NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
vy,<iDfficr of the £•
’22 JUL18 P5 39
SENATE 
s. No. 749
Introduced by SENATOR FRANCIS "TOL" N. TOLENTINO
AN ACT 
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MANDATING THE APPOINI MENT OF A HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND 
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HOUSING OFFICER IN PROVINCES, CITIES, AND MUNICIPALITIES, | 
PROVIDING FOR ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AMENDING SECTIONS 17, I 
443, 454, 463, AND TITLE FIVE OF BOOK II OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, | 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991", AND ■.
FOR OTHER PUPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 9, Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall 
undertake, in cooperation with the private sector, a continuing program of urban 
land reform and housing which will make available at affordable cost, decent 
housing and basic services to under-privileged and homeless citizens in urban 
centers and resettlement areas.
To strengthen the State's housing programs. Republic Act No. 11201, creating 
the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), was 
passed into law. However, there is no law mandating local government units to 
create an office equivalent to the DHSUD specifically to implement the programs for 
housing and urban development in tne local level.
While some local government units voluntarily created local housing boards, 
local housing offices and their equivalents in their jurisdictions, not all local 
government units have an office directly spearheading housing related programs. As


a result, there are local government units which failed to comply with the 
requirements of Republic Act No. 7279, otherwise known as the "Urban 
Development and Housing Act of 1992," especially in the inventory of lands, 
preparation of Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and Land Shelter Plan (LSP), 
inventory of housing stocks, and list of beneficiaries of socialized housing.
Moreover, the DSHUD is mandated by its charter to develop and maintain 
data on inventory of idle lands, CLUPs and LSPs, inventory of housing stocks, and list 
of beneficiaries. However, such data is hard to generate and maintain since no 
information of such kind was collected and maintained by all local government units.
This measure proposes to create a Housing and Human Settlements Office, 
and mandates the appointment of a Human Settlements and Housing Officer In all 
provinces, cities and municipalities, by amending the Local Government Code, in 
order to have an implementing arm for housing and urban development programs in 
all local government units.
In the light of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
TOL" N. TOLENTINO


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s.,
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SEN
s. NO. We
j:| ^?enau'
H-Ji:. l®fflCP of tl)? §iil : ‘
■22 JUL 18 P5 39
RHCEIVED BV:
Introduced by SENATOR FRANCIS ^TOL" N. TOLENTINO
AN ACT
MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF A HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND 
HOUSING OFFICER IN PROVINCES, CITIES, AND MUNICIPALITIES, 
PROVIDING FOR ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AMENDING SECTIONS 
17, 443, 454, 463, AND TITLE FIVE OF BOOK II OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991",
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in 
Congress assembied:
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Section 1. Short Title, - This Act shall be known as the "Local Human
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Settlements ar^d Housing Officer Act of 2022."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy, - It Is hereby declared policy of the State to:
a) Promote social justice In all phases of national and local development that 
will ensure the adequacy of social services a rising standard of living, and 
an improved quality of life for all through a continuing housing program that 
will secure an affordable and decent housing and basic services to the 
underprivileged and homeless citizens In urban, rural and resettlement 
areas;
b) Ensure and promote the autonomy of local governments to accelerate the 
economic and social growth and development of the political subdivisions 
of the State through a system of decentralization by giving powers and


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functions regarding the implementation of housing programs to Human 
Settlements and Housing Officers in ail local government units;
c) Act in accordance with law in a just and humane manner in the eviction and 
resettlement of Informal settler families and ensure adequate consultation 
with the local communities and stakeholders where the informal settler 
families are to be resettled and relocated;
d) Promote the participation of the private sector In the achievement of an 
effective and sustainable urban and rural development; and
e) Recognize and proi iote the rights of indigenous cultural 
communities/indigenous peoples within the framework of the urban and 
rural development plans of the State.
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Sec. 3. Sec. 17 (b) (2) of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the "Local
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Government Code of 1991/' Is hereby amended to read as follows:
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"SECTION 17. Basic Services and Facilities.
(a) X X X
(b) Such basic services and facilities include, but are not limited to, the 
following:
XXX
(2) For a municlpr lity:
XXX
(XIII) PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS FOR LOW-COST 
HOUSING AND OTHER MASS DWELLINGS, EXCEPT 
THOSE FUNDED BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM 
(SSS), GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE 
SYSTEM (GSIS), AND THE HOME DEVELOPMENT 
MUTUAL FUND (HDMF): PROVIDED, THAT


