SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2694

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Catalina “Baby” G. Leonen-Pizarro

Explanatory Note

Congress in December 1994 enacted into Law Republic Act 7835 known
as the “Comprehensive and Integrated Shelter Financing Act of 1994.”

Paragraph (e) of Section 4 created the Local Housing Program to
implement cost-recoverable socialized housing projects in select urban and
urbanizable areas in all of two hundred nineteen (219) congressional districts
with an initial funding of Three Billion Pesos (P3,000,000,000.00). To date, not
even close to fifty per cent (50%) of its implementation has been complied
with estimated unused funds of Two Billion Pesos (P 2,000,000,000.00), more
or less.

The afore-cited provision of R.A. 7835 ensures to subsidize the
implementation of cost-recoverable socialized housing project for equitable
distribution in all congressional districts.

Inasmuch as the New Government focuses on poverty alleviation by
providing cash subsidies thru the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) in billions of pesos, it is the opportune time to provide
for a Free Housing Program likewise to our citizenry with preference to those
marginalized and under privileged belonging to the poorest of the poor.

Free Housing complements cash subsidies and easy access to public
elementary and secondary educations and perhaps a free college degree
scheme in the near future.

We feed our citizenry, properly educate and train them and finally
provide them with free shelters.


Republic Act 7835 when passed only covered two hundred nineteen
(219) districts without any party-list representation, thus, the existing Local
Housing program does not include new congressional districts created since its
passage (R.A. 7835),moreso, any party-list representation.

Therefore, there is an urgent need to afford our marginalized and
underprivileged but deserving citizenry non-recoverable housing projects
program and expand the coverage of such by including newly created districts
and elected party-lists’ constituencies as beneficiaries amending R.A. 7835 to
conform not only with the present priority programs of the Pnoy government
but as well as to afford our countrymen to realize their long-cherished dreams
of owning the roofs they are living in.

The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly recommended.

CATALINA “BABY” EONEN-PIZARRO-


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

694

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Catalina “Baby” G. Leonen-Pizarro

AN ACT
TO IMPLEMENT FREE HOUSING PROJECTS IN SELECT URBAN AND
URBANIZABLE AREAS UNDER THE LOCAL HOUSING PROGRAM AMENDING
FOR THE PURPOSE PARAGRAPH (e) SECTION 4 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7835,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATED SHELTER
FINANCING ACT OF 1994

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

Sec. 1. Paragraph (e), Section 4 of Republic Act No. 7835 is hereby
amended and to read as follows:

“SECTION 4.

(e) Local housing — To ensure the equitable distribution of
housing benefits across the country, the NHA is hereby tasked to implement
free housing projects in selected urban and urbanizable areas as maybe
identified by all sitting members of the House of Representatives for their
respective constituencies. Criteria for the selection of sites shall be formulated
by the HUDCC and NHA pursuant to Republic Act No. 7279. Provided, that any
awardee / grantee shall be prohibited from alienating such award or grant by
any mode of transferring title including thru encumbrances or mortgages
except by way of succession within ten (10) years from the date of award /
grant. Provided further, that the award or grant shall be exempt from levy and
or execution as a result of any administrative or judicial process. Provided
finally, that existing cost-recoverable socialized housing project loans under
the Local Housing Program shall be condoned.”


Sec. 2. FUNDING — Funds for this purpose shall be taken from the
unexpended appropriations of the Local Housing Program pursuant to
paragraph (e) of Section 9 of R.A. 7835 to be divided equally among the
constituencies afore-mentioned with emphasis that the NHA shall give top
priority to such funding vis-a-vis the other housing programs as mandated.

Sec. 3. REPEAL — All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations,
rules and regulations or any part thereof, inconsistent with this act are hereby
correspondingly modified or repealed.

Sec. 4. EFFECTIVITY — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after publication in the official gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of
general circulation.

APPROVED.