Republic of the Philippines 
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
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Quezon City 
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First Regular Session 
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TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
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House Bill No. _________________ 
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Introduced by REP. JESUS MANUEL “BONG” C. SUNTAY 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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Access to safe, secure, and affordable shelter is not merely a basic human need—it is a 
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constitutional right and a foundational pillar of social protection. Article XIII, Section 9 
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of the 1987 Constitution mandates the State to "undertake, in cooperation with the 
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private sector, a continuing program of urban land reform and housing to make 
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available at affordable cost decent housing and basic services to underprivileged and 
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homeless citizens." 
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However, the pace and scale of permanent resettlement in the Philippines has 
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historically lagged behind the magnitude of displacement caused by court-ordered 
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evictions, government infrastructure projects, and frequent climate-related disasters. In 
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many cases, informal settler families (ISFs) and disaster-affected households are left in 
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prolonged states of uncertainty and vulnerability—with little access to transitional 
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shelter or financial support to secure temporary housing in the formal rental market. 
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This bill seeks to institutionalize a Rental Housing Subsidy Program that will bridge the 
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gap between dislocation and permanent relocation. It expands the definition of eligible 
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beneficiaries to include both informal settler families and households displaced by 
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natural or man-made calamities, recognizing the country’s heightened exposure to 
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climate-related risk and urban housing insecurity. 
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The measure includes the following key features: 
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Direct monthly rental subsidies up to ₱4,000 for displaced families, adjusted
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regionally and reviewed biennially;
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A mandatory National Rental Subsidy Registry and verification protocols to
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prevent double-enrollment and abuse;
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•
Structured LGU incentives, including access to additional development funds and
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housing prioritization, to foster local integration and inter-LGU coordination;
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•
Integration of TESDA training, DSWD-led social preparation, and Pag-IBIG
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enrollment to support socioeconomic reintegration;
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•
Institutional coordination among DHSUD, NHA, LGUs, and civil society, with
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biannual reporting to Congress;
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•
A defined role for disaster certifications and flexible implementation in declared
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state-of-calamity zones;
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August 4, 2025
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A time-bound but extendable subsidy duration, ensuring that delays in 
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permanent relocation do not penalize the displaced.
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By enacting this measure, Congress affirms that shelter support must not end at 
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demolition or disaster response. This bill fills the critical void between displacement and 
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resettlement, providing a fiscally responsible, inclusive, and scalable mechanism to 
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safeguard the dignity and welfare of the Filipino poor. 
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It recognizes that housing is not just a structure, but a process of transition and 
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integration—a process that the State must actively support through well-designed and 
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operational programs. 
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Approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
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REP. JESUS MANUEL “BONG” C. SUNTAY 
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Republic of the Philippines 
1 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
2 
Quezon City 
3 
4 
First Regular Session 
5 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
6 
7 
House Bill No. _________________ 
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10 
Introduced by REP. JESUS MANUEL “BONG” C. SUNTAY 
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AN ACT ESTABLISHING A RENTAL HOUSING SUBSIDY PROGRAM FOR 
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INFORMAL SETTLER FAMILIES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
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THEREFOR 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
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assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. 
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This Act shall be known as the “Rental Housing Subsidy Program Act.” 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. 
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It is hereby declared the policy of the State to: 
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(a) Promote just, equitable, and inclusive urban development through programs that
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provide adequate social services, access to livelihood and employment opportunities,
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broader housing options, and improved quality of life for the Filipino people;
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(b) Provide affordable, livable, and decent housing to underprivileged and homeless
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citizens by providing access to basic social services, employment opportunities, and
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sustainable livelihood;
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(c) Protect urban poor communities from the adverse impact of dislocation due to
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eviction or demolition arising from the implementation of government infrastructure
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projects, court orders, or disaster-related risks; and
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(d) Provide for interim housing and temporary accommodation for families displaced by
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natural or man-made disasters.
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SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. 
