The House of Representatives has approved a bill proposing a Rental Housing Subsidy Program for informal settler families sponsored by Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) on third and final reading.
The approval of House Bill No. 9506 is a significant step in fulfilling the commitment to address housing needs in the Philippines, Benitez, House Committee on Housing and Urban Development chair, said on Thursday, Dec. 14.
“It aims to assist families affected by government projects or disasters by providing temporary housing rent subsidies. It also aligns with existing legislation and national development priorities, emphasizing the importance of housing as a human right,” he said.
Benitez, in his sponsorship speech, said under this bill, subsidy will be provided to qualified families to cover full or partial cost of rent for temporary housing until their transfer to a permanent resettlement site provided by the government.
The bill also guarantees that qualified families will continue to receive subsidy if and when the construction of permanent resettlement is delayed, he said.
This program addresses the uncertainty experienced by families affected by demolition or eviction due to government projects, Benitez said.
“Let me be absolutely clear, for the record: this measure does not motivate eviction and demolition of informal settlements,” he said.
But in instances where eviction or demolition is inevitable for public safety, such as in areas with high disaster risk from geological hazards, there should be a social safety net for affected families, he said.
The subsidy program essentially follows a graduated approach which begins with cash assistance for housing rent and ends with award of permanent housing unit in a public housing project, Benitez said.*