Philippine Housing Agencies Urge Limits on Free Housing Bill

Government housing agencies on Monday urged lawmakers to impose a fixed or reviewable period on beneficiaries of a proposed free housing program, saying the bill’s provision allowing them to occupy units indefinitely could overlap with existing housing law. During a House Committee on Housing and Urban Development hearing, the Department of Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and National Housing Authority (NHA) supported House Bill (HB) No. 989, or the proposed Free Housing Through Usufruct Act, but called for revisions to ensure consistency with Republic Act No. 7279. Mark Anthony B. Diamante, a director under DHSUD’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program, said the bill’s indefinite arrangement could conflict with the law’s provision that usufruct in socialized housing should be transitory in nature. “We recommend five years,” Mr. Diamante said, proposing a fixed period for beneficiaries to occupy the housing units. NHA representative Shiela Marie Deimoy-Velasco likewise called for a “defined or reviewable period of usufruct,” with periodic assessment of beneficiaries’ continued eligibility. HB 989 seeks to allow underprivileged and homeless Filipinos who do not own real property to use government housing units for free through usufruct, while the government retains ownership of the properties. The measure states that beneficiaries will shoulder utility costs unless otherwise provided in the usufruct contract. It also prohibits them from leasing, renting, selling or transferring possessions of the units. Local government units (LGUs) would be responsible for managing and maintaining housing properties, while the NHA would provide financial and technical assistance. The bill also proposes a P5-billion seed fund for the NHA to assist LGUs in implementing the program. The agencies further recommended tighter eligibility safeguards, including prioritizing the poorest households and excluding professional squatters and members of squatting syndicates. — Pexcel John Bacon