1 
Republic of the Philippines  
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City  
NINETEENTH (19th) CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No.  _____ 
Introduced by: Hon. Ma. Victoria Co - Pilar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Initially filed in the 16th Congress, House Bill 6342, entitled “An Act 
Strengthening the Right of Government to Expropriate Lands for Socialized Housing, 
Ammending for the Purpose, Sections 9, 10, and 11 of Republic Act No. 7279, Otherwise 
Known as the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992” authored by Hon. Jose 
Christopher Y. Belmonte, Hon. Ibarra Gutierrez III and Rep. Walden Bello. The 
16th Congress passed the measure on its 3rd Reading. 
In the 17th Congress, House Bill 228 entitled “An Act Prescribing the 
Mechanisms to Facilitate the Disposition of Idle Government – owned Lands for 
Socialized Housing” was filed by Hon. Eric Singson. The 17th Congress also passed 
the measure on 3rd Reading and transmitted the said bill to the Senate for 
appropriate Action. 
In the 18th Congress, House Bills 711 and 1044 entitled “An Act Prescribing 
the Mechanisms to Facilitate the Disposition of Idle Government – Owned Lands for 
Socialized Housing” was again filed by Hon. Jose Christopher Y. Belmonte and 
Hon. Kristine Singson – Meehan.  
Time and time again, brilliant legislators have brought forth this bill in the 
hopes that the government addresses the constitutional mandate: 
“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 resettlement areas” 
August 15, 2022
4:46 pm
3625


2 
 
 
We welcome the rapid industrialization of our rural areas and cities. 
However, with the said development, we are held back by our inability to keep 
pace with the growing housing need. This bill thereby opens a solution to the 
matter. The government’s idle land assets are a potential resource that we have 
yet to tap.  
 
 
 This bill further aims to map the said resource to finally resolve the 
perennial informal settling problems in the different parts of the country. Settling 
in danger zones, adjusting to a life where families and children gamble with the 
elements; praying that the walls of their houses hold under the threat of disasters. 
We thereby humbly bring forth this bill to better their lives under a solid roof, 
and strong foundations. 
 
 Low-cost housing, that is our silver bullet.  
 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


3 
Republic of the Philippines  
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City  
NINETEENTH (19th) CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No.  _____ 
Introduced by: Hon. Ma. Victoria Co - Pilar 
1 
2 
AN ACT 
3 
PRESCRIBING THE MECHANISMS TO FACILITATE THE DISPOSITION 
4 
OF IDLE GOVERNMENT-OWNED LANDS FOR SOCIALIZED HOUSING 
5 
6 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in the 
7 
Congress assembled: 
8 
9 
10 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Idle 
11 
Government-owned Lands Disposition Act”. 
12 
13 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the 
14 
State to ensure the availability of sufficient lands for socialized housing purposes 
15 
and improve the capability of local government units (LGUs) in undertaking 
16 
housing and urban development programs and projects. 
17 
18 
SECTION 3. Inventory of Lands. – To carry out the provisions of this Act, 
19 
an inventory of all idle government-owned lands shall be conducted within one 
20 
(1) year from the effectivity of this Act. The Department of Human Settlements
21 
and Urban Development (DHSUD), in coordination with its appropriate attached 
22 
corporations and with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
23 
(DENR) through the Land Management Bureau (LMB), shall conduct an 
24 
inventory of all lands owned by the national government or any of its 
25 
subdivisions, instrumentalities or agencies, including government-owned or 
26 
controlled corporations (GOCCs) and their subsidiaries which have not been 
27 
used for the purpose for which they have been reserved for the past ten (10) 
28 
3625


4 
 
years. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) through the 
1 
LGUs shall conduct an inventory of all local government- owned lands within 
2 
their respective localities which have remained idle. For monitoring purposes, 
3 
the DILG shall furnish the DHSUD a copy of its inventory. 
4 
 
5 
 
The inventories stated in the preceding paragraphs shall be updated every 
6 
three (3) years. 
7 
 
8 
SECTION 4. Identification and Setting Aside of Lands for Socialized 
9 
Housing – After the conduct of the inventory: 
10 
 
11 
(a) All LGUs are hereby directed to identify and set aside idle local 
12 
government-owned lands which are suitable for socialized housing: 
13 
Provided, that the Human Settlements Adjudication Commission shall 
14 
provide technical assistance to the LGUs in the identification thereof and 
15 
their eventual setting aside for and disposition as socialized housing sites: 
16 
Provided, further, that identified lands for socialized housing shall be 
17 
integrated in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan of LGUs; and 
18 
 
19 
(b) The National Housing Authority (NHA), in coordination with the LMB, is 
20 
likewise directed to identify idle lands owned by the national government 
21 
or any of its subdivisions, instrumentalities or agencies, including GOCCs 
22 
and their subsidiaries, which have not been used for the purpose for 
23 
which they have been reserved for the past ten (10) years to be set aside for 
24 
socialized housing: Provided, that such lands have been declared open for 
25 
disposition whether through an act of Congress or other related laws. 
26 
 
