THE House of Representatives approved on Tuesday House Bill (HB) 10772, which would improve the delivery of socialized housing programs.
The bill, which garnered 178 affirmative votes and three negative votes without abstention, aims to make available at affordable cost decent housing and basic services to the underprivileged and homeless citizens in urban centers and resettlement areas.
Principally authored by Reps. Roy Loyola, Ma. Victoria Co-Pilar and Francisco “Kiko” Benitez, the bill also seeks to reduce the development of unoccupied resettlement sites due to issues of accessibility, job security and basic services.
It would amend pertinent sections of Republic Act 7279, otherwise known as the “Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992,” as amended by RA 10884.
Amendments would include: addition of direct purchase and unsolicited proposals as modes of land acquisition for socialized housing; institutionalization of incentivized compliance as a mode of compliance to the balanced housing program; and simplification of requirements of local government units to hasten the delivery of housing units to their intended beneficiaries.
Also during Tuesday’s session, Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. urged the committee on rules to act expeditiously on his House Resolution 1942, urging the House to recommend and request the Commission on Elections to reschedule the filing of certificates of candidacy for the May 2025 midterm elections to December 2024.
Abante said this would give candidates sufficient time to make the appropriate evaluations, preparations and decisions which would redound to the benefit and welfare of the people.
The House also unanimously approved with 180 votes the following bills: HBs 10805, which would convert the extension campus of the Southern Luzon State University in Gumaca, Quezon into a regular campus; HB 10820, which would convert the Southern Philippines Agri-Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology in Malita, Davao Occidental into a state university; and HB 10822, which would convert the Guimaras State University Mosqueda and Baterna Extension Campuses in Jordan and San Lorenzo, respectively, both in Guimaras, into regular campuses.
The session was presided over by Deputy Speakers Raymond Democrito Mendoza and Yasser Alonto Balindong.
