San Jose Del Monte – A new measure aimed at assisting delinquent beneficiaries of the government's housing program was proposed on Tuesday by City of San Jose Del Monte Representative Florida Robes. The proposed bill seeks to prevent the eviction of these beneficiaries due to non-payment of dues.
According to Philippines News Agency, Robes, the low occupancy rate in government housing programs is primarily due to the beneficiaries' inability to pay monthly amortizations or association dues, leading them to sell their rights or lease their units.
House Bill No. 1925, also known as the proposed NHA Amnesty and Acquisition Act of 2023, would authorize the National Housing Authority (NHA) to grant amnesty or condone unpaid amortization or lease payments. This action is intended to ease the financial burden of the beneficiaries. If passed, the NHA would also have the authority to acquire units from original awardees for reallocation to qualified beneficiaries through programs like Build Better and More (BBM) and the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing Program. The bill emphasizes the need for a viable land acquisition and management approach, strengthening housing as a platform for poverty reduction, promoting climate resilience, and improving social outcomes. It aims to intensify and broaden the NHA's authority and functions for effective mandate fulfillment.
The bill covers all NHA projects, including house and lot, medium-rise buildings, and condominiums, along with improvements and rights related to delinquent accounts, illegal transfers, sales, leases, sublets, encumbrances, mortgages by original awardees, abandoned, unoccupied, and canceled or surrendered units due to NHA occupancy rule violations. Robes noted that an inventory and verification of all NHA housing units would be necessary prior to implementing the proposed Amnesty Program.