SECOND CONGRESS OF THE ]

UC MODEL SENATE ]
First Regular Session ]

UC MODEL SENATE

S.B. No. _______

Bill number will be assigned by the Secretariat

Introduced by SENATOR DAVE JASM B. MATUSALEM

AN ACT
GRANTING FREE HOUSING PROGRAMS FOR THE INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 9, Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution primarily provides that:

"The State shall, by law, and for the common good, undertake, in cooperation
with the private sector, a continuing program of urban land reform and housing
which will make available at affordable cost, decent housing, and basic services
to underprivileged and homeless citizens in urban centers and resettlements
areas. It shall also promote adequate employment opportunities to such
citizens."

The State's Constitutional provisions approximate the United Nations'

Universal Declaration of Human Rights Section 25, which provides in part that:
"Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-
being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing, and medical
care and necessary social services."

Every government has developed programs over the years to assist the
Indigenous People in finding suitable housing. Such measures have been
implemented in various ways, including rent control, interest rate subsidies,
property purchase subsidies, rental vouchers, and slum upgrading. While many
of these strategies have been beneficial, the issue of insufficient housing has

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never been resolved. Free housing policy and assesses how likely it is to be
successful.

This legislation specifically addresses the issue of whether giving

Indigenous Peoples free housing is the best approach to assist them. This bill
supports the government's unwavering commitment in providing Indigenous
people homes. This bill also promised better housing options in addition to
residences. This bill will address the problems of Indigenous People who need
to travel through mountainous regions for long hours just to reach their
designated location. This bill is also practical for the government to provide
housing for the Indigenous families to help them save on transportation costs
and provide more for their families, given the rising fuel prices.

SENATOR DAVE JASM B. MATUSALEM

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 SECOND CONGRESS OF THE ]
UC MODEL SENATE ]
First Regular Session ]

UC MODEL SENATE

S.B. No. _______

Introduced by SENATOR DAVE JASM B. MATUSALEM

AN ACT
GRANTING FREE HOUSING PROGRAMS FOR THE INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE

Be it enacted by the UC Model Senate in assembly:

1 SECTION 1. Short Title – This Act shall be cited and known as the ‘Free
2 Housing Act of 2022 for the Indigenous People.’
3
4 SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy – The State shall, according to Section
5 9, Article XIII of the Constitution, ensures that underprivileged and homeless
6 citizens, especially those from the most vulnerable and marginalized groups
7 have equal and non-discriminatory access to free public housing with a security
8 of tenure' that is programmed in partnership with the government, thereby
9 ensuring legal protection against forced evictions, harassment, and other
10 threats, and facilitating the availability of services and facilities for better
11 habitation. As such, the homeless shall be assisted with a good, safe, secure,
12 habitable, sustainable, resilient, and affordable home.
13
14 SECTION 3. Definition of Terms:
15
16 For the purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be defined:
17 a) Housing refers to a multi-dimensional concept relating to the process of
18 residing and the objects of dwelling whose main attributes are located
19 relative to access to livelihood, tenure arrangements, cost, and physical
20 structure, as well as their environment, including safe drinking water,
21 adequate sanitation and energy for cooking, lighting, and food storage.
22 Housing is likewise a physical structure as well as a social structure,

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23 functioning at different spatial scales from homes, neighborhoods,
24 communities, municipalities, cities, provinces, and regions.
25 b) Indigenous People - are distinct social and cultural groups that share
26 collective ancestral ties to the lands and natural resources where they
27 live, occupy, or from which they have been displaced. The land and
28 natural resources on which they depend are inextricably linked to their
29 identities, cultures, livelihoods, as well as their physical and spiritual
30 well-being. They often subscribe to their customary leaders and
31 organizations for representation that is distinct or separate from those
32 of the mainstream society or culture.
33
34 SECTION 4. Powers and Functions - The Department shall exercise the
35 following powers and functions: Policy Development, Coordination, Monitoring,
36 and Evaluation.
37
38 Formulate national housing and urban development policies, strategies,
39 and standards that are consistent with the Philippine Development Plan to
40 promote social and economic welfare in coordination and in consultation
41 with national and local stakeholders, local government units (LGUs), and
42 other government agencies, including a review of present housing program
43 mechanisms in relation to realistic projections moving forward to ensure
44 more sustainable implementation of the national housing program that will
45 include free public housing for the homeless, and especially those from the
46 most vulnerable and marginalized groups, with a security of tenure that is
47 programmed in partnership with the government
48
49 SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations - Pursuant to Section
50 7, Subparagraph (c) of Republic Act No. 11201, the Secretary of the
51 Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development shall promulgate
52 the rules and regulations and make other issuances necessary to carry out the
53 policies and objectives of this Act within ten (10) days from its effectivity.
54
55 SECTION 6. Repealing Clause – All laws, ordinances, rules, regulations,
56 other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are
57 hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
58
59 Section 7. Separability Clause - If, for any reason or reasons, any part or
60 provision of this Act 30 shall be held to be unconstitutional or invalid, other
61 parts or provisions hereof which are not 31 affected thereby shall continue to
62 be in full force and effect.
63

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64 SECTION 8. Effectivity – This Act shall take effect upon its publication in the
65 Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
66
67 Approved,
68