UPA Package 3, Module 2

1. UPA Package 3, Module 2 OFF-SITE HOUSING AND TENURE IMPROVEMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES: THE CASE OF MEDIUM RISE HOUSING (MRH) PROJECT IN MUNTINLUPA CITY

2. Objectives • Understand the policy environment for land tenure improvement in the Philippines • Analyze off-site development as an approach/strategy in enhancing tenure security • Discuss the key actors, processes involved, problems meet, and lessons learned in the implementation of off-site development

3. Contents • The policy environment • Characteristics of the study area • Features of the Medium Rise Housing Project • Actors involved and their roles • Processes involved • Problems encountered • Lessons Learned

4. The Policy Environment • Republic Act 7279 or Urban Housing and Development Act • Sec. 39 states that local government units shall be in charge of implementing this Act • Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 • Sec. 17 empowers the local government units to put up low cost and mass housing for its inhabitants

5. The Study Area – Muntinlupa City • One of the cities of Metropolitan Manila • Total land area of 4,679 hectares • Population of 379,310 in year 2000 • Population growth rate of 7.5% from 1990 -1005 • Primarily due to in-migration • 36% of population classified as informal settlers • With 120 depressed communities

6. Features of Medium Rise Housing • 5-storey Medium Rise Housing • Land area of 1.1422 hectare property • Formerly owned by the city government of Muntinlupa • Housing units for lease with option to buy • Phase 1 of project consists of 4 buildings with 240 units (awarded already)

7. Features of Medium Rise Housing • Phase 2 of project to consist of 4 buildings (for completion within 2004) • 60 housing units per building or 12 units per floor • Model 1: with floor area of 22.5 square meters • Model 2: with floor area of 24.0 square meters

8. Features of Medium Rise Housing • Project beneficiaries are government employees assigned in Muntinlupa to include: • Staff of Muntinlupa city government • Public school teachers • Policemen and firemen • Employees of national government • Agencies located in Muntinlupa

9. Actors Involved and their Roles • The Socialized Housing Program Committee (SHOPCom) • the local housing board responsible for policy making and implementation of socialized housing programs of the government • The Urban Affairs Office or UPAO • served as the secretariat of SHOPcom • organized and facilitated the participation of agencies in MRH

10. The City Government of Muntinlupa • provided the site for the project • spent for land developments: roads, parking, footpaths, drainage • National Housing Authority • conceptualized, designed and constructed the MRH • served as estate manager of the project • MRH Homeowners’ Association • organized to improve the living condigtion and protect themselves

11. Processes involved in Project Implementation • Year 1 (December 2002 - November 2003) • awarding of individual contract of lease to beneficiaries • community activities such as tree planting • Year 2 (December 2003 – June 2004) • housing units turned over to Muntinlupa City • additional physical development activities • Year 2 (December 2003 – March 2004) • design for MRH Phase II

12. Problems Encountered • Fear of slums creation and problems on water supply by nearby residents • Early cases of selling or transferring of rights • Complain on payment scheme of 3 years lease rental payment before they could start to amortize

13. Lessons Learned • