Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
 EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1960s saw the influx of migrants from the countryside to the urban centers 
thinking that life is better in the cities. The host cities, however, were not 
prepared to provide immediate employment opportunities, decent housing and 
basic services to the migrants so they remain unemployed or underpaid and 
unable to support themselves. Worst, they end up poorer thereby 
magnifying   the growing urban poor statistics. The fear of ejection and violence 
haunted the poor as they struggled for their place in society. When their situation 
worsened during the 1980s, urban poor groups banded together in search of 
possible solutions to their problems as well as opportunities for consultation on 
matters that affect them. 
This mandate was reinforced on January 30, 1989 by Administrative Order 
No.111 directing concerned government departments, agencies and offices to 
coordinate with the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) and 
actively participate in activities concerning the urban poor. 
Significant gains were attained but the advent of urbanization lured more people 
to the metropolis and compounded the problem. On September 27, 2004, Former 
President 
Gloria 
Macapagal-Arroyo, 
issued 
Executive 
Order 
No.364, 
transforming the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) into the Department of 
Land Reform (DLR) which included the National Commission on Indigenous 
Peoples (NCIP) and the PCUP to take charge of ancestral domain reform and 
urban land reform, respectively. Executive Order No. 456 dated August 23, 2005 
renamed the DLR as DAR 
October 17, 2022
10:02 am
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This House Bill seeks to provide Modernization Funding to the Presidential 
Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), to effectively coordinate, formulate 
and evaluate policies and programs concerning the urban poor. 
Thus, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR MODERNIZATION FUNDINGFOR THE 
PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION FOR THE URBAN POOR (PCUP), 
INCREASING AND REORGANIZING ITS ADMINISTRATION, TO 
EFFECTIVELY COORDINATE, FORMULATE AND EVALUATE 
POLICIES AND PROGRAMS CONCERNING THE URBAN POOR AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 
1. 
DECLARATION OF POLICY – It shall hereby be a declared 
policy of the State to provide a society where the poor are empowered, 
economically productive and actively participating in the poverty reduction 
program and sustainable development of the country. 
To fulfill its vision, PCUP vows to undertake the following: 
1. improved 
coordination 
and 
monitoring 
for 
the 
speedy
implementation of government programs and policies for the urban
poor;
2. enhanced accreditation of legitimate urban poor organizations for
purposes of representation and policy formulation.
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The state shall formulate policies for the efficient and effective administration 
and management of all manpower, skills and competencies to ensure 
compliance. 
SECTION 
2. 
MODERNIZATION FUNDING. – The amount of Five Hundred 
Million Pesos (Php 500,000,000.00) for the operation and administration of the 
Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) shall be chargeable 
against funds for the purpose and other sources recommended by the 
Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Thereafter, appropriations for 
the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) shall be included in 
the budget proposals under the Office of the President (OP). 
 
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall rationalize the existing 
organizational structure and staffing pattern of the Presidential Commission 
for the Urban Poor (PCUP) in accordance with the provisions of this Act and 
relevant compensation and position classification laws, rules and regulations. 
Thereafter, the amount needed for the continued implementation of the 
modernization program, shall be included in the annual General Appropriations 
Act (GAA). 
SECTION 
3. 
PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION FOR THE URBAN 
POOR (PCUP) MODERNIZATION FUND – There is hereby created the (PCUP) 
Modernization Fund to be used exclusively for the (PCUP) Modernization Program. 
The (PCUP) Modernization Fund shall be administered by the Secretary of the 
DSWD in accordance with existing government budgeting, accounting and 
auditing rules and regulations. 
SECTION 
4. 
PROGRESS REPORT – The Office of the President shall 
prepare an annual report on the status of the implementation of the (PCUP) 
Modernization Programs which shall be submitted, to the Office of the President 


and to the Chairpersons of the Committee on Poverty Alleviation of the Senate 
and the House of Representatives. 
SECTION 
5. 
PERIOD OF IMPLEMENTATION – The modernization 
program under this Act shall be implemented for an initial period of two (2) 
years:  
Provided, that payments for multi-year contract obligations incurred 
under this Act may extend beyond this period:  
Provided, further, That the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor 
(PCUP) shall continue to develop, modernize and constantly update its 
operational capabilities to keep pace with best global practices. 
SECTION 
6. 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS. – The Presidential Commission 
for the Urban Poor (PCUP) shall continue to exercise and uphold the following 
powers and functions; but not limited to: 
Pursuant to Executive Order No.82 dated December 8, 1986, PCUP serves as 
the direct link of the urban poor to the government in policy formulation and 
program implementation addressed to their needs. 
• 
To coordinate the speedy implementation of government policies 
and programs for the poor; 
• 
To set up a consultative mechanism which shall provide a forum 
for continuing dialogue between the government and the urban 
poor on the proper planning and evaluation of programs and 
projects affecting them; 
• 
To accredit legitimate urban poor organizations for  purposes of 
representation in the formulation of recommendations to the 
President; 
• 
To review existing legislations, policies and programs of the 
government relating to the urban poor, in consultation with the 


latter, and recommend appropriate actions thereon to the 
President; 
• 
To evaluate post and on-going shelter-related projects of the 
government in squatter and resettlement areas in consultation 
with beneficiary communities, and recommend appropriate actions 
thereon to the President; 
• 
To help coordinate the various activities and services being 
rendered by the different government organizations and non-
government organizations for the urban poor; 
• 
To plan and monitor programs and projects for the development of 
urban poor communities in coordination with the agencies 
involved; 
• 
To request the assistance of any ministry, bureau, office or agency 
in the performance of its functions; 
• 
To facilitate the funding of urban poor programs and projects both 
from foreign and domestic fund sources; and 
• 
To perform such other functions as may be authorized by the 
President of the Philippines. 
On March 29, 2012, issued Executive Order No.69; Strengthening the 
Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor. The EO transferred PCUP to the 
Office of the President to effectively coordinate, formulate and evaluate policies 
and programs concerning the urban poor.  
It provides for the following strengthened functions of PCUP: 
 
a) To undertake social preparation activities related to asset reform, 
human development and basic social services, employment and 
livelihood, other programs of the government for the urban poor; 
b) To participate in policy discussions relating to the urban poor in 
board meetings of the HUDCC, Key Shelter Agencies (KSA), Local 
Housing Boards (LHB) or other similar bodies; 


c) To submit quarterly reports to the Office of the President, relative to 
the status of compliance with the provisions of EO 69 and the 
pertinent provision of the law governing eviction and demolition 
activities. 
 SECTION 7. 
INCREASE OF PERSONNEL. – The shall maintain the 
sufficient staffing pattern. Hence, it is authorized to increase its manpower to 
meet such required and may continue to increase personnel per percentage 
rate increase of committed mandates annually or as the need arises. 
SECTION 
8. 
TRANSITORY 
PROVISION – 
Existing 
industries, 
businesses and offices affected by the implementation of this Act shall be given 
six (6) months transitory period from the effectivity of the IRR or such other 
period as may be determined, to comply with the requirements of this Act. 
SECTION 
9. 
IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. – The 
departments and agencies charged with carrying out the provisions of this Act 
shall, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, formulate the 
necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation. 
SECTION 
10. 
REPEALING CLAUSE. – All laws, decrees, executive 
orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions 
of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 
11. 
SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. – If, for any reason, any 
section or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other 
sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby. 
SECTION 
12. 
EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. – This Act shall take effect 
after fifteen (15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two 
(2) national newspapers of general circulation whichever comes earlier. 
 
Approved,