Dec 20, 2011

House approves bill strengthening socialized housing projects

14 December 2011 10:38:36 AM
Writer: Jazmin S. Camero, MRS-PRIB

The House of Representatives has passed on third reading a bill requiring the participation of owners and developers of condominium projects in the government's socialized housing program.

House Bill 5446, to be known as "An Act Strengthening the Balanced Housing Development Program," seeks to amend Republic Act 7279, which provides for a comprehensive and continuing Urban Development and Housing Program.

A MalacaƱang-certified measure, the bill will tap owners and developers of condominiums in the country to participate in the construction of socialized housing.

"To accelerate the government's socialized housing program nationwide, the bill is eliciting the participation of condominium owners and developers," said Rep. Rodolfo Valencia (1st District, Oriental Mindoro), one of the authors of the bill.

"We have included the development of education facilities within the projects or within cities or municipalities as a mode of compliance with the balanced housing requirements, among others," Valencia said, Chairman of the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development.

Under the measure, developers can engage in a joint-venture project with another private developer, both of whom shall be solitarily liable in the production of the socialized housing in compliance with the balanced housing requirement, regardless of the provisions of their joint-venture agreement.

The bill includes condominium projects whose owners or developers shall be required to develop an area for socialized housing equivalent to at least 20% of the total condominium area or condominium cost.

The bill imposes a prison term of six years and a fine of not more than P10 million on violators.

The co-authors of the bill are Reps. Bernadette Herrera-Dy (Party List, Bagong Henerasyon), Marcelino Teodoro (1st District, Marikina City), Lani Mercado-Revilla(2nd District, Cavite), Walden Bello (Party List, Akbayan), Kaka Bag-ao (Party List, Akbayan) and Carmelo Lazatin (1st District, Pampanga), Winston Castelo (2nd District, Quezon City), Catalina Leonen-Pizarro (Party List, ABS), Irvin Alcala(2nd District, Quezon), Sigfrido Tinga(2nd District, Taguig City), Angelo Palmones (Party List, AGHAM), Arnel Ty(Party List, LPGMA), Isidro Lico (Party List, Ating Koop), Emerenciana De Jesus (Party List, Gabriela), Mel Senen Sarmiento(1st District, Western Samar) and Jeci Lapus (3rd District, Tarlac).

Source: http://www.congress.gov.ph/press/details.php?pressid=5729

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