MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero is pushing for a rental housing subsidy program to provide temporary shelter for families displaced by eviction, disasters and government infrastructure projects while they await permanent housing or resettlement.
Escudero, chairman of the Senate Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement, sponsored Senate Bill 2503, or the proposed Rental Housing Subsidy Act, which seeks to institutionalize government assistance for families facing critical housing situations.
"A home that a family has spent years saving for can be lost in an instant. And rebuilding it may also take years," Escudero said in his sponsorship speech on Tuesday.
He said the measure seeks to address the plight of millions of Filipino families who lose their homes and need temporary shelter while rebuilding their lives.
“The objective is simple: if we cannot immediately provide a family with a permanent home, we should not leave them without a place to live while they wait,” Escudero said.
Under the bill, priority would be given to families living in danger areas, on land needed for public infrastructure, or in areas deemed unsuitable for human habitation.
The rental subsidy would be based on prevailing rental rates, the family’s housing needs and financial capacity, but could not exceed the actual rent.
Assistance may be provided through direct rental payments to landlords or rental vouchers that families could use in public rental housing, Escudero said.
The subsidy could be granted for an initial period of up to three years and renewed annually as long as the family remains eligible and has not secured permanent housing or been resettled.
“Because life does not stop when a family loses its home. While they rebuild their lives, this measure ensures that they have a safe place to live," Escudero said.
