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Manila Bulletin devider devider House approves bill seeking disposition of unused gov't properties for socialized housing projects

House approves bill seeking disposition of unused gov't properties for socialized housing projects

Published Jan 6, 2019 01:36 pm
By Charissa Luci-Atienza The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill seeking the disposition of unused government-owned properties for socialized housing projects. EPA / MANILA BULLETIN (EPA / MANILA BULLETIN) Voting 202-5, the Lower Chamber approved House Bill 8553 or the proposed “Idle Government-Owned Lands Disposition Act,” principally authored by Ilocos Sur Rep. Eric Singson The bill seeks to ensure the availability of sufficient lands for socialized housing and improve the capability of local government units (LGUs) in implementing various programs on housing and urban development. Under HB 8553, the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), through the National Housing Authority (NHA), and in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), is tasked to prepare the inventory of all lands owned by the national government that have not been used for the purpose for which they have been acquired for the past 10 years. The bill provides that the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), through the LGUs, shall prepare the inventory of all idle local government-owned properties within their respective areas. The NHA, in coordination with the Land Management Bureau (LMB), shall use these inventories as references to identify the lands owned by the national government that are suitable for socialized housing, according to the bill. The Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board is mandated to assist the LGUs in identifying the local government-owned properties that can also be used for socialized housing. HB 8553 authorizes the NHA and the concerned LGUs to enter into a joint-venture agreement with private developers as well as nongovernment organizations (NGOs) that are engaged in housing production. The bill grants incentives to the private sector and the NGOs to promote their participation in these projects, pursuant to Section 20 of Republic Act 7279 or the “Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992” on Incentives for Private Sectors Participating in Socialized Housing. "If these properties owned by the LGUs and the national government will not be used for socialized housing, they shall be sold, transferred, or encumbered for the purpose of developing them into industrial, commercial or other similar estates," the bill said. "Otherwise, at least 10 percent of their proceeds shall be set aside for the development of socialized housing projects within, adjacent, or near the affected areas in the city or municipality," it said. Under HB 8553, segregated lands or funds from the properties owned by the national government shall be utilized by the NHA as means for expanding socialized housing projects. In addition, the LGUs shall retain the lands they own and use them exclusively for socialized housing. The HUDCC and the DENR shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations, including the mechanisms and procedures to make the inventory as well as identify the lands suitable for socialized housing, the bill said. Co-authors of the bill are Reps. Gus Tambunting (second district, Parañaque), Ricardo “RJ” Belmonte (Party-list, SBP), Rozzano Rufino Biazon (lone district, Muntinlupa City), Rosenda Ann Ocampo (six district, Manila), Micaela Violago (second district, Nueva Ecija), Winston Castelo (second district, Quezon City), Alfredo Benitez (third district, Negros Occidental), Jose Christopher Belmonte (sixth district, Quezon City), Tom Villarin (Party-list, Akbayan), and Michael Romero, PhD. (Party-list, 1-Pacman).
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