E REPRESS

. iow: * E Filed
Republic of the Philippines fey
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ie RECEIVED 4
Cenc ZX DATE November 18, 2024
TIME 13 pm a
NINETEENTH CONGRESS

Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 11090

Introduced by Representative CAMILLE A. VILLAR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the State shall, by law, and for the
common good, undertake, in cooperation with the public 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 resettlements areas.”

Local government units shall endeavor to be self-reliant and shall continue
exercising the powers and discharging the duties and functions currently vested
upon them. They shall likewise exercise such other powers and discharge such other
functions and responsibilities as are necessary, appropriate, or incidental to efficient
and effective provisions of the basic services and facilities including the appropriate
programs and projects for low-cost housing and other mass dwellings.

Additionally, one of the stated objectives of Republic Act (RA) 7279,
otherwise known as the “Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992,” is to
improve the capability of local government units in undertaking urban development
and housing programs and projects.> The same law has put great responsibility in
the local government units in implementing the Act in their respective localities.*

This bill mandates the appointment or designation of a qualified local Human
Settlements Officer in all provinces, cities and municipalities. The local government
unit concerned shall have the option to create the position of a Human Settlements

"Section 9, Article XIII ofthe 1987 Constitution

2 Section 17, Local Government Code of 1991

® Section 2, Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992
‘Section 39, Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992



Officer or designate an incumbent officer or employee to perform the functions of
the said position including formulating programs and measures on housing,
resettlement, urban planning and urban development or advising the local chief
executive, the Sanggunian, and other local government officials concerned regarding
such matters.

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

duller
CAMILLE A. VILLAR


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 11090

Introduced by Representative CAMILLE A. VILLAR

AN ACT
MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OR DESIGNATION OF A LOCAL
HUMAN SETTLEMENTS OFFICER IN ALL PROVINCES, CITIES AND
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.

SEC. 2. Local Human Settlements Officer. - There shall be a Local Human
Settlements Officer in all provinces, cities and municipalities. The local government
unit concerned shall have the option to create the position of a Local Human
Settlements Officer or designate an incumbent officer or employee to perform the
functions of the said position. The appointment or designation of a Local Human
Settlements Officer shall be mandatory for provincial, city and municipal
governments.

SEC. 3. Qualifications. - No person shall be appointed or designated as Local
Human Settlements Officer unless he or she is a Filipino citizen, a resident of the
local government unit concerned, of good moral character, a holder of a college
degree preferably related to housing, real estate and urban planning or any other
related course from a recognized college or university and a first-grade civil service
eligible or its equivalent. He or she must have acquired experience in housing, real
estate, urban planning and urban development or in any related field for at least five


(6) 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. 4. 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 relating 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;

() In addition to the foregoing duties and functions, the Local Human
Settlement Officer shall:

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

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;

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 or
the Balanced Housing Development Program Amendments.


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;

vii. Ensure the prevention of the proliferation of professional squatters
and squatting syndicates within their jurisdiction;

viii. _ 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.

(b) 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 promote the use of indigenous,
alternative, and low-cost but disaster resilient construction materials and
technologies for socialized housing; and

(©) Coordinate with national government agencies and instrumentalities
performing functions related to housing, resettlement, urban planning and
urban development.

SEC. 5. 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. All existing Local Housing
Boards or its equivalent are hereby abolished.

SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within sixty (60) days
after the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban
Development and the Department of Interior and Local Government, shall issue the
necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision, section,
subsection, clause or term of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, such parts
not affected by such declaration shall remain in full force and effect.


SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All existing laws, orders, decrees, rules and
regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
amended, modified or repealed accordingly.

SEC. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,