Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Ivan Howard Guintu 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 9, Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution provides that “the State shall, by law, 
and for the common good, undertake, in cooperation with the private sector, 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. It shall also promote adequate employment opportunities to such citizens. 
In the implementation of such program, the State shall respect the rights of small property 
owners.” 
According to the census by the Philippine Statistics Authority there is an estimated 2.3 
million homeless Filipinos since 2015. The National Economic Development Authority’s 
medium-term plan, the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022, highlights the importance of 
healthy housing conditions and well planned urban development in achieving inclusive growth 
and a globally competitive economy.  
The proposed bill will give informal settler beneficiaries access to the formal housing 
market. It shall be an option for displaced families due to natural and man-made disasters to 
address their temporary relocation. Eligible beneficiaries would receive a rental subsidy to 
help them have decent living conditions. 
This proposed measure is approved on 3rd reading during the 19th Congress in the House 
of Representatives.  
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
IVAN HOWARD A. GUINTU 
Representative, 1st District of Capiz 
July 14, 2025
8:02 am
1814


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Representative Ivan Howard Guintu 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A RENTAL HOUSING SUBSIDY PROGRAM FOR INFORMAL 
SETTLER FAMILIES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
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 “Rental Housing Subsidy Program 
Act.” 
SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to: 
a.
Promote a just, equitable, and inclusive urban development through programs
providing adequate social services, broader housing options, livelihood and
employment, and an improved quality of life for the Filipino people, especially the
underprivileged;
b. Provide an innovative housing program that makes available affordable, livable, and
decent housing, as well as access to basic social services, especially for the
underprivileged;
c.
Protect the urban poor from the impact of immediate dislocation due to eviction and
demolition arising from government projects; and
d. Provide interim housing for dislocated families due to natural and man-made
disasters.
SEC 3. Definition of terms.- As used in this Act: 
a.
Dislocation refers to the state of being displaced from one place to another due to
causes such as eviction and demolition;
b. Informal settler families refer to households living on a lot, whether private or public,
without the consent of the property owner; or those without legal claim over the
property they are occupying; or those living in danger areas such as esteros, railroad
HOUSE BILL NO. 1814


tracks, garbage dumps, riverbanks, shorelines, and waterways, as defined in Section 
3(e) of Republic Act No. 11201, otherwise known as the “Department of Human 
Settlements and Urban Development Act”; and 
c.
Rental housing subsidy refers to the financial assistance provided by the government
to pay for the temporary use or occupancy of a residential unit in the public and
private rental housing market.
SEC 4. Rental Housing Subsidy Program. – There is hereby established the Rental Housing 
Subsidy Program, hereinafter referred to as the “Program”, to provide social protection and 
support to informal settler families (ISFs) in accessing the formal housing market under the 
Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD). It shall be made an 
option to address the temporary relocation of displaced families due to natural and man-made 
disasters. 
Eligible ISFs shall receive a flat rental subsidy rate of Three thousand five hundred pesos 
(PhP3,500.00) for those living in Metro Manila and a rental subsidy rate to be determined by 
the DHSUD and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for those living 
in all other regions, taking into consideration the prevailing minimum wage and rental rates 
per region, but not to exceed Three thousand five hundred pesos (PhP3,500.00): Provided, 
That the rental subsidy shall not exceed the actual rent: Provided, further, That at any time, 
but not more often than once every two (2) years, such subsidy may be reviewed or revised 
by the DHSUD and NEDA to conform with the prevailing economic conditions. 
Rental subsidy shall be granted to eligible beneficiaries until the date of completion of the 
permanent housing project intended for them or upon their actual transfer to the permanent 
housing project, whichever comes first: Provided, That in case of a delay in the completion of 
the permanent housing project, the rental subsidy shall be extended: Provided, further, That 
the agency implementing the permanent housing project shall bear the cost of the extended 
rental subsidy. 
SEC 5. Eligibility.- To be eligible for rental subsidy under this Act, a beneficiary must: 
(a) be an ISF as defined under Section 3(b) hereof; and
(b) vacate the informal settlement area presently being occupied and transfer to a safer
and government-authorized area.
SEC 6. – Conditions for Continued Entitlement or Eligibility. – All eligible rental subsidy 
beneficiaries shall comply with the following conditions to continuously avail of the benefits 
under this Act: 
(a) The beneficiaries shall not move or relocate back to the area in which they were
originally living in unless such move or relocation has been permitted by the
proper government authorities, taking into consideration the purpose of the
Program; and
(b) The beneficiaries shall pay to the lessor that portion of the rental fee not covered
by the subsidy.