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NATIO^^AL FUNDS FOR THESE PROGRAMS AND 
PROJECTS SHALL BE EQUITABLY ALLOCATED 
AMONG THE REGIONS IN PROPORTION TO THE 
RATIO OF THE HOMELESS TO THE POPULATION."
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Sec. 4. Section 443 (a) of Republic Act No. 7160 is hereby amended to read
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as follows:
"SECTION. 443. Officials of the Municipal Government. - (a) There shall 
be in each municipality a municipal mayor, a municipal vice-mayor, 
Sanggunlang Bayan members, a secretary to the Sangguniang Bayan, a 
municipal treasurer, a municipal assessor, a municipal accountant, a municipal 
budget officer, a municipal planning and development coordinator, a municipal 
engineer/building official, a municipal health officer, [and] a municipal civil 
registrar, AND A MUNICIPAL HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND HOUSING 
OFFICkiR.
X X X
Sec. 5. Section 454 (a) of Republic Act No. 7160 is hereby amended to read
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"SECTION. 454. Officials of the City Government. - (a) There shall be In 
each city a mayor, a vice-mayor, Sangguniang Panlungsod members, a 
secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod, a city treasurer, a city assessor, a 
city accountant, a city budget officer, a city planning and development 
coordinator, a city engineer, a city health officer, a city civil registrar, a city 
administrator, a city legal officer, a city veterinarian, a city social welfare and 
development officer, [and] a city general services officer, AND A CITY 
HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AMD HOUSING OFFICER.
X X X
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Sec. 6. Section 463 (a) of Republic Act No. 7160 is hereby amended to read
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as follows:
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"SECnON. 463. Offic:als of the Provincial Government. - (a) There shall 
be in each province a governor, a vice-governor, member of the Sangguniang 
Panlalawigan, a Secretary of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, a provincial 
treasurer, a provincial assessor, a provincial accountant, a provincial engineer, 
a provincial budget officer, a provincial planning and development coordinator, 
a provincial legal officer, a provincial administrator, and provincial health 
officer, a provincial social welfare and development officer, a provincial general 
services officer, a provincial agriculturist, [af^d] a provincial veterinarian, AND 
A PROVINCIAL HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND HOUSING OFFICER.
X X X
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Sec. 7. Title Five, Book II of Republic Act No. 7160 is hereby amended to
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include a new SECTION 490-A after Section 490, to read as follows:
"ARTICLE XXI
THE HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND HOUSING OFFICER
SECTION. 490-A. QUALIFICATION, POWERS AND DUTIES.
(A) 1 HE HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND HOUSING OFFICER SHALL 
BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR OR MAYOR, AS THE CASE MAY BE, 
SUBJECT TO CIVIL SERVICE LAW, RULES AND REGULATIONS;
(B) NO PERSON SHALL BE APPOINTED HUMAN SETTLEMENTS 
AND HOUSING OFFICER UNLESS HE IS A CITIZEN OF THE 
PHILIPPINES, A RESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT 
CONCERNED, OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER, A HOLDER OF A 
COLLEGE DEGREE RELATED TO HOUSING, REAL ESTATE AND URBAN 
PLANNING FROM A RECOGNIZED COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY, AND A 
FIRST GRADE CIVIL SERVICE ELIGIBLE OR ITS EQUIVALENT. HE 
MUST HAVE ACQUIRED EXPERIENCE IN HOUSING, REAL ESTATE, 
URBAN PLANNING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, OF AT LEAST FIVE (5) 
YEARS IN THE CASE OF THE PROVINCIAL OR CITY HUMAN


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SETTLEMENTS AND HOUSING OFFICER^ AND AT LEAST THREE (3) 
YEARS IN THE CASE OF THE MUNICIPAL HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND 
HOUSING OFFICER.
THE APPOINTMENT OF A HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND HOUSING 
OFFICER IS MANDATORY FOR THE PROVINCIAL^ CITY AND 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS.
(C) THE HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND HOUSING OFFICER SHALL 
TAKE CHARGE OF THE HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND HOUSING OFFICE
AND SHALL:
(1) 
ADVISE THE GOVERNOR OR MAYOR, AS THE CASE MAY 
BE, THE SANGGUNIAN, AND OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENT 
OFFICIALS CONCERNED REGARDING HOUSING, 
RESETTLEMENT, URBAN PLANNING AND URBAN 
DEVELOPMENT, AND ON SUCH OTHER MATTERS 
RELATIVE TO HOUSING AND RESETTLEMENT;
(2) 
FORMULATE PROGRAMS AND MEASURES FOR THE 
CONSIDERATION OF THE SANGGUNIAN AND PROVIDE 
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO THE 
GOVERNOR OR MAYOR, AS THE CASE MAY BE, IN 
CARRYING OUT MEASURES TO ENSURE THE DELIVERY 
OF BASIC SERVICES PURSUANT TO SECTION 17 OF THIS 
CODE AND WHICH REQUIRE HOUSING, RESETTLEMENT, 
REAL ESTATE AND URBAN PLANNING EXPERTISE AND 
TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES;
(3) 
IN ADDITION TO THE FOREGOING DUTIES AND 
FUNCTIONS, THE HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND HOUSING 
OFFICER SHALL:


