FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
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First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORYNOTE 
The severe lack of affordable housing in the Philippines greatly contributed to the 
proliferation of squatters in the urban areas, particularly in Metro Manila. The squatting problem 
was considered one of our major problems that the Marcos regime issued Presidential Decree 
No. 772, which made squatting unlawful.However, notwithstanding the existence of the Anti- 
Squatting Law, the problem on squatting continued. It is thus quite perplexing that even before 
giving protection to the legitimate landowners, Republic Act No. 7279 otherwise known as the 
Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992 was passed discouraging the eviction and 
demolition of illegal dwellings. RA 7279 also mandates the local government units, in 
coordination with national housing agencies. to provide squatters adequate relocation and 
financial assistance should relocation not be possible within a specific period. It also prohibits 
the construction of illegal dwellings but this provision would simply become a writing on the 
wall because Republic Act No. 8386 decriminalized squatting giving formidable strength to 
squatters' rights. 
The noble objectives of these social legislations are primarily to protect the rights of the 
underprivileged and homeless citizens but no protection has been granted to legitimate land 
titleholders. The issue of relocating or resettling the squatters has become a dilemma either due 
to inadequacy of funds or relocation sites, or plain lack of political will on the part of the 
government officials concerned. 
This bill seeks to provide a mandatory period in the relocation of squatters. It also seeks 
to compensate the landowners in case of failure of the local government unit concerned to act on 
the request for assistance to evict illegal occupants within the prescribed period. The foremost 
intention of this measure is to provide equal protection to the squatters and to the landowners.- 


measure will not only give full meaning to the noble objectives of RA 7279 but will also 
minimize, if not totally eliminate squatting because local government units will be compelled to 
monitor vacant lands to prevent trespassers fiom constructing illegal structures within their 
respective localities. 
This is a Senate counterpart bill to one filed in the House of Representatives by Rep. 
Emilio C. Macias 11. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
e 
.J?Jr,i(F 
, .. 
L ,, 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A MANDATORY PERIOD TO RELOCATE SQUATTERS, GRANTING 
DISTURBANCE FEES TO OWNERS OF ILLEGALLY OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL LAND, $d 
AND PENALIZING VIOLATIONS THEREOF 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Cofigress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Landowners Protection Act 
of 2008.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State to 
afford protection and to promote full respect for property rights of every citizen to ensure 
optimum utilization of one’s property free from any obstacle. 
SECTION 3. Definition of “Squatter”. - As used in this Act, the term “squatter” shall 
refer to my person who occupies residential land without the consent of the landowner. 
SECTION 4, Relocation; Disturbance Fee. - The local government unit shall, in 
coordination with the Housing and Urban Coordinating Council and the National Housing 
Authority, be responsible for the relocation of squatters within six (6) months from receipt of the 
written request for assistance to evict squatters from the landowner; Provided, however, That, 
should relocation not be effected., the local government unit concerned shall pay the landowner a 
disturbance fee equivalent to the tax due of the illegally occupied land until the squatters have 
been relocated; Provided, further, That, payment of the disturbance fee shall commence one (1) 
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year after the prescribed period to relocate had lapsed. 
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SECTION 5. Fines and Penalties. - Any person found guilty of violating any provision 
of this Act shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment not more than three (3) years or a fine of 
Fifty Thousand Pesos (PSO,OOO.OO), or both, at the discretion of the court 
The Chief Executive and Punong Barangay, who fail to prevent the construction of any 
kind of illegal dwelling unit or structure in privately owned residential land within their 
jurisdiction shall face suspension for a period of six (6) months and penal sanctions provided 
under this Section. 
SECTION 6. Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Interior and Local 
Government, in coordination with the national Housing Authority, shall issue the implementing 
rules and regulations within sixty (60) days upon approval of this Act. 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any part hereof, is held invalid or unconstitutional, 
the remainder of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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