Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4371

Introduced by: Representative Rodolfo G. Valencia

EXPLANATORY NOTE

in pursuit of the Constitutional mandate for the State to undertake a
continuing program of urban land reform and housing which will make decent
housing and basic services available at affordable cost to underprivileged and
homeless citizens in urban centers and resettlement areas, Republic Act No. 7279,
the “Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) of 1992" was enacted.

This landmark shelter legislation specifies socialized housing as its primary
strategy and, as such, it has included a system of balanced housing development
requiring developers of subdivision projects “to develop an area for socialized
housing equivalent to at least twenty percent (20%) of the total subdivision area or
total subdivision projects cost within the same city or municipality, wherever feasible”
and likewise included certain alternatives by which developers may comply.

Further, the UDHA mandates the provision of basic servicas in socialized
housing or resettlement areas, including the provision of education facilities. It is
worth mentioning that the Constitution pronounces it a policy of the State to give
priority to education to accelerate social progress and promote total human liberation
and development.

While the country faces a humongous backlog in housing, the country equally
faces an acute shortage in education facilities nationwide (upon the assumption to
office of the present administration it was faced with a staggering classroom
shortage of 152,569) and education facilities are one of the most urgent needs,
especially of the socialized housing beneficiaries relocated in resettlement areas.

In view hereof, this bill seeks to amend the balanced housing development
system under the UDHA to include the provision of educational facilities as an
alternative compliance thereof.

‘The early passage of this bill is earnestly requested.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4371

Introduced by Representative Rodolfo G. Valencia

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 18 AND 21 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7279,
ENTITLED “AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR A COMPREHENSIVE AND
CONTINUING URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING PROGRAM,
ESTABLISH THE MECHANISM FOR iTS IMPLEMENTATION, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES,” OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “URBAN
DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING ACT OF 1992”, TO INCLUDE THE
CONSTRUCTION OF EDUCATION FACILITIES AS AN ALTERNATIVE
COMPLIANCE TO THE BALANCED HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

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 the “Balanced

Housing Development Amendment of 2041”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — it is the policy of the State to
undertake, in cooperation with the private sector, a comprehensive and
continuing housing and urban development program. It is likewise the policy
Of the State to give priority to education to accelerate social progress and
Promote human liberation and development. Toward this end, the State shall
pursue the provision of educational facilities as an alternative to the balanced

housing development to augment the classroom shortage in the country.

SEC.3.  Amendaatory Provisions. — For purposes of this Act, the

following provisions of Republic Act No. (R.A.) 7279, entitled: “An Act to


Provide for a Comprehensive and Continuing Urban Development and
Housing Program, Establish the Mechanism for its Implementation, and for
other purposes,” otherwise known as the “Urban Development and Housing

Act of 1992”, are hereby amended:

{a) Section 18 of R.A. 7279 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 18, Balanced Housing Development. — the Program shall
include a system to be specified in the Framework Plan whereby
developers of proposed subdivision projects shall be required to develop
an area for socialized housing equivalent to at least twenty percent
(20%) of the total subdivision area or total subdivision project cost, at the
option of the developer, within the same city or municipality, wherever
feasible, and in accordance with the standard set by the Housing and
Land Use Regulatory Board and other existing laws. The balanced
housing development as herein required may also be complied with by
the developers concerned in any of the following manner:

a) Development of new settlement;

b) Slum upgrading or renewal of area for priority development either
through zonal improvement programs or slum improvement and
resettlement programs;

¢) Join-venture projects with either the local government units or
any of the housing agencies; [or]

d) Participation in the community mortgage program[,] ; OR

E) DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION FACILITIES WITHIN THE
PROJECT, WHENEVER FEASIBLE, OR WITHIN THE CITY OR


MUNICIPALITY, WHEREVER FEASIBLE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SECTION 21 HEREOF.”
{} Section 21 of R.A. 7279 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 21. Basic Services. — Socialized housing or resettlement
areas shail be provided by the local government unit or the National
Housing Authority in cooperation with the private developers and

concerned agencies with the foliowing basic services and facilities:

a) Portable water;

b) Power ans electricity and an adequate power distribution system;

c)} Sewerage facilities and an efficient and adequate solid waste
disposal system; and

d) Access to primary roads and transportation facilities.

The provision of other basic services and facilities such as health,
education, communication, security, recreation, relief and welfare shall
be planned and shall be given priority for implementation by the local
government unit and concerned agencies in cooperation with the private
sector and the beneficiaries themseives[.] PROVIDED, THAT THE
PROVISION OF EDUCATION FACILITIES BY A DEVELOPER IN
SOCIALIZED HOUSING AREAS PURSUANT TO SECTION 18 (E]}
HEREOF SHALL BE ACCORDED A HIGH PRIORITY.

The iocal govemment unit, in coordination with the concemed
national agencies, shall ensure that these basic services are provided at
the most cost-efficient rates, and shall set a mechanism to coordinate
operationally the thrusts, objectives and activities of other government

agencies concerned with providing basic services to housing projects.”


SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders,

proclamations, rules and regulations, and other issuances, or part or parts
thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. - H for any reason, any provision of this
Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not
affected thereby shall continue to be in force and effect.

SEC. 6. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2)

newspapers of general circulation

Approved,