Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Se
House Bil No. S492

Introduced by Rep. Strike B. Revilla

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 9, Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall
undertake a continuing program of 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.

Republic Act No. 11201 tasked the Department of Human Settlements and
Urban Development to provide technical assistance to provinces, cities and
municipalities in the creation of a local housing board or similar entity in order to
strengthen local government compliance with housing and urban development laws,
standards and guidelines

Republic Act No. 7279 (RA 7279) tasked the local government units to
prepare their comprehensive land use plan, conduct an inventory of lands, identify
and register all socialized housing beneficiaries, and ensure compliance to the
balanced housing development framework.

While a number of local government units voluntarily created a local housing
board or its equivalent, a significant number of local government units have yet to
establish an office to undertake the overwhelming task required under RA 7279.

This measure proposes to create the position of a Human Settlements Officer
in all provinces, cities and first to third class municipalities to serve as the
implementing arm for housing and urban development programs in their respective
jurisdictions

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought

ee B. REVILLA

2" District, Cavite


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. $432

Introduced by Rep. Strike B. Revilla

AN ACT

STRENGTHENING THE NATIONAL SHELTER PROGRAM, MANDATING THE
CREATION OF THE POSITION OF A HUMAN SETTLEMENTS OFFICER IN ALL
PROVINCES, CITIES, AND FIRST TO THIRD CLASS MUNICIPALITIES,
PROVIDING FOR ITS QUALIFICATIONS AND FUNCTIONS, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the

Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title.- This Act shall be known as the “Local Human

Settlements Officer Act of 2009.”

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy.- It is hereby declared the policy of the State to:

a) Promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and
independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through
policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a
rising standard of living and an improved quality of life for all;

b)

Adopt a continuing housing program that will make available, at affordable
cost, decent housing and basic services to all, especially the
underprivileged and homeless;

°)

Protect urban and rural poor dwellers from eviction or demolition
undertaken in violation of the law;

qd)

Require all national agencies and offices to conduct periodic consultations
with appropriate local government units (LGUs), non-governmental and
people's organizations and other concerned sectors of the community
before any project, or program is implemented in their respective
jurisdictions;

e)

Promote and institutionalize the participation of the private sector, non-
government organizations, and people's organizations in the urban and
rural development process;

f) Promote genuine and meaningful local autonomy to political subdivisions
of the State to enable them to attain their fullest development as self-


sufficient communities and make them more effective partners in the
attainment of national goals.

Sec. 3. Local Human Settlements Officer.- There shall be created a position
of Local Human Settlements Officer in all provinces, cities and first to third class
municipalities; Provided, that fourth to fifth class municipalities may create a position
of Local Human Settlements Officer if they so desire.

Sec. 4. Qualifications.- No person shall be appointed Local Human
Settlements Officer unless the following minimum qualifications have been met:

a) Filipino citizen;

b) Resident of the local government unit concerned;

c) Good moral character;

d) With a degree related to housing, real estate and urban planning from a
recognized college or university;

e) First grade civil service eligible or its equivalent; and

f) Must have acquired experience in housing, real estate, urban planning and
urban development, of at least five (5) years in the case of the provincial or
city Human Settlements Officer, and at least three (3) years in the case of
the municipal Human Settlements Officer.

Sec. 5. Functions.- the Local Human Settlements Officer shall take charge of
the Human Settlements Office and shall:

a) Advise the governor or mayor, as the case may be, the sanggunian, and
other local government officials concerned regarding housing,
resettlement, urban planning and urban development, and on such other
matters relative to housing and resettlement;

b) Formulate programs and measures for the consideration of the
sanggunian and provide technical assistance and support to the governor
‘or mayor, as the case may be, in carrying out measures to ensure the
delivery of basic services which require housing, resettlement, real estate
and urban planning expertise and technical support services;

c) In addition to the foregoing duties and functions, the human settlements
officer shall:

(1) Conduct an inventory of lands, and update the inventory every
three (3) years thereafter, within their jurisdiction;

(ll) Prepare, formulate or update the comprehensive land use plan
and local shelter plan, in coordination with the local planning and
development officer, and update the same at least once every
three (3) years;

(Ill) Identify sites suitable for socialized housing projects and
resettlement for the immediate and future needs of the
underprivileged, homeless and informal settler families;


(IV) _ Identify and register socialized housing beneficiaries;

(V) Monitor and ensure the compliance by developers of the
balanced housing development requirement under Republic Act
no. 10884;

(VI) Assist in the relocation of informal settler families and ensure
that the relocation site is provided with adequate basic services,
facilities, and access to employment and livelihood
opportunities;

(Vil) Ensure the prevention of the proliferation of professional
squatters and squatting syndicates within its jurisdiction;

(Vill) Coordinate with and provide technical and other forms of
assistance to the private sector, international and domestic
nongovernment organizations, and peoples organizations
involved in socialized housing; and

(IX) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and
functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.

d) The Local Human Settlements Officer shall consult with the indigenous
cultural communities/ indigenous peoples in the design of socialized
housing dedicated for them to ensure that cultural and traditional rights are
respected, and shall promote the use of indigenous, alternative, and low-
cost but disaster resilient construction materials and technologies for
socialized housing; and

e) The Local Human Settlements Officer shall coordinate with national
government agencies and instrumentalities performing functions which
may affect housing, resettlement, urban planning and urban development.

Sec. 6. Transitory Provisions.- Local chief executives shall constitute their
respective Human Settlements Office within ninety (90) days from the promulgation
of the implementing rules and regulations of this Act.

The Urban Poor Affairs Offices or its equivalent shall be converted into the
Human Settlements Office. All existing Local Housing Boards or its equivalent are
hereby abolished.

Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations.- Within sixty (60) days after
the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban
Development and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, shall
formulate the appropriate rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of
this Act.

Sec. 8. Repealing Clause.- All laws, decrees, executive orders,
proclamations and other executive issuances which are inconsistent with or contrary
to the provisions of this Act are hereby amended accordingly.


Sec. 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in
full force and effect.

Sec. 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national
newspapers of general circulation

Approved,