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As used in this Act: 
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(a) Dislocation refers to the act of removing or displacing an informal settler family due
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to eviction or demolition in accordance with law.
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(b) Informal Settler Families (ISFs) refer to households who do not have legal claim to
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the land or properties they occupy, including those living in danger areas such as
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esteros, railway tracks, garbage dumps, riverbanks, shorelines, and waterways, as well
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as those occupying public spaces and buildings, as defined under Republic Act No.
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11201.
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(c) Rental Housing Subsidy refers to financial assistance provided by the government to
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help pay for rental housing in the public or private rental market, as a form of interim 
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housing. 
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(d) Disaster-Affected Families – Families rendered homeless due to typhoons, flooding, 
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earthquakes, fires, or other calamities declared under a state of calamity or emergency 
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by the LGU or National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). 
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SEC. 4. Rental Housing Subsidy Program. 
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There is hereby established a Rental Housing Subsidy Program to provide assistance to 
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ISFs in securing decent, safe, and affordable shelter, and to bridge the gap between 
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eviction/dislocation and relocation or permanent housing. 
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(a) The rental subsidy shall be granted as a temporary relocation program to help ISFs 
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transition from informal settlements to formal housing. 
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(b) ISFs residing in Metro Manila shall be entitled to a monthly rental subsidy of Four 
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Thousand Pesos (₱4,000.00). 
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(c) For ISFs outside of Metro Manila, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban 
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Development (DHSUD) and the National Economic and Development Authority 
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(NEDA) shall determine the appropriate subsidy rate, taking into account regional 
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minimum wage rates and prevailing rental rates in the area, provided that such subsidy 
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shall not exceed ₱4,000.00. 
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(d) The amount of subsidy shall not exceed the actual monthly rental cost of the unit. 
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(e) The amount of subsidy may be adjusted every two (2) years based on a review by 
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DHSUD and NEDA. 
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(f) The subsidy shall continue until the qualified beneficiary is transferred to a 
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permanent housing project. In cases where the relocation housing project is delayed 
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beyond the intended completion date, the concerned implementing agency shall bear 
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the cost of continued rental housing subsidy. 
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SEC. 5. Eligibility. 
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To be eligible for the rental housing subsidy, a beneficiary must: 
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(a) Be an Informal Settler Family as defined in Section 3(b); and 
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(b) Voluntarily vacate the occupied informal settlement area and relocate to a safer area 
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as determined by the implementing agency. 
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(a) ISFs in Metro Manila shall receive a monthly subsidy of up to ₱4,000.00, adjusted to 
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actual rental cost. 
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(b) For other regions, the DHSUD and NEDA shall set subsidy ceilings based on 
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regional minimum wage and rental benchmarks, not exceeding ₱4,000. 
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(c) The subsidy shall continue until the family transfers to permanent housing, or for a 
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maximum period of three (3) years, unless otherwise extended due to delay in 
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permanent relocation. 
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(d) In the case of disaster-affected families, the subsidy shall be granted for a minimum 
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of 6 months, extendable based on government evaluation. 
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SEC. 6. Conditions for Continued Eligibility. 
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To maintain eligibility and receive continuous rental subsidy, the following conditions 
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must be met: 
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(a) The beneficiary shall not return or reoccupy the previously vacated informal 
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settlement site without prior clearance or authority from the implementing agency or 
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LGU concerned; and 
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(b) The beneficiary must pay any portion of the rent not covered by the subsidy. 
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Beneficiaries who maintain good standing in rental payments shall be prioritized in the 
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selection for permanent housing projects of the government. 
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SEC. 7. Establishment of National Rental Subsidy Registry. 
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The DHSUD shall determine the most appropriate, secure, and transparent form of 
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payment of the rental housing subsidy to the lessor or landlord, ensuring that the 
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interests of both the beneficiaries and the lessors are protected. 
