Housing Standards for Economic Projects

Section 1 declares a government policy to promote and encourage the development of economic and socialized housing projects, primarily by the private sector.
Section 1 directs the policy toward making available adequate economic and socialized housing units for average and low-income earners.
The policy applies to both urban and rural areas.

Section 2 defines economic and socialized housing as housing units within the affordability level of the average and low-income earners.
Affordability is set at 30% of the gross family income.
The National Economic and Development Authority determines the affordability level from time to time.
Section 2 also covers government-initiated sites and services development and construction of economic and socialized housing projects in depressed areas.

Section 3 authorizes the Ministry of Human Settlements to set standards for economic and socialized housing projects and economic and socialized housing units.
The authorized standards apply in urban and rural areas.
The standards may vary by region, province, or city under Section 4.
Section 3 ties the authorized standards to be established for economic and socialized housing “from those provided” under specified earlier issuances.

Section 3 permits the Ministry to establish and promulgate different levels of standards and technical requirements for economic and socialized housing projects and units.
Section 4 requires that the standards cover environmental ecology, hygiene and cleanliness, physical factors, cultural and spiritual development, and public safety.
Section 4 allows the standards to vary by locality based on the availability of indigenous materials for building construction and other relevant factors.
Section 4 authorizes tailoring at the level of region, province, or city.

Section 3 requires consultation with the Ministry of Public Works and Highways, the Integrated National Police, and other appropriate government units and instrumentalities and private associations.
Section 3 frames consultation as part of carrying out the policy by enabling the Ministry to establish and promulgate standards in appropriate coordination.

Section 5 requires that different levels of standards and technical requirements be established and promulgated only after public hearing.
Section 5 requires publication in two newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.
Section 5 requires publication at least once a week for two consecutive weeks.
Section 5 provides that the standards and technical requirements take effect 30 days after the last publication.

Section 3 authorizes standards and technical requirements to be developed from those provided under:
- Presidential Decree No. 957 (the “Subdivision and Condominium Buyers’ Protective Decree”),
- Presidential Decree No. 1216 (defining open space in residential subdivision),
- Presidential Decree No. 1096 (the “National Building Code of the Philippines”),
- Presidential Decree No. 1185 (the “Fire Code of the Philippines”), and
- the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Section 6 states that this Act takes effect upon its approval.
The effective-date rule in Section 5 governs when standards and technical requirements promulgated under this Act take effect, measured from publication.