House OKs bill on on-site, in-city resettlement on 3rd reading

The House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill prioritizing on-site and in-city resettlement government programs for informal settler families (ISFs) anchored on people’s plans.

All the 254 House members voted in favor of House Bill 5 which also provides that near-city and off-city resettlement for ISFs will only be considered if on-site and in-city resettlement are not feasible.

The bill defines in-city or onsite resettlement as a relocation site within the jurisdiction of a local government unit where the affected informal settler families are living.

Near-city resettlement, on the other hand, refers to a site close to the original area where the affected ISFs live but within the jurisdiction of another local government unit (LGU) that is adjacent to the implementing LGU.

Off-city relocation, meanwhile, is a site developed outside and not adjacent to the implementing LGU.

Under the bill, the on-site, in-city, near-city, and off-city resettlement program for ISFs will be primarily led by the LGU and will be implemented jointly with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

Specifically, the measure mandates LGUs to encourage ISFs affected by a resettlement or relocation program to organize themselves into a beneficiary association for accreditation as beneficiaries or awardees of ownership rights.

In addition, each accredited ISF association is mandated to formulate a "People's Plan" in consultation with the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor and in coordination with the implementing LGU.

This will include a Relocation Action Plan formulated with the assistance of civil society organizations and concerned government agencies.

Implementing LGUs may purchase land outside their jurisdiction for near-city or off-city housing.

LGUs are to implement the onsite, near-city, or off-city housing program for ISFs in partnership with the DHSUD, National Housing Authority, National Home Mortgage Finance Corp., Home Development Mutual Fund, and Social Housing Finance Corp.

Other agencies, including the Department of Labor and Employment, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Science and Technology, and Philippine Trade and Training Center are mandated to provide skills and livelihood training.—AOL, GMA Integrated News