Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has filed a bill seeking to grant a monthly rental housing subsidy to millions of homeless Filipinos, or informal settler families (ISFs).
The proposal is contained in House Bill 7230, titled “An Act establishing a rental housing subsidy program for informal settler families and appropriating funds therefore,” with Rep. Jude Acidre of TINGOG Party-list as co-principal author.
Romualdez said the proposed Rental Housing Subsidy Program Act would provide social protection and support to ISFs in accessing the formal housing market under the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).
He said the measure would also serve as an option for the temporary relocation of families displaced by natural or man-made disasters.
“Financial aid to low-income families or displaced individuals helps them afford decent housing in the rental market, acting as a flexible safety net when permanent solutions are not immediate,” Romualdez said.
He added that the program would improve access to jobs and schools while serving as a bridge to permanent housing.
Acidre cited the Constitution’s mandate for the State to undertake, in cooperation with the private sector, a continuing program of urban land reform and housing to make decent housing and basic services available at affordable cost to underprivileged and homeless citizens.
Under HB 7230, ISFs are defined as households occupying private or public land without the owner’s consent, lacking legal claim over the property, or residing in danger areas such as esteros, railroad tracks, garbage dumps, riverbanks, shorelines and waterways, as defined in Republic Act No. 11201 or the DHSUD Act.
The bill proposes a rental subsidy of up to P3,500 per month for eligible ISFs in Metro Manila. For other regions, the rate would be determined by the DHSUD and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), based on prevailing minimum wages and rental rates, but not exceeding P3,500 monthly.
The subsidy must not exceed the actual rental cost. DHSUD and NEDA may adjust the rates, but not more than once every two years, to reflect economic conditions.
The assistance will be provided until the completion of a permanent housing project for beneficiaries or upon their transfer to such housing, whichever comes first.
If delays occur, the implementing agency for the permanent housing project will shoulder the cost of extended assistance.
To qualify, beneficiaries must vacate their informal settlements and relocate to safer, government-authorized areas.
They must also refrain from returning to their previous locations without government approval and pay any rental amount not covered by the subsidy.
Beneficiaries who maintain good payment standing will be prioritized in government housing programs.
The bill outlines the responsibilities of key agencies, including the DHSUD, National Housing Authority, Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Home Development Mutual Fund, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
The DHSUD, in coordination with concerned agencies, is mandated to issue the implementing rules and regulations within six months from the law’s effectivity.
