Alarmed that there are about 4.5 million homeless people in the country, Deputy Speaker and Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte Jr. has proposed the establishment of a Rental Housing Subsidy Program that would enable informal settlers to lead "decent" lives.

Under House Bill No. 7008, the House leader cited the need for the government to implement an "innovative" housing program that would provide affordable,  livable and decent housing,  as well as access to basic social services, especially for the underprivileged. 

Citing the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), he said there are about 4.5 million homeless people in the country,  three million of whom are in the National Capital Region (NCR).

He said his proposed housing and social protection program will help support the informal settler beneficiaries in accessing the formal housing market. 

"It shall be made an option to address the temporary relocation of displaced families due to natural and man-made disasters," Villafuerte said. 

He explained that under his measure,  eligible beneficiaries shall receive a rental subsidy,  the amount of which shall be determined by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) taking into consideration,  among others,  the prevailing rental rates in the concerned locality and the economic standing and potential of the family. 

"The subsidy shall be a percentage of the total amount of rentals as determined by the rental or lease contract between the eligible beneficiary, and lessor," he said.

HB 7008 provides that for those eligible beneficiaries below the poverty threshold as determined by the PSA, the subsidy shall be at least 50 percent of the total amount of rentals. 

At any time but not more than once every two years,  subsidies given under the program shall be reviewed or revised to conform to prevailing economic conditions, it provides. 

Under the proposed Rental Housing Subsidy Program Act of 2020, rental subsidy shall be granted to eligible beneficiaries for a maximum of five years or upon their availment or acquisition  of permanent housing, whichever comes first. 

To be an eligible beneficiary, an individual or household is an informal settler, has a source of livelihood or have at least one member of the household gainfully employed, and vacate the informal settlement area in which they are presently living and transfer or relocate to a safer area.

For continued availment of benefits,  the beneficiaries shall not move or relocate back to the area in which they were originally living in unless such move or relocation has been permitted by proper government authorities, and that beneficiaries shall pay that portion of the rentals not subsidized under the program to the lessor.

Under HB 7008, the DHSUD shall enlist beneficiaries and lessors for the program,  while the National Housing Authority (NHA)  shall certify the eligibility of the program beneficiaries. 

The amount necessary for the effective implementation of the proposed Act shall be charged against the current appropriations for the DHSUD, it provides. 

Thereafter,  such amounts as necessary for continued implementation of the proposed Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act (GAA), the measure adds. 

HB 7008 tasks the DHSUD to submit to Congress a report on the implementation of the program at the end of the second year from date of effectivity and every two years thereafter. 

The DHSUD is mandated to issue the implementing rules and regulations of the proposed Act within six months from date of its effectivity.