EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES ) 
Third Regular Session 
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SENATE
S. No. 2473
-rRECEIV£D-"i
E-FILED
itii nA-ri>. January 5, 2022 ml
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01:20pm
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7279, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING ACT OF 1992", BY 
INSTITUTIONALIZING A SUBSIDY PROGRAM FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO 
WATER AND ELECTRIC UTILITIES AND INITIAL MONTHLY BILLS TO 
QUALIFIED BENEFICIARY HOUSEHOLDS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 9, Article XII of the 1987 Constitution mandates that the State shall 
undertake a continuing program for urban land reform and housing which will make 
available at affordable cost decent housing and basic services to underprivileged and 
homeless citizens in urban centers and resettlement areas.
It is worthy of note that the said constitutional provision asserts that decent 
housing must be coupled with the availability and accessibility of basic services to the 
beneficiaries. Thus, decent housing is more than giving a roof and four walls to our 
homeless kababayans. It entails making a livable and comfortable home for them, 
together with all the basic necessities of a community. This is why Section 21 of 
Republic Act No. 7279 or the "Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992", outlines 
the basic services and facilities to be provided in socialized housing and resettlement 
areas - water, electricity, sewerage and waste disposal, and access to roads and 
transportation. Indeed, these are the bare minimums that will enable the beneficiaries 
survive in their new homes and communities.
However, the fact that water flows from faucets and electricity can be tapped


from poles is not sufficient for some of the poorest and underprivileged beneficiaries. 
Uprooted from their previous settlements, many, if not all of them, \will have no work 
or means of livelihood. Their meager savings and on-hand cash will be mostly devoted 
to furnishing their empty housing units, or worse, just buying food to avert hunger. It 
is therefore necessary that government assistance must not end at the point that keys 
to their houses are turned over to them.
This proposed measure aims to institutionalize a subsidy program that will 
cover expenses related to water and electric utilities such as pipes and wiring 
installation, purchase of basic fixtures like faucets, outlets and light bulbs, etc., as well 
as initial bills payments for at least three (3) months, for beneficiary households who 
have no employed members, or who have an aggregate monthly income equal to or 
less than the applicable minimum wage. This subsidy program will be the responsibility 
of local government units, with the support and assistance of relevant national 
government agencies, government financial institutions, and government-owned and 
-controlled corporations.
Water and electricity connection is virtually useless if the beneficiary 
households do not have the means and facilities to enjoy the same, or if after a few 
months, they are forced to default on their bills and get disconnected. The subsidy 
envisioned by this bill will enable our housing beneficiaries to tide over and survive at 
least for the first few months of their transfer and stay in their new homes.
In view of this, early passage of this bill is sought.
u UTO" M. LAPID
Senator


RECEIVED
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES ) 
Third Regular Session 
)
ATE
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
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AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7279, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING ACT OF 1992", BY 
INSTITUTIONALIZING A SUBSIDY PROGRAM FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO 
WATER AND ELECTRIC UTILITIES AND INITIAL MONTHLY BILLS TO 
QUALIFIED BENEFICIARY HOUSEHOLDS
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in the Phiiippines 
in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Section 21 of Republic Act No. 7279, otherwise known as the "Urban 
Development and Housing Act of 1992", is hereby amended to read as foilows;
SEC. 21. Basic Services. - Socialized housing or resettlement 
areas shall be provided by the local government unit or the 
National Housing Authority in cooperation with the private 
developers and concerned agencies with the following basic 
services and facilities:
(a) Potable water;
(b) Power and 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.


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The provisions of other basic services and facilities such as 
health, education, communications, 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 themselves.
The local government unit, in coordination with the 
concerned 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. AS FAR AS PRACTICABLE, THE LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT UNIT, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE 
RELEVANT NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, 
GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, AND 
GOVERNMENT-OWNED OR -CONTROLLED 
CORPORATIONS, SHALL PROVIDE SUBSIDIES TO 
COVER EXPENSES RELATED TO WATER AND 
ELECTRIC UTILITIES SUCH AS PIPES AND WIRING 
INSTALLATION, PURCHASE OF BASIC FIXTURES 
LIKE FAUCETS, OUTLETS AND LIGHT BULBS, ETC., AS 
WELL AS INITIAL BILLS PAYMENT FOR AT LEAST 
THREE (3) MONTHS, FOR BENEFICIARY 
HOUSEHOLDS WHO HAVE NO EMPLOYED MEMBERS,
OR WHO HAVE AN AGGREGATE MONTHLY INCOME 
EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN THE APPUCABLE 
MINIMUM WAGE.
Section 2. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
proclamations, rules and regulations, or any part thereof, which are inconsistent with


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the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 3. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision or part of this Act, or the 
application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held unconstitutional or invalid, 
the remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby.
Section 4. Effectmty Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved,