FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
9 
SE 
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In his column On The Other Hand dated 6 July 2007, Professor Antonio C. Abaya wrote 
of a program of government he had drafted upon the undersigned's request in 1992. The program 
called for the organization of "student volunteers into production brigades to build housing for 
the underprivileged, and for the housing beneficiaries to be organized into manufacturing 
cooperatives that would fabricate the component housing materials." Today, in 2007, such a 
program is needed more than ever, given the population gowth of people living in depressed 
urban areas. Through the laudable efforts of non-government organizations like Gawad Kalinga 
and its volunteers who construct homes for the homeless, the first part of the program appears to 
have been meet. What remains to be accomplished is the organization of the housing 
beneficiaries into manufacturing cooperatives to 
This bill seeks to establish a national program to provide assistance for the organization 
of housing beneficiaries into manufacturing cooperatives that will fabricate the component 
housing materials needed for the construction of their houses pursuant to a housing program, and 
to ensure that such cooperatives continue to function until the termination of such housing 
program. 


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-, , 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
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.ilrJ 
-3 r :z :ii I 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 1519 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
CREATING A PROGRAM PROVIDING FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF HOUSING 
BENEFICIARIES INTO MANUFACTURING COOPERATIVES FOR THE FABRICATION 
OF HOUSING MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THEIR HOUSES 
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 “Housing Beneficiaries Act of 
2007.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration ofPolicy. -It is the policy of the State to promote the general 
welfare of the people. Pursuant to this policy, it shall establish a national program providing for 
the organization of housing beneficiaries into manufacturing cooperatives that will fabricate the 
materials needed for the construction of their houses. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. -For purposes of this Act, the term 
(A) “Housing Beneficiaries” means the underprivileged and homeless citizens under 
Republic Act No. 7279, otherwise laown as the “Urban Development and Housing 
Act”, and to individuals and families residing in the urban and urbanized areas 
whose income or combined household income falls within the poverty threshold, as 
defined by the National Economic and Development Authority, and who do not 
own housing facilities. The term shall include those who live in makeshift dwelling 
units and do not enjoy security of tenure, except professional squatters and 
squatting syndicates. 
“Housing programs” means those programs and projects covering houses and lots 
or homelots undertaken by the government or private sector through a non- 
(B) 


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governmental organization for the underprivileged and homeless citizens which 
shall include, but shall not be limited to, construction services, financial assistance, 
and sites and services development. 
(C) “Professional squatters” means individuals or groups who occupy lands without the 
expressed consent of the land owner and who have sufficient income for legitimate 
housing. The term shall also apply to persons who have previously been awarded 
homelots or housing units by the government but who sold, leased or transferred the 
same to settle illegally in the same place or in another urban area and non-bonajde 
occupants and intruders of lands reserved for socialized housing. The term shall not 
apply to individual or groups who simply rent land and housing from professional 
squatters or squatting syndicates. 
(D) “Squatting syndicates” means a group of persons engaged in the business of 
squatter housing for profit or gain. 
(E) “Department” means the Department of Interior and Local Government. 
(F) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Interior and Local Government. 
SECTION 4. Manufacturing Cooperatives. - There is hereby established a program to 
provide assistance for the organization of housing beneficiaries into manufacturing cooperatives 
that will fabricate the materials needed for the construction of their houses, pursuant to a housing 
program as defined in Section 3(B). Such program shall be under the direction of the Secretary 
of the Department of Interior and Local Government. The Secretary shall likewise ensure that the 
program continues to provide assistance to the manufacturing cooperatives until the termination 
of such housing program. 
SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from the 
promulgation of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations 
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
The Secretary shall submit a report to the House of Representatives and the Senate, 
prior to, but in no event later than, December thirty-first, in the year following the passage of this 
Act, and annually thereafter, which shall include, but not be limited to: 
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(A) Financial reports o f  the project operations established pursuant to this Act; 
(B) An analysis of the project’s ability to provide assistance for the organization of 
housing beneficiaries into manufacturing cooperatives and such cooperatives’ 
continued existence for the duration o f  the construction project; 
(C) Recommendations on the continuation of such program and the need for program 
expansion, if appropriate; 
(D) Other information deemed necessary. 
SECTION 6. Fundingfor Program. -The funds to be used for this act shall be allocated 
from the annual appropriations of the Department of Interior and Local Government. 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with the provisions of this act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers o f  general circulation. 
Approved, 
hgs 
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