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(I) 
CONDUCT AN INVENTORY OF LANDS, AND UPDATE 
THE INVENTORY EVERY THREE (3) YEARS 
THEREAFTER, WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTION;
(II) 
PREPARE, FORMULATE OR UPDATE THE 
COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN AND LOCAL 
SHELTER PLAN, IN COORDINATION WITH THE 
LOCAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, 
AND UPDATE THE SAME AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 
THREE (3) YEARS;
(III) IDENTIFY SITES COMPATIBLE FOR SOCIALIZED 
HOUSING PROJECTS AND RESETTLEMENT AREAS 
FOR THE IMMEDIATE AND FUTURE NEEDS OF THE 
UNDERPRIVILEGED, HOMELESS AND INFORMAL 
SETTLER FAMILIES;
(TV) IDENTIFY AND REGISTER SOCIALIZED HOUSING 
BENEFICIARIES;
(V) 
MONITOR AND ENSURE THE COMPLIANCE BY 
DEVELOPERS OF THE BALANCED HOUSING 
DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENT UNDER REPUBLIC 
ACT NO. 10884;
(VI) ASSIST IN THE RELOCATION OF INFORMAL SETTLER
FAMILIES AND ENSURE THAT THE RELOCATION 
SITE IS PROVIDED WITH ADEQUATE BASIC 
SERVICES, FACILITIES, AND ACCESS TO 
EMPLO YMENT AND LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES;
(VII) OPEN ROADS OF SUBDIVISIONS TO THE PUBLIC 
WHEN THE GENERAL WELFARE REQUIRES IT UPON 
CONSULTATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS;


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(VIII) COORDINATE WITH AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL 
AND OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE TO THE 
PRIVATE SECTOR, INTERNATIONAL AND 
DOMESTIC NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS, 
AND PEOPLES ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN 
SOCIALIZED HOUSING; AND
(IX) EXERCISE SUCH OTHER POWERS AND PERFORM 
SUCH OTHER DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS AS MAY BE 
PRESCRIBED BY LAW OR ORDINANCE.
(4) 
THE HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND HOUSING OFFICER 
SHALL CONSULT WITH THE INDIGENOUS CULTURAL 
COMMUNITIES/INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN THE DESIGN 
OF SOCIALIZED HOUSING DEDICATED FOR THEM TO 
ENSURE THAT CULTURAL AND TRADITIONAL RIGHTS 
ARE RESPECTED, AND SHALL PROMOTE THE USE OF 
INDIGENOUS, ALTERNATIVE, AND LOW-COST 
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES FOR 
SOCIALIZED HOUSING; AND
(5) 
THE HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND HOUSING OFFICER 
SHALL COORDINATE WITH NATIONAL GOVERNMENT 
AGENCIES AND INSTRUMENTALITIES PERFORMING 
FUNCTIONS WHICH MAY AFFECT HOUSING, 
RESETTLEMENT, URBAN PLANNING AND URBAN 
DEVELOPMENT.
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Sec. 8. Tramitory Provisions, - Local Chief Executives shall appoint their
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respective Human Settlements and Housing Officer within ninety (90) days from the
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promulgation of the Implementing rules and regulations of this Act.


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The Urban Poor Affairs Offices or Its equivalent shall be converted Into the 
Human Settlements and Housing Office. All existing Local Housing Boards or Its 
equivalent are hereby abolished.
Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations, - Within sixty (60) days after 
the effectivity of this Act, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, in 
coordination with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, 
shall promulgate the appropriate rules and regulations necessary for the 
implementation of this Act.
Sec. 10. Separability Clause, - If any portion or provision of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other portions or provisions not otherwise 
affected shall remain in full force and effect.
Sec. ti. Repealing Clause, - All laws, decrees, executive orders, 
proclamations, and other executive Issuances which are Inconsistent with or contrary 
to the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.
Sec. 12. Effectivity Clausa, - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
following its publication in the Offida! Gazette ox in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,