Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
House Bill No. _______
Introduced by Honorable Ma. Alana Samantha Taliño Santos
AN ACT AMENDING EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 209, ALSO KNOWN AS THE FAMILY CODE
OF 1988, ARTICLE 157 ON THE VALUE OF THE FAMILY HOME
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Civil Code of the Philippines defines the family home as the dwelling house where a
person and his family reside, and the land on which it is situated.1 It is where families create
memories, have meals together, celebrate special occasions, and provide support and love
for one another. For a typical Filipino family their family home will always be a sacred and
safe space, a place of comfort, security, and belonging.
With the unmeasurable amount of sanctity and respect given to a family home, it is
necessary to reconsider the monetary value provided by law with regard to the said family
property. Article 157 of the Family Code of the Philippines provides that:
“The actual value of the family home shall not exceed, at the time of its
constitution, the amount of the three hundred thousand pesos in urban
areas, and two hundred thousand pesos in rural areas, or such amounts as
may hereafter be fixed by law.
In any event, if the value of the currency changes after the adoption of this
Code, the value most favorable for the constitution of a family home shall
be the basis of evaluation.
For purposes of this Article, urban areas are deemed to include chartered
cities and municipalities whose annual income at least equals that legally
required for chartered cities. All others are deemed to be rural areas.
(231a)”
It must be noted that the Family Code was promulgates back in the 1980s where
peso-dollar exchange rate, inflation, and other forms of financial crises are hardly
felt.
The provision already speaks of giving what is most favorable for the constitution
of a family home. Hence, to make the law more realistic and just, this amendment
should be taken into consideration.
HON. MA. ALANA SAMANTHA TALIÑO SANTOS
Representative, 3rd District of Cotabato
1 Art 223, Civil Code of the Philippines
January 22, 2024
8:00 am
9795


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
House Bill No. _______
Introduced by Honorable Ma. Alana Samantha Taliño Santos
AN ACT AMENDING EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 209, ALSO KNOWN AS THE FAMILY CODE
OF 1988, ARTICLE 157 ON THE VALUE OF THE FAMILY HOME
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
Section 1. Article 157 of Executive Order No. 209, also known as the Family Code of 1988 is
hereby amended to read as follows:
Art. 157. The actual value of the family home shall not exceed, at the
time of its constitution, the amount of ONE MILLION PESOS in urban
areas, and SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS in rural areas,
or such amounts as may hereafter be fixed by law.
In any event, if the value of the currency changes after the adoption of
this ACT, the value most favorable for the constitution of a family home
shall be the basis of evaluation.
For purposes of this Article, urban areas are deemed to include
chartered cities and municipalities whose annual income at least equals
that legally required for chartered cities. All others are deemed to be
rural areas. (231a)
Section 2. Repealing Clause. –Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order,
letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent or contrary to the provision of this Act
is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 3. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its
publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved
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