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Republic Act No 7279

Republic Act No. 7279, known as the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992, aims to improve housing conditions for underprivileged and homeless citizens in urban areas of the Philippines. The law mandates collaboration between the state and private sector to provide affordable housing, basic services, and employment opportunities while promoting equitable land use and protecting vulnerable populations. Local government units play a crucial role in implementing the act, which also addresses issues related to professional squatters and supports community ownership through the Community Mortgage Program.

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7 views2 pages

Republic Act No 7279

Republic Act No. 7279, known as the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992, aims to improve housing conditions for underprivileged and homeless citizens in urban areas of the Philippines. The law mandates collaboration between the state and private sector to provide affordable housing, basic services, and employment opportunities while promoting equitable land use and protecting vulnerable populations. Local government units play a crucial role in implementing the act, which also addresses issues related to professional squatters and supports community ownership through the Community Mortgage Program.

Uploaded by

irishgutierrez1004
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© © All Rights Reserved
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REPUBLIC ACT NO.

7279, ALSO KNOWN AS THE URBAN


DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING ACT (UDHA) OF 1992,
A LANDMARK LAW IN THE PHILIPPINES AIMED AT ADDRESSING
THE HOUSING NEEDS AND IMPROVING THE LIVING CONDITIONS
OF THE UNDERPRIVILEGED AND HOMELESS CITIZENS,
PARTICULARLY IN URBAN AREAS. THE LAW MANDATES THE STATE
TO COOPERATE WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN IMPLEMENTING A
COMPREHENSIVE AND CONTINUING PROGRAM FOCUSED ON URBAN
DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIALIZED HOUSING.
THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE ACT IS TO PROVIDE DECENT,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALONG WITH BASIC SERVICES AND
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR MARGINALIZED GROUPS IN
CITIES AND URBANIZABLE AREAS. IT RECOGNIZES THE
INCREASING URBAN POPULATION AND THE NEED FOR PLANNED
DEVELOPMENT TO AVOID WORSENING URBAN POVERTY AND SLUM
CONDITIONS.
UDHA COVERS ALL LANDS IN URBAN AND URBANIZABLE AREAS,
WHICH INCLUDE PLACES WITH THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME URBAN
CENTERS WITHIN FIVE YEARS. THE LAW DEFINES SOCIALIZED
HOUSING AS HOUSING PROJECTS TARGETED PRIMARILY AT THE
LOWEST INCOME GROUPS AND PROVIDES POLICIES THAT ENSURE
AFFORDABLE COSTS ARE MAINTAINED BY SUBSIDIZING
DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES AND LAND ACQUISITION.
A KEY FEATURE OF THE ACT IS THE RATIONAL USE OF URBAN
LANDS. IT PROMOTES THE EQUITABLE UTILIZATION OF
RESIDENTIAL LANDS WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE
NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME FAMILIES RATHER THAN PURELY MARKET-
DRIVEN LAND ALLOCATION. LAND USE IS OPTIMIZED TO
SUPPORT ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES, REDUCE URBAN DYSFUNCTIONS,
AND ENSURE ACCESS TO SOCIALIZED HOUSING.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUS) PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE UNDER
RA 7279. THEY ARE TASKED WITH CONDUCTING LAND
INVENTORIES, IDENTIFYING SUITABLE SITES FOR SOCIALIZED
HOUSING, AND FACILITATING LAND ACQUISITION THROUGH
VARIOUS MODES SUCH AS PURCHASE, DONATION, LAND SWAPS,
AND, AS A LAST RESORT, EXPROPRIATION. HOWEVER, SMALL
PROPERTY OWNERS AND THEIR LANDS ARE PROTECTED FROM
EXPROPRIATION TO RESPECT PROPERTY RIGHTS. LANDS THAT
HAVE REMAINED IDLE MAY BE SUBJECT TO EXPROPRIATION TO
PREVENT LAND HOARDING AND MAKE MORE LAND AVAILABLE FOR
HOUSING PROJECTS.

RA 7279 ALSO RECOGNIZES AND FIGHTS THE PROBLEM OF


PROFESSIONAL SQUATTERS AND SQUATTING SYNDICATES, WHO
EXPLOIT VULNERABLE POOR FAMILIES. LGUS, IN COOPERATION
WITH THE POLICE AND URBAN POOR ORGANIZATIONS, ARE TO
IDENTIFY AND EVICT SUCH GROUPS FROM SOCIALIZED HOUSING
PROGRAMS AND PENALIZE PUBLIC OFFICIALS WHO ENABLE
ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.
THE COMMUNITY MORTGAGE PROGRAM (CMP), PART OF THE UDHA,
SUPPORTS ORGANIZED GROUPS OF LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN
PURCHASING AND DEVELOPING LAND UNDER COMMUNITY
OWNERSHIP SCHEMES, EMPOWERING RESIDENTS TO COLLECTIVELY
OWN THEIR LOTS AND IMPROVE LIVING CONDITIONS.
OVERALL, REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7279 IS A BROAD AND INCLUSIVE
LEGAL FRAMEWORK THAT ADDRESSES URBAN HOUSING CHALLENGES
BY ENSURING AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACCESS, PROMOTING
EQUITABLE LAND USE, PROTECTING VULNERABLE POPULATIONS,
ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATORY GOVERNANCE, AND SUPPORTING
SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES.

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