Law Summary
Definitions
- "Affordable cost": Reasonable price based on beneficiary financial capacity and financing schemes
- Includes specific definitions on blighted lands, idle lands, improvements, professional squatters, socialized housing, security of tenure, small property owners, among others
- Important terms include joint venture, land assembly, land banking, land swapping, on-site development, squatters, resettlement areas, zonal improvement program, and urbanizable areas
Coverage and Exemptions
- Program covers all lands in urban and urbanizable areas including priority development and resettlement areas
- Exemptions include lands under Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, defense lands, lands for government installations (if unused for 10 years then covered), ecological reserves, and lands for religious/charitable/educational uses
National Framework
- Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board to formulate National Urban Development and Housing Framework within one year
- Framework includes review of existing plans and programs to harmonize urban land use, transport, environment, and population movement management
Land Use and Inventory
- Local governments to inventory all lands and improvements within a year including residential, government-owned, unregistered, idle lands
- Identifies lands suitable for socialized housing with coordination of national agencies
- Government lands unused for 10 years shall be transferred to Housing Authority for disposition
Acquisition and Disposition
- Prioritization in acquiring lands: government owned first, then public domain, unregistered, priority development lands, and lastly private lands
- Acquisition modes include community mortgage, land swapping, joint ventures, negotiated purchase, and expropriation with safeguards
- Idle lands subject to expropriation except small owners or pending litigation
- Land disposition includes sale, lease with option to buy, usufruct, or public rental housing
- Land valuation based on market or assessed value with consideration for blighted status
- Restrictions on sale or lease of socialized housing lands; unlawful dispositions voided with penalties and reversion to government
Socialized Housing Provisions
- Socialized housing is the primary shelter strategy
- Eligibility requires Filipino citizenship, underprivileged status, no property ownership, no professional squatting
- Registration of beneficiaries by local governments and Housing Council
- Balanced housing development requires developers provide minimum 20% area for socialized housing
- Incentives offered to National Housing Authority and private developers including tax exemptions and streamlined processing
- Basic services such as water, power, sewerage, roads must be provided
- Livelihood opportunities prioritized nearby
- Beneficiaries encouraged to organize, participate in decision-making and self-help efforts
Priority Development and Support Services
- Occupants of priority development areas entitled to special government project priority and support benefits including titling, credit terms, tax exemptions, and basic services
Urban Renewal and Resettlement
- Focus on redevelopment of blighted and slum areas with preference for on-site development to minimize displacement
- Measures against professional squatters include eviction and penalties
- Eviction and demolition allowed only under specific conditions with mandatory procedures such as notices, consultations, presence of officials, and relocation assistance
- Prohibition of new illegal structures in danger or public areas
Community Mortgage Program
- Assists associations of underprivileged citizens to collectively own and develop land
- Grants incentives like tax exemptions and protection from eviction for non-payment less than 3 months
- Encourages beneficiary organization with regulatory oversight
Related Strategies
- Promotion of indigenous and low-cost housing materials and technologies
- Development of viable transport systems with safety, efficiency, and environmental priorities
- Urban ecological balance preservation with local government participation and pollution control
- Monitoring and management of population movements to balance urban capacities
- Coordination for urban-rural interdependence and decentralization
Program Implementation
- Local governments responsible for implementation and land use planning
- National agencies provide technical support, data, financing, and guarantee schemes
- Annual reporting to President and Congress required
Funding Sources
- Includes income from Public Estates Authority, proceeds from ill-gotten wealth, loans, grants, bonds, social housing tax, sale of public lands, and investments
- Local governments authorized to impose a 0.5% tax on urban lands over PHP 50,000 for funding
Transitory and Common Provisions
- Three-year moratorium on eviction and demolition for program beneficiaries
- Penalties for violations include imprisonment, fines, and liability of officers for corporate offenses
- Appropriation provisions, separability, repealing clauses, and effectivity upon publication
This Act comprehensively addresses urban housing needs through integrated land use, socialized housing programs, institutional support, and regulatory mechanisms aimed at assisting the underprivileged and homeless while balancing private and public interests.