Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 11201)
Republic Act No. 11201 is officially known as the "Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Act."
The DHSUD is tasked as the main national government entity responsible for the management of housing, human settlement, and urban development, focusing on ensuring access to adequate, safe, secure, affordable homes, and managing related policies, programs, and regulatory functions.
Informal Settler Families (ISFs) refer to households living in a lot, whether private or public, without the consent of the property owner; or those without legal claim over the property they occupy; or those living in danger areas such as esteros, railroad tracks, garbage dumps, riverbanks, shorelines, and waterways.
The Department has the power to take over unfinished, incomplete or abandoned licensed real estate development projects, implement a single regulatory system over the planning, production, marketing, and management of housing projects, and regulate the use of road and street systems of such projects.
The HSAC is composed of five Commissioners appointed by the President, including an Executive Commissioner. Each Commissioner must be a natural born citizen of the Philippines, of good moral character, a member of the Philippine Bar for at least ten years prior to appointment, and have experience in urban development planning, sustainable development, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, or real estate development.
Regional Adjudicators have original and exclusive jurisdiction over cases involving subdivisions, condominiums, memorial parks, homeowners associations, disputes concerning housing laws and regulations, and other controversies within the Department's jurisdiction not under other judicial or quasi-judicial bodies.
The Secretary advises the President on housing and urban development, establishes policies and standards, promulgates rules and regulations for the Department, exercises control and supervision over Department personnel and attached agencies, appoints officers and employees, coordinates with other government agencies, and serves on various boards relevant to development and disaster risk reduction.
The National Human Settlements Board exercises policy and program development functions with members including the DHSUD Secretary as Chairperson, key government secretaries, and heads of attached agencies to ensure coordinated housing and urban development policy implementation.
Poor dwellers in urban and rural areas shall not be evicted nor shall their dwellings be demolished except in accordance with the law, ensuring lawful and humane treatment under the housing and urban development programs.