 
____________________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to institutionalize a rental housing subsidy program for informal settler 
families (ISFs) throughout the country. 
Informal Settler Families (ISFs) as defined in Republic Act No. 11201, otherwise known 
as the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Act refer to 
households living in 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.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, based on the 2020 Census of 
Population and Housing, the total population of the country is 109,035,343 as of May 
2020. Of which, an estimated 2% are considered as ISFs. 
Providing these ISFs with decent and affordable housing has been one of the great 
challenges facing our government. The problem usually arises when relocation sites 
for ISFs are not readily available, thereby delaying the process of relocation and 
somewhat leaving these families in limbo.  
The provision of a rental housing subsidy program will ensure that all ISFs will be able 
to afford decent and humane housing accommodation while awaiting the permanent 
relocation site that will be assigned to them by our government. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
JOSEPH “JOJO” L. LARA 
August 1, 2022
5:12 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. JOSEPH “JOJO” L. LARA 
____________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A RENTAL HOUSNG 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 as the "Rental Housing Subsidy Program 
Act." 
SECTION 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) 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;
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.
SECTION 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, without the consent of the property owner; or those without legal claim
2941


 
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. 
 
SECTION 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 (ISFs) in accessing the formal 
housing market. It shall be made an option to address the temporary relocation of 
displaced families due to natural and manmade 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 NH)A 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. 
 
SECTION 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 a safer area. 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
SECTION 8. Roles of Government Agencies. – The various national government 
agencies and instrumentalities involved in the Program shall perform specific 
responsibilities. 
a) The DHSUD shall: 
 
i. 
Coordinate with housing agencies to formulate Program targets and 
integrate these to national housing policy; 
ii. 
Promulgate appropriate housing policies among the attached corporations 
of DHSUD in line with the implementation of this Program;  
iii. 
Enlist beneficiaries and their lessors for the Program; 
iv. 
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 
 
v. 
Recommend to Congress measures for the proper and responsive 
implementation of this Act. 
 
b) The National Housing Authority (NHA) shall: 
 
i. 
Certify to the eligibility of the applicants of the Program;  
 
ii. 
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; 
 
iii. 
Update the master list of beneficiaries to be resettled as part of the National 
Resettlement Program which shall include their socio-economic profiles; and 
 
iv. 
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 (HDMF) 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: 
 
i. 
Assist the DSWD in the design of social preparation activities, workshops, 
and training programs for beneficiaries; 
 
 
ii. 
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: 
 
i. 
Maintain a publicly accessible register of lessors in their respective areas of 
jurisdiction; 
 
ii. 
Assist the NHA in conducting census and tagging of ISFs in need of 
immediate resettlement; 
 
iii. 
Assist the DSWD and PCUP in conducting social preparation activities;  
 
iv. 
Contain the vacated areas of ISFs to help achieve the objectives of this 
Program; 
 
v. 
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. 
 
SECTION 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 
 
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
SECTION 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. 


 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
SECTION 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,