Bill That Seeks To Provide An Innovative Housing Programs To The Urban Poor

An act establishing the rental housing subsidy program was filed in Congress on July 7, 2022. It seeks to address the plight of families who cannot afford or build their own homes.

The Declaration of Policy are as follows;

1. 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;
2. Provide an innovative housing program providing affordable, livable, and decent housing, as well as access to basic social services, especially for the underprivileged;
3. Protect the urban poor from the impact of immediate dislocation due to eviction and demolition arising from government projects; and
4. Provide for options for interim housing for dislocated families due to natural and man-made disasters.

The bill proposes that a Rental Housing Subsidy Program, shall be established as a hosing and social protection program with the end view of enabling informal settler beneficiaries and displaced famlies to lead decent lives. The program would also help them in accessing the formal housing market.

Taking into consideration the prevailing rental rates in the concerned locality and the economic standing and potential of the family, an amount determined by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Develpoment shall be bestowed to the eligible beneficiaries.

However, the subsidies given under this program will be reviewed or revised to conform to the beneficiaries’ prevailing economic conditions at any time but not more than once every two (2) years. Additionally, the rental subsidy will only granted to the beneficiaries for a maximum of five (5) years or upon their availment or acquisition of permanent housing.

A beneficiary should be an informal settler beneficiary, has at least one (1) member of the household that it employed, and vacate the informal settlement are they are presently living and relocate to a safer area.

The beneficiaries must comply to the conditions if they wish a continued availment of the benefits under the Act. First, they shall not move back to the area in which they were originally living in unless permitted by the proper government athorities. And second, they shall pay that portion of the rentals that are not subsidized under the program.