Plenary hall of the House of Representatives (File photo)
MANILA – The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on the third and final reading a measure seeking to improve the delivery of socialized housing programs.
With 178 affirmative votes, 3 negative votes, and no abstention, the chamber passed House Bill 10772, which seeks to amend Sections 10, 18, and 20 of Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act.
The bill aims to provide decent and affordable housing to underprivileged and homeless citizens in urban centers and resettlement areas.
Quezon City Rep. Ma. Victoria Co-Pilar said the proposal would focus on the equitable distribution of housing opportunities in the country.
"Housing is an essential component of human well-being, a necessity that provides not only physical shelter but also a sense of security, stability, and community. Access to adequate and affordable housing is a fundamental human right and is considered an important indicator of a country's social and economic development as one of the factors that dictate the quality of life of a citizen," Co-Pilar said.
The bill proposes to include direct purchase and unsolicited proposals under the Public-Private Partnership Law as modes of land acquisition for socialized housing.
The proposed law shall also institutionalize incentivized compliance to the balanced housing program.
According to the bill's authors, the idea behind the balanced housing policy of the government is a "counterpoint to gentrification" so that as housing development increases in a specific LGU, the lower demographics and those who have lower income are not eased out of affordable homes in the same area where real estate development is happening.
The bill seeks to hasten the delivery of housing units to its intended beneficiaries through the simplification of requirements of local government units (LGUs).
Co-Pilar said the bill ensures that LGUs would benefit from housing development in their localities, and that LGUs ideally could leverage the private sector´s balanced housing compliance to build socialized housing for low-income constituents.
Subdivision and condominium developers who opt to pay the equivalent project cost in compliance to the Balanced Housing Development Program shall be authorized to give to the LGU the amount equivalent to 5 to 15 percent of the total project cost to be used exclusively for socialized housing programs.
In case the LGU does not have a land for such programs, developers shall be authorized to offer and provide the equivalent amount to other LGUs that do have lots to be used for socialized housing. (PNA)
