Land Ownership & Torrens System

 The Philippines uses the Torrens system of land registration. Under this system, a Torrens title is
conclusive against third parties, including the government. A holder of a Torrens title in good
faith is guaranteed that his/her title is indefeasible, unassailable and imprescriptible.

Titling

 Judicial Titling is another way to title land in the Philippines and it requires court. It is used
when: You and your predecessors in interest have been in open, continuous, notorious and
exclusive possession of alienable and disposable land under a bona fide claim of ownership
since June 12, 1945, under PD 1529.

RA 7279 (Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992)

 AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR A COMPREHENSIVE AND CONTINUING URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND

HOUSING PROGRAM, ESTABLISH THE MECHANISM FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
 Uplift the conditions of the underprivileged and homeless citizens in urban areas and in
resettlement areas by making available to them decent housing at affordable cost, basic
services, and employment opportunities;
 Provide for the rational use and development of urban land.

RA 6552 (Realty Installment Buyer Act)

 AN ACT TO PROVIDE PROTECTION TO BUYERS OF REAL ESTATE ON INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS

 Sect2. It is hereby declared a public policy to protect buyers of real estate on installment
payments against onerous and oppressive conditions.
 Sect3. In all transactions or contracts involving the sale or financing of real estate on installment
payments, including residential condominium apartments but excluding industrial lots,
commercial buildings and sales to tenants under Republic Act Numbered Thirty-eight hundred
forty-four, as amended by Republic Act Numbered Sixty-three hundred eighty-nine, where the
buyer has paid at least two years of installments, the buyer is entitled to the following rights in
case he defaults in the payment of succeeding installments
 Sect4. In case where less than two years of installments were paid, the seller shall give the
buyer a grace period of not less than sixty days from the date the installment became due. If
the buyer fails to pay the installments due at the expiration of the grace period, the seller may
cancel the contract after thirty days from receipt by the buyer of the notice of cancellation or
the demand for rescission of the contract by a notarial act.
 Sect5. Under Section 3 and 4, the buyer shall have the right to sell his rights or assign the same
to another person or to reinstate the contract by updating the account during the grace period
and before actual cancellation of the contract. The deed of sale or assignment shall be done by
notarial act.
 Sect6. The buyer shall have the right to pay in advance any installment or the full unpaid
balance of the purchase price any time without interest and to have such full payment of the
purchase price annotated in the certificate of title covering the property.

BP 220 (Economic and Socialized Housing Act)

 AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS TO ESTABLISH AND

PROMULGATE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF STANDARDS AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR
ECONOMIC AND SOCIALIZED HOUSING PROJECTS IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS FROM THOSE
PROVIDED UNDER PRESIDENTIAL DECREES NUMBERED NINE HUNDRED FIFTY-SEVEN, TWELVE
HUNDRED SIXTEEN, TEN HUNDRED NINETY-SIX AND ELEVEN HUNDRED EIGHTY-FIVE.
 SECTION 1. It is hereby declared a policy of the Government to promote and encourage the
development of economic and socialized housing projects, primarily by the private sector, in
order to make available adequate economic and socialized housing units for average and low-
income earners in urban and rural areas.
  SEC. 2. As used in this Act, economic and socialized housing refers to housing units which are
within the affordability level of the average and low-income earners which is thirty percent
(30%) of the gross family income as determined by the National Economic and Development
Authority from time to time. It shall also refer to the government-initiated sites and services
development and construction of economic and socialized housing projects in depressed areas.
 SEC. 3. To carry out the foregoing policy, the Ministry of Human Settlements is authorized to
establish, and promulgate different levels of standards and technical requirements for the
development of economic and socialized housing projects and economic and socialized housing
units in urban and rural areas from those provided in Presidential Decree Numbered Nine
hundred fifty-seven, otherwise known as the "Subdivision and Condominium Buyers' Protective
Decree," Presidential Decree Numbered Twelve hundred and sixteen, "Defining Open Space in
Residential Subdivision"; Presidential Decree Numbered Ten hundred and ninety-six, otherwise
known as the "National Building Code of the Philippines"; and Presidential Decree Numbered
Eleven hundred and eighty-five, otherwise known as the "Fire Code of the Philippines" and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, in consultation with the Ministry of Public
Works and Highways, the Integrated National Police, and other appropriate government units
and instrumentalities and private associations.
 SEC. 4. The standards and technical requirements to be established under Section three hereof
shall provide for environmental ecology, hygiene and cleanliness, physical, cultural and spiritual
development and public safety and may vary in each region, province or city depending on the
availability of indigenous materials for building construction and other relevant factors.
 SEC. 5. The different levels of standards and technical requirements that shall be established
and promulgated by the Ministry of Human Settlements only after public hearing and shall be
published in two newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines for at least once a week
for two consecutive weeks and shall take effect thirty days after the last publication.

