1. { Generating Private Housing Initiatives To Help LGUs Implement the Urban Development and Housing Act Diogenes S. Osabel President, ALAGAD Party-List

2. Inclusive and Sustainable Urban Development Livable City Housing with Basic Services Our Government’s Dream: Especially for the homeless urban poor…

3. Who are the Urban Poor? Are they the dregs of society? Criminal elements, drug pushers, snatchers, akyat-bahay and bank robbers, kidnappers, pimps, muggers? “Hinayupak kayo! Hindi nagbabayad ng buwis, at kayong mga illegal settlers dapat kayong pasabugin!” – Mike Enriquez of DZBB, morning of August 15, 2012 NO! They are not the urban poor!

4. Given names and faces, the urban poor are the city’s service sector. They are the household helpers, newsboys, carpenters, masons, electricians, welders, car mechanics, public utility drivers, security guards, construction workers, vendors of all kinds, office workers, nurses, messengers, beauticians, delivery boys, utilities, caregivers, garbage collectors, scavengers, and contractual workers for the myriad of industrial and commercial jobs that keep the urban economy grinding and our cities livable. – Rene Catacutan

5. Many of them are in public service –fresh recruits in the PNP and the AFP, barangay volunteers and tanods, traffic aides, street sweepers, and as lowly contractual, temporary or job order employees. Many of their fathers and mothers work overseas to secure a better future for their children.

6. “The development and growth of our cities are accomplished on the bent backs of urban poor workers, yet the great majority of them live in appalling conditions and deprivation.” – Rene Catacutan

7. Poverty and government’s inability to generate affordable housing for our growing population have consigned the poor to misery in depressed slum communities and danger zones.

8. Our Constitution mandated the State to undertake a program which will make affordable decent housing and basic services available to underprivileged and homeless citizens in urban centers...

9. Congress enacted R.A. 7279, the Urban Development and Housing Act (or UDHA) on March 18, 1992, which has become known as the Lina Law. To increase the inventory of affordable housing; To resettle urban poor families living in danger areas, affected by public works development, or to be evicted by Court order; and To contain the growth of new illegal squatting, spawned by squatting syndicates and professional squatters.

10. After more than 20 years, the Lina Law remains largely unimplemented by the LGUs – its lead implementers.

11. Duties and Responsibilities of LGUs: Prepare a Comprehensive Land Use Plan, and Shelter Plan (Sec. 6 and 39); Land Inventory every three years (Sec. 7); Identify socialized housing and resettlement sites (Sec. 8); Register socialized housing beneficiaries (Sec. 17); Facilitate provision of water, electricity, sewerage, solid waste management system, access to transport (Sec. 21); Establish consultative mechanisms for beneficiaries to participate in decision-making process (Sec. 23); Neutralize squatting syndicates and professional squatters (Sec. 27);

12. Implement rules on eviction and demolition, including provision of adequate resettlement or compensation (Sec. 28); Resettle persons in danger areas in public places such as sidewalks, roads, parks and playgrounds; Prevent new illegal construction of dwelling units or structures (Sec. 30); Assist in the organization of Community Mortgage Program (CMP) beneficiaries (Sec. 33); Submit an annual report to the President and the House of Representatives (Sec. 41); Impose a socialized housing tax (0.5%) on lands assessed in excess of P50.000.00 (Sec. 43); Provide resettlement sites with basic services and access to livelihood opportunities (Sec. 29). N.B. resettlement site should also be climate proof.

13. Current LGU involvement limited to: the SHFC’s Community Mortgage Program; the NHA’s housing and resettlement projects; and Gawad Kalinga and Habitat housing projects. AREA ACCREDITED LGUs No. of Projects Luzon 8 11 Visayas 1 1 Mindanao 4 21 NCR -- TOTAL13 32 Localized CMP La Paz, Tarlac Malolos City, Bulacan Talavera, Nueva Ecija Tarlac City Lucena City Pagbilao, Quezon Puerto Princesa City Naga City Talisay City, Cebu Davao City Island Garden City of Samal Mati, Davao Oriental Kidapawan, North Cotabato

14. LGUs usual “constraints”: 1.Lack of funds; and 2.Lack of competent staff.

15. Year National Population(an nual growth rate est. 2%) Percent Urban Urban Population (using annual growth est. 3%) Urban Poor/ISF Household Population (assuming 20%) 201093,386,3040.6358,833,3722,353,335 201195,254,0300.6460,598,3732,423,935 2012 97,159,1110.6562,416,324 2,496,653 201399,102,2930.6764,288,8142,571,553 2014101,084,3390.6866,217,4782,648,699 2015103,106,0260.6968,204,0022,728,160 2016105,168,1460.7170,250,1222,810,005 Business as Usual: The Numbers Speak YearNo. of Families Benefited 200514, 199 200613, 783 200711, 822 Total39, 804 Three-Year CMP Performance: 2005-07 1989 to Date: Annual <10,000 units SHFC President Ana Oliveros wants to help 300,000 families a year – 1.5 million families in five years – an incredible jump from 10,000 to 300,000 that would require P18 to P30 billion yearly.

16. In the race between socialized housing demand and supply, the latter continues to lag way, way, far behind … Rising Inflation Rising Land Values Rising Construction Costs Falling Incomes

17. Two ways to help beat the problem: 1.Compel the LGUs to do their mandated job; and 2.Get the private sector and the homeless to build through the incremental self-help way. FACT: 90 percent of the houses that stand in the country today are built without government assistance or bank financing.

18. UDHA’s uncharted solutions: Focus on the provision of security of tenure LAND is Key. Identify, acquire and use Government or public land (thru Proclamations) Foreclosed properties Tax-delinquent properties Urban renewal thru land consolidation Peripheral agricultural land Cheaper land at the adjoining town Leverage occupied valuable prime areas Support direct negotiated sale of land Promote guided self-help housing Employ qualified NGOs and CBOs Think out-of-the-box!

19. City HH Population (2007) Land Area (has.) Urban Poor HH Population (20%) Indicative Land Needed % Urban Space Tarlac City*318,33227,46612,733127.46 Baguio City60,39557,50012,079120.21 Dagupan29,9114,4465,98259.81.34 Santiago City22,40125,5504,48044.8.17 Tuguegarao City25,90814,4805,18251.8.35 Angeles City62,8996,21612,580125.82.02 Olongapo City50,30018,50010,060100.6.54 Batangas City50,22327,63310,045100.5.36 Lucena City47,2788,316.99,45694.61.13 Naga City*34,9868,4486,99770.83 Legaspi City*36,44020,4207,28873.36 Iloilo City*87,4737,83417,4951752.23 Bacolod City*102,36416,14520,4732051.27 Cebu City400,00029,12480,0008002.75 Tacloban City43,44020,1728,68887.43 Zamboanga City161,426148,33832,285322.9.22 Cotabato City*54,35717,59910,871108.7.62 Cagayan de Oro *120,41748,88624,084240.8.49 Davao City*292,860244,16158,572585.7.24 General Santos City*107,61717,48921,523215.21.23 *2010 Less than 2% of City Space is Needed to House 20%

20. Social housing is an investment in improving the living and working conditions of our people – our country’s most important natural resource.

21. Housing is a major economic growth contributor that could help alleviate poverty. Housing generates employment and moves at least 80 industries – in construction, manufacturing, home appliances, transport, and services. Social Housing is Good Economics

22. “If you call me a squatter, what do you call a society that has reduced me to this state?” “We have the human, physical and financial resources to secure the tenure of the urban poor – to enable them to realize their full potential in building a sustainable city for all.” – Alagad

23. Salamat po.