27 
Except for local government-owned lands, all lands owned by the national 
28 
government or any of its subdivisions, instrumentalities or agencies, including 
29 
GOCCs and their subsidiaries identified for socialized housing, shall 
30 
immediately be transferred to the NHA to be set aside for the purpose subject to 
31 
the approval of the President of the Philippines: Provided, That lands comprising 
32 
the acquired assets of GOCCs and government financial institutions (GFIs) 
33 
engaged in shelter financing that are taken possession of in their ordinary 
34 
conduct of business and lands they hold in trust for and on behalf of their 
35 
members are not covered under this Act. 
36 
 
37 
SECTION 5. Sale, Alienation or Encumbrance of Other Government-
38 
owned Lands Not Set Aside for Socialized Housing. – Whenever a government-
39 
owned land not set aside for socialized housing, whether owned by the LGUs or 
40 
the national government or any of its subdivisions, instrumentalities or agencies, 
41 
including GOCCs and their subsidiaries, is sold, alienated or otherwise 
42 
encumbered in favor of private individuals or entities for its development into 
43 


5 
 
industrial, commercial or other similar estates, there shall be set aside, as may at 
1 
least ten percent (10%)  of the proceeds thereof for the development of socialized 
2 
housing projects within, adjacent to the affected areas or in nearby areas within 
3 
the city or municipality in accordance with the local development land use plan: 
4 
Provided, That lands compromising the acquired assets of GOCCs and GFIs 
5 
engaged shelter financing that are taken possession of in their ordinary conduct 
6 
of business and lands they hold in trust for and on behalf of their members are 
7 
not covered under this Act; Provided, further, That low- salaried employees of 
8 
the government agency that sold, alienated or otherwise encumbered such idle 
9 
land shall be given first priority as beneficiaries of the socialized housing projects 
10 
to be developed. 
11 
 
12 
SECTION 6. Conveyance of Segregated Land or Fund. – For land owned 
13 
by the national government or any of its subdivisions, instrumentalities or 
14 
agencies, including GOCCs and their subsidiaries, the segregated land or fund 
15 
shall be conveyed at no cost to the NHA which shall be directly responsible for 
16 
the development of socialized housing projects; Provided, however, That for a 
17 
land owned by an LGU, the segregated land or fund shall be retained by the 
18 
concerned LGU to be utilized exclusively for its socialized housing projects. 
19 
 
20 
SECTION 7. Implementation of Socialized Housing Projects. – For 
21 
purposes of implementing socialized housing projects on lands set aside for 
22 
socialized housing and utilizing the funds set aside from the sale, alienation and 
23 
encumbrance of other lands not set aside for socialized housing, the concerned 
24 
LGU and the NHA shall develop or cause the development of projects pursuant 
25 
to Sections 4, 5 and 6 of this Act. 
26 
 
27 
Toward this end, the NHA and the concerned LGU are hereby authorized 
28 
to enter into joint venture agreements or other similar agreements with private 
29 
developers or nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) engaged in housing 
30 
production: Provided, That the cost of housing unit, if constructed within the 
31 
affected area or locality pursuant to Section 5 hereof, shall exclude the cost of 
32 
land.  
33 
 
34 
In all cases, the NHA and the concerned LGU shall coordinate with each 
35 
other in the development of socialized housing projects in the areas described in 
36 
Section 5 of this Act.  
37 
 
38 
SECTION 8. Incentives for Private Developers and NGOs. – To encourage 
39 
private sector and NGO participation in socialized housing projects described in 
40 
Section 7 hereof, the incentives provided in Section 20 of Republic Act No. 7279, 
41 
otherwise known as the “Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992”, on 
42 
Incentives for Private Sector Participating in Socialized Housing, shall apply. 
43 


6 
 
 
1 
SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within six (6) months 
2 
after the effectivity of this Act, the DHSUD and the DENR are hereby directed to 
3 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations, including the mechanisms and 
4 
procedures on the conduct of inventory and identification of lands suitable for 
5 
socialized housing, to effectively implement the provisions of this Act. In drafting 
6 
the implementing rules and regulations, the National Urban Development and 
7 
Housing Framework described in Republic Act No. 7279 shall be taken into 
8 
consideration.  
9 
 
10 
SECTION 10. Separability Clause. If any part or provision of this Act is 
11 
declared invalid for any reason, the remainder of this Act not affected thereby 
12 
shall remain valid and effective. 
13 
 
14 
SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, 
15 
letters of instruction, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with any 
16 
of the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, superseded, or 
17 
amended accordingly. 
18 
 
19 
SECTION 12. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
20 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
21 
 
22 
 
23 
Approved.   
24 
 
25