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(a) The DHSUD shall maintain a National Rental Subsidy Registry of all enrolled 
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beneficiaries; 
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(b) All applications shall be verified against databases from NHA, DSWD, DILG, and the 
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LGUs to prevent duplication; 
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(c) Tampering, misrepresentation, or fraudulent double-enrollment shall be penalized 
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under relevant provisions of RA 3019 and RA 10175; 
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(d) LGUs shall submit a monthly updated list of verified beneficiaries and landlords to 
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DHSUD. 
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SEC. 8. Roles of Concerned Government Agencies. 
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The following government agencies shall have the corresponding responsibilities: 
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(a) Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) shall: 
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1. Coordinate with relevant housing agencies and stakeholders to implement the 
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program; 
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2. Promulgate policies, guidelines, and implementing rules for the program; 
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3. Enlist eligible beneficiaries and lessors for the program; 
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4. Establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms; and 
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5. Recommend policy and legislative improvements to Congress based on periodic 
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review and evaluation. 
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(b) National Housing Authority (NHA) shall: 
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1. Certify the eligibility of ISFs applying for the rental subsidy; 
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2. Coordinate with infrastructure implementing agencies on relocation needs; 
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3. Maintain updated masterlists of qualified beneficiaries; 
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4. Conduct periodic monitoring and provide grievance redress mechanisms. 
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(c) Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund) shall: 
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1. Enroll at least one (1) member of the beneficiary family into its formal 
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membership program to promote long-term integration into the formal housing 
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market. 
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(d) Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shall: 
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1. Design and implement social preparation programs for ISFs prior to relocation; 
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2. Conduct community-based education, training, and awareness initiatives to 
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support transition. 
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(e) Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) shall: 
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1. Assist the DSWD in conducting social preparation activities. 
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(f) Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) shall: 
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1. Provide skills training and livelihood enhancement programs to at least one (1) 
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member per qualified beneficiary household. 
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(g) Local Government Units (LGUs) shall: 
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1. Maintain a public registry of participating lessors or landlords within their 
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jurisdiction; 
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2. Assist in census, tagging, and verification of ISFs in their area; 
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3. Prevent reoccupation of vacated sites through appropriate enforcement; 
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4. Help monitor implementation of the program locally; 
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5. Coordinate with DSWD in assessing the market value of rental units covered 
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under the program. 
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6. LGUs that host ISFs or disaster-displaced families shall receive: 
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a) Priority access to NHA or DHSUD vertical housing projects; 
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b) Incentivized access to the Local Development Fund (LDF) to support 
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program-related administrative needs; 
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c) Capacity-building grants for local housing boards or shelter offices. 
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7.  A Local Shelter Integration Incentive Fund (LSIIF) shall be created under the 
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GAA, to be managed by DHSUD for this purpose. 
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SEC. 9. Obligations of Beneficiaries. 
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To remain eligible, beneficiaries must: 
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(a) Occupy only the rental unit listed in the subsidy agreement; 
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(b) Refrain from reoccupying vacated danger areas or informal settlements; 
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(c) Pay any excess rent beyond the subsidy cap; 
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(d) Participate in social preparation programs and agree to transfer to permanent 
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housing once available. 
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SEC. 10. Appropriations. 
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The amount necessary for the initial implementation of the Rental Housing Subsidy 
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Program shall be charged against the current year’s budget of the DHSUD. Thereafter, 
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the amounts needed for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual 
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General Appropriations Act (GAA). 
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SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. 
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Within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, the DHSUD, in coordination with 
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the NHA, DSWD, DOF, and other concerned agencies, shall issue the necessary rules 
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and regulations for its implementation. 
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SEC. 12. Mandatory Review. 
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The DHSUD shall submit to the Committees on Housing and Urban Development of the 
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Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the implementation of this Act 
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every two (2) years from its effectivity, with findings and recommendations. 
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SEC. 13. Separability Clause. 
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If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining 
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provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. 
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All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules, and regulations inconsistent 
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with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 15. Effectivity. 
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This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or 
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in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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