Law Summary
Definition of Economic and Socialized Housing
- Refers to housing affordable to average and low-income earners, defined as costing no more than 30% of gross family income.
- Gross family income as basis is periodically determined by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
- Includes government-initiated projects involving sites and services development and construction in depressed areas.
Authority to Establish Standards and Technical Requirements
- The Ministry of Human Settlements is empowered to establish and promulgate different levels of standards and technical requirements for economic and socialized housing.
- These standards may differ from those in four Presidential Decrees:
- P.D. No. 957 (Subdivision and Condominium Buyers’ Protective Decree)
- P.D. No. 1216 (Defining Open Space in Residential Subdivision)
- P.D. No. 1096 (National Building Code of the Philippines)
- P.D. No. 1185 (Fire Code of the Philippines)
- Consultation is required with the Ministry of Public Works and Highways, Integrated National Police, other relevant government units, and private associations.
Content and Variation of Standards and Technical Requirements
- Must address environmental ecology, hygiene, and cleanliness.
- Should promote physical, cultural, and spiritual development.
- Must ensure public safety.
- Standards may vary by region, province, or city based on factors such as availability of indigenous building materials and other local considerations.
Procedural Requirements for Enacting Standards
- Before promulgation, the Ministry of Human Settlements must conduct a public hearing.
- The standards must be published in two newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.
- Publication should occur once a week for two consecutive weeks.
- The standards take effect 30 days after the last publication.
Effectivity
- The Act takes effect immediately upon approval, which was on March 25, 1982.