Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 11201)
Republic Act No. 11201 is known as the "Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Act."
The Department is the primary national government entity responsible for the management of housing, human settlement, and urban development, focusing on access to and affordability of basic human needs and developing a national strategy to provide adequate and affordable housing to all Filipinos.
An abandoned subdivision or condominium is a project not completed in accordance with the approved development plan despite at least ten (10) years since the target completion date, and either the developer has no intention to complete it or cannot be located despite diligent efforts over the last five (5) years.
Informal Settler Families are households living in a lot without the consent of the property owner, without legal claim over the property, or living in danger areas such as esteros, railroad tracks, garbage dumps, riverbanks, shorelines, and waterways.
The land use planning and monitoring, regulatory functions including formulation and enforcement of subdivision and condominium rules, registration and supervision of Homeowners Associations, and other regulation functions were transferred to the Department, while the adjudicatory function was transferred to the Human Settlements Adjudication Commission.
The HSAC is composed of five (5) Commissioners appointed by the President, with one designated as the Executive Commissioner. It also has Regional Adjudication Branches with Regional Adjudicators appointed as needed.
The Commission has exclusive appellate jurisdiction over all cases decided by Regional Adjudicators and appeals from decisions of local and regional planning and zoning bodies, with its decision being final and executory after fifteen (15) calendar days from receipt by the parties.
The Secretary must be a citizen and resident of the Philippines, of good moral character, and of proven integrity, competence, and expertise in housing, urban planning, and development.
The Department may own and administer government-owned lands idle for at least ten (10) years identified as suitable for urban development, particularly housing, except lands held in trust by GOCCs for their members.
The State shall ensure that poor dwellers in urban and rural areas shall not be evicted nor their dwellings demolished except in accordance with the law.