Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon Ctiy

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS:
First Regular Session

3227

HOUSE BILL NO.

ie” T. Castelo

introduced by Hon.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The contemporary scheme and scene appear to travel in opposite
direction with the constitutional provisions espoused in Article XIII of the 1987
Constitution in so far as social justice and human rights are concemed.

Consider over 130,000 families living in subhuman environment — esteros,
bridges, dump sites, danger zones and the like — all over Metro Manila making
them truly vuinerable to both man-made and natural disasters.

Offand, the whole picture could turn out as one of social justice issue
since it seems to graphically draw a case of seemingly irreparable injustice in
society.

It is this author's shared belief that Congress can advance the cause of
social justice by simply providing habitable housing for the homeless. We shall
still see the day when no one family has to live_along esters, riverbanks,
shorelines, waterways, roads, parks and the like, AVe shall likewise save victims
of disasters and caiamities and make sure thaj/fo persons or families should be
adversely affected by government infrastructure projects. }

The favorable approval of this bill is ufgently sought. 7

“WINNIE” T. CASTELO
District, Quezon City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon Ctiy

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3227

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Hon. Winston “Winnie” T. Castelo

AN ACT

PROVIDING FOR THE RESETTLEMENT, AID AND REHABILITATION

SERVICES FOR THE UNDERPRIVILEGED AND HOMELESS CITIZENS

AFFECTED BY THE DEMOLITION OF HOUSES/DWELLINGS ALONG

DANGER AREAS SUCH AS ESTEROS, GARBAGE DUMPTS,

RIVERBANTKS, SHORELINES, WATERWAYS AND OTHER PUBLIC

PLACES SUCH AS SIDEWALKS, ROADS, PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS AS
WELL AS THE VICTIMS OF DISASTERS AND CALAMITIES AND THOSE
AFFECTED BY GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN METRO
MANILA AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared the policy of
the State to assist the underprivileged and homeless citizens in urban areas
adversely affected by the demolition of houses/dwellings along danger areas
such as esteros, garbage dumps, riverbanks, shorelines, waterways and other
public places such as sidewalks, roads, parks and playgrounds as well as the
victims of disasters and calamities and those affected by government
infrastructure projects.

SEC. 2. Statement of Objectives and Guidelines. — This Act is intended
to help the underprivileged and homeless citizens who suffered damages
resulting from the demolition in or the clearing up of the danger areas such as
esteros, garbage dumps, riverbanks, shorelines, waterways and other public
places such as sidewalks, roads, parks and playgrounds as well as the victims of
disasters and calamities and those affected by government infrastructure projects
in Metro Manila. It aims to provide funds for the immediate relief of the displaced
underprivileged families and homeless citizens through the establishment of


resettlement centers, home sites or town sites, whether off-site or beneficiary-led,
through the Community Morigate Program or other socialized housing programs.

SEC. 3. Guidelines in the Allocation of Funds. — Government funds and
resources shall be spent effectively in consonance with the principle of providing
the greatest good for the greatest number. Accordingly, the following guidelines
shall be observed in allocating the funds made available for the implementation
of this Act

(a) Funds shall be allocated exclusively for the underprivileged and
homeless citizens affected by the demolition of their
houses/dwellings in Metro Manila;

(b) Funds shall be exclusively for relocation or resettlement sites that will
be beneficiary-led or off-site under the Community Morigate Program
of the Social Housing Finance Corporation or under the other
socialized housing programs of other agencies;

(c) Funds, shall, when necessary, be for the construction of basic
services and facilities such as schools and health centers as well as
roads or access to employment and livelihood opportunities sufficient
to meet the basic needs of the affected families; and

(2) Inno case shall any portion of the sum herein appropriated be used
in payment of any subsisting obligation contracted before the
passage of this Act.

SEC. 4. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the implementation
of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act until such
time that the total requirements for this purpose shall have been fully
implemented.

SEC. 5. Determination of Beneficiaries and Projects. - The Office of the
President through the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council
(HUDCC), in consultation with the Metro Manila Inter-Agency Committee
(MMIAC) and the local government unit (LGU) as host site, shall assist in the
resettlement of beneficiaries through a beneficiary-led or off-site Community
Mortgate Program or other socialized housing programs. The Presidential
Commission for the Urban Poor, in coordination with the MMIAG and the LGU
concerned, shall take the census of beneficiaries and cross-check the same with
the census of the National Housing Authority (NHA).

SEC. 6. Alpha Listing of Beneficiaries. — The HUDCC, in coordination
with the MMIAC, shall produce an alpha listing of the beneficiaries covered under
this Act.

SEC. 7. Rules and Regulations. - The HUDCC, in coordination with the
MMIAC, shail, within thirty (30) days from the approval of this Act, issue the
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.


SEC. 8. Penalty Clause. — Any person or persons who shall take
advantage of the situation for undue personal and private gain by committing an
act of profiteering in the purchase of lots or materials, or by committing an act of
misrepresentation in the documentation, or by falsifying reports shall be imposed
the penalty of not more than six (6) years of imprisonment or a fine of not less
than Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) but not more than One Hundred
Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00). Any other illegal act that may be committed in
relation thereto shall be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

SEC. 9. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act shall be held
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall
remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. — Any law, decree, rules and regulations
which are inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby
amended or repealed accordingly;

SEC. 11. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its pubiication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,