Community Development Aspect of Housing

 According to research conducted by Michael P. Johnson Jr. from University of Massachusetts

Boston entitled “Housing and Community Development”. It is stated there that:
 housing and community development design and evaluate policies regarding access to
attractive, affordable and sustainable housing and improving the social, physical and economic
infrastructure of communities, especially those in the urban core. Practitioners in this field
confront political considerations, administrative guidelines and limited funding.
 Decision science can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of market-rate housing
development and provide support for policy responses to issues such as affordable housing,
race and class segregation, ineffective and/or inequitable economic development, and
sustainable development.

Housing Laws

According to the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development these are the laws related
to housing:

 RA 11201 - Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Act

 RA 10884 - Balanced Housing Development Program Amendments
 RA 9904 - Magna Carta for Homeowners and Homeowners Association (2010)
 RA 9553 - Rent Control Act of 2009
 RA 9507 - Socialized and Low-Cost Housing Loan Restructuring of 2008
 RA 9397 - Disposition of Lands for Socialized Housing (2007)
 RA 9341 - Rent Control Act of 2005
 RA 8501 - Housing Loan Condonation Act of 1998
 RA 8437 - Rent Control Law of 1997
 RA 8368 - Anti Squatting Law Repeal Act of 1997
 RA 7835 - Comprehensive and Integrated Shelter Financing Act of 1994
 RA 7279 - Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992
 BP 220 - Economic and Socialized Housing (1982)
 PD 1216 - Amendments to Section 31 of PD 957 (1977)
 PD 957 - Subdivision and Condominium buyer’s Protective Decree (1976)
Housing Agencies

Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB)

 The HLURB, as the lead agency in the provision of technical assistance to local government units
in the preparation of comprehensive land use plans; regulation of housing, land development
and homeowners’ association; and adjudications of disputes related thereto. They are tasked to
promulgate and enforce policies on land use, housing and homeowners’ associations which
promote inclusive growth and economic advancement, social justice and environmental
protection for the equitable distribution and enjoyment of development benefits.

Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG)

 The Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), more popularly known as the Pag-IBIG Fund,
was established to provide a national savings program and affordable shelter financing for the
Filipino worker. The Fund offers its members short-term loans and access to housing programs.
It is mandatory for all SSS- and GSIS-covered employees; uniformed members of the AFP, BFP,
BJMP and PNP; as well as Filipinos employed by foreign-based employers.

Home Guaranty Corporation (HGC)

 The HGC facilitates a guaranty line application, under Republic Act No. 8763 which involves the
determination of the eligibility of a financial institution for the guaranty and incentives provided
under the law. The guaranty line extended to the financial institution by the HGC is a facility
whereby the housing-related loans and financial transactions may be enrolled for guaranty
coverage. The clients of this government agency include banks, building and loan associations,
investment house, trust companies, insurance companies, lending institutions, cooperatives,
microfinance entities and housing developers that provide funds for homebuyers and housing
developments.

Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC)

 The Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) is the government agency
under the Office of the President created by virtue of Executive Order No. 90, which serves as
the oversight, the over-all coordinator, initiator and facilitator of all government policies, plans
and programs for the housing sector; sets the overall direction and targets for the sector; and
determines strategies, formulates appropriate policies, monitors, and evaluates the programs,
projects and performance of the implementing shelter agencies.

National Housing Authority (NHA)

 Under Presidential Decree 757 dated 31 July 1975. NHA was tasked to develop and implement a
comprehensive and integrated housing program which shall embrace, among others, housing
development and resettlement, sources and schemes of financing, and delineation of
government and private sector participation.
 NHA was tasked to develop and implement a comprehensive and integrated housing program
which shall embrace, among others, housing development and resettlement, sources and
schemes of financing, and delineation of government and private sector participation.
 NHA was mandated as the sole national government agency to engage in shelter production
focusing on the housing needs of the lowest 30% of the urban population. (Executive Order 90)

Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC)

 Social housing powers and functions of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation such
as the transfer of the Community Mortgage Program, Abot-Kaya Pabahay Fund Program has
been directed and transferred to this government agency. The agency aims to provide 530,000
organized, homeless, and low-income families with Fair, Affordable, Innovative, and Responsive
(FAIR) shelter solutions to their housing needs by 2022.