FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
ii' 
SEN~'W 
S. No. 
.l~4 7 
J" 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The severe lack of affordable housing in the Philippines greatly contributed to the 
proliferation of squatters in the urban areas, particularly in Metro Manila. The squatting problem 
was considered one of our major problems that the Marcos regime issued Presidential Decree 
No. 772, which made squatting unlawful. However, notwithstanding the existence of the Anti-
Squatting Law, the problem on squatting ·continued. It is thus quite perplexing that even before 
giving protection to the legitimate landowners, Republic Act No. 7279 otherwise known as the 
Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992 was passed discouraging the eviction and 
demolition of illegal dwellings. RA 7279 also mandates the local government units, in 
coordination with national housing agencies. to provide squatters adequate relocation arid 
financial assistance should relocation not be possible within a specific period. It also prohibits 
the construction of illegal dwellings but this provision would simply become a writing on the 
wall because Republic Act No. 8386 decriminalized squatting giving formidable strength to 
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squatters' rights. 
The noble objectives of these social legislations are primarily to protect the rights of the 
underprivileged and homeless citizens but no protection has been granted to legitimate land 
titleholders. The issue of relocating or resettling the squatters has become a dilemma either due 
to inadequacy of funds or relocation sites, or plain lack of political will on the part of the 
government officials concerned. 
This bill seeks to provide a mandatory period in the relocation of squatters. It also seeks 
to compensate the landowners in case of failure of the local government unit concerned to act on 
the request for assistance to evict illegal occupants within the prescribed period. The foremost 
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intention of this measure is to provide equal protection to the squatters and to the landowners.-
measure will not only give full meaning to the noble objectives of RA 7279 but will also 
minimize, if not totally eliminate squatting because local government units will be compelled to 
monitor vacant lands to prevent trespassers from constructing illegal structures within their 
respective localities. 
This is a Senate counterpart bill to one filed in the House of Representatives by Rep. 
Emilio C. Macias II.I 
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IRIAM DE ~SOR S 
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1 This was originally filed during the 141h Congres~ 1 <I' Regular Session 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
-"",, '-', 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
$EN~'W 
S. No. 
1~4 7 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
I 
AN ACT 
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PROVIDING FOR A MANDATORY PERIOD TO RELOCATE SQUATTERS, GRANTING 
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DISTURBANCE FEES TO OWNERS OF ILLEGALLY OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL LAND, 
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AND PENALIZING VIOLATIONS THEREOF 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION I. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Landowners Protection Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State to 
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afford protection and to promote full respect for property rights of every citizen to ensure 
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optimum utilization of one's property free from any obstacle. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of "Squatter". - As used in this Act, the term "squatter" shall 
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refer to my person who occupies residential land without the consent of the landowner. 
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SECTION 4, Relocation; Disturbance Fee. - The local government unit shall, in 
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coordination with the Housing and Urban Coordinating Council and the National Housing 
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Authority, be responsible for the relocation of squatters within six (6) months from receipt of the 
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written request for assistance to evict squatters from the landowner; Provided, however, That, 
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should relocation not be effected., the local government unit concerned shall pay the landowner a 
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disturbance fee equivalent to the tax due of the illegally occupied land until the squatters have 
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been relocated; Provided, further, That, payment of the disturbance fee shall commence one (1) 
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year after the prescribed period to relocate had lapsed. 
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SECTION 5. Fines and Penalties. - Any person found guilty of violating any provision of 
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this Act shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment not more than three (3) years or a fine of Fifty 
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Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court. 
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The Chief Executive and Punong Barangay, who fail to prevent the construction of any 
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kind of illegal dwelling unit or structure in privately owned residential land within their 
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jurisdiction shall face suspension for a period of six (6) months and penal sanctions provided 
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under this Section. 
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SECTION 6. Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Interior and Local 
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Government, in coordination with the national Housing Authority, shall issue the implementing 
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rules and regulations within sixty (60) days upon approval ofthis Act. 
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SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any part hereof, is held invalid or unconstitutional, 
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the remainder ofthe provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 9. EffectiVity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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