Rental subsidy beneficiaries who maintain good payment standings shall be prioritized as 
beneficiaries in government housing programs. 
 
 
SEC 7. Form of Payment. – The rental subsidy shall be distributed by the DHSUD in such 
form it may determine to be most beneficial and appropriate for the beneficiaries. 
 
SEC 8. Roles of Government Agencies. - The various national government agencies and 
instrumentalities involved in the Program shall perform specific responsibilities. 
 
(a) The DHSUD shall: 
1) Coordinate with housing agencies to formulate Program targets and integrate 
these to the national housing policy; 
2) Promulgate appropriate housing policies among the attached corporations of 
DHSUD in line with the implementation of this Program; 
3) Enlist beneficiaries and their lessors for the Program; 
4) Set up monitoring and evaluation system, tools, exit strategy and 
methodologies on compliance with conditions, implementation, output, and 
impact assessments together with its attached agencies, the Department of 
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Presidential Commission for 
the Urban Poor (PCUP), and the local government units; and 
5) Recommend to Congress measures for the proper and responsive 
implementation of this Act. 
(b) The National Housing Authority (NHA) shall: 
1) Certify to the eligibility of the applicants of the Program; 
2) Coordinate with government agencies, including the Department of Public 
Works and Highways and the Department of Transportation, on the 
identification of areas suitable for housing projects and the persons who need 
immediate resettlement; 
3) Update the masterlist of beneficiaries to be resettled as part of the National 
Resettlement Program which shall include their socio-economic profiles; and 
4) Design and conduct appropriate monitoring and evaluation of the 
implementation of this Program which shall include a grievance and redress 
system. 
(c) The Home Development Mutual Fund shall enroll in its system at least one household 
member of the applicant-beneficiaries of the Program to facilitate their entry into the 
formal housing market. 
(d) The DSWD shall design the social preparation activities and conduct workshops and 
training programs to ensure that beneficiaries are aware of the benefits under the 
Program, including the parameters and conditions for eligibility. 
(e) The PCUP shall: 
1) Assist the DSWD in the design of social preparation activities, workshops, and 
training programs for beneficiaries; and 
2) Conduct social preparation activities with the local government units. 
(f) The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority shall provide skills 
training to at least one household member of the beneficiaries 
(g) The local government units shall: 
1) Maintain a publicly accessible register of lessors in their respective areas of 
jurisdiction; 


2) Assist the NHA in conducting census and tagging of ISFs in need of 
immediate resettlement; 
3) Assist the DSWD and PCUP in conducting social preparation activities; 
4) Contain the vacated areas of ISFs to help achieve the objectives of this 
Program; 
5) Assist the DSWD in monitoring and evaluating the implementation of this 
Program; and 
6) Conduct with the DSWD field valuation of beneficiaries and their respective 
lessors in the rental housing units. 
 
SEC 9. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be 
included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
SEC 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DHSUD shall, in coordination with 
relevant government agencies, issue rules, regulations, and guidelines necessary to carry out 
the intent and purposes of this Act within six (6) months from the date of effectivity. 
 
SEC 11. Mandatory Review on the Implementation of this Act. – The DHSUD shall submit 
to both Houses of Congress a report on the implementation of this Program at the end of the 
second year from the date of effectivity of this Act and every two (2) years thereafter. 
 
SEC 12. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional 
or invalid, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and 
effect. 
 
SEC 13. Repealing Clause. – All laws, executive orders, proclamations, rules, regulations 
and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.