Question & AnswerQ&A (BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 220)
The main policy declared is to promote and encourage the development of economic and socialized housing projects, primarily by the private sector, to make available adequate housing units for average and low-income earners in urban and rural areas.
Economic and socialized housing refers to housing units affordable to average and low-income earners, defined as costing within 30% of the gross family income as determined by NEDA, and includes government-initiated sites and services development and housing projects in depressed areas.
The Ministry of Human Settlements is authorized to establish and promulgate different levels of standards and technical requirements for economic and socialized housing projects.
The Ministry can establish standards different from those in PD No. 957 (Subdivision and Condominium Buyers' Protective Decree), PD No. 1216 (Defining Open Space in Residential Subdivision), PD No. 1096 (National Building Code of the Philippines), and PD No. 1185 (Fire Code of the Philippines).
The standards shall provide for environmental ecology, hygiene and cleanliness, physical, cultural and spiritual development, and public safety, and may vary by region depending on availability of indigenous building materials and other relevant factors.
Consultations must be made with the Ministry of Public Works and Highways, the Integrated National Police, other government units and instrumentalities, and private associations.
The Ministry must conduct a public hearing and then publish the standards in two newspapers of general circulation once a week for two consecutive weeks before it takes effect 30 days after the last publication.
The law took effect upon its approval on March 25, 1982.
Yes, the law applies to both urban and rural areas for the development of economic and socialized housing projects.
Allowing different levels of standards makes economic and socialized housing projects more flexible and feasible for average and low-income earners, considering local factors like indigenous materials and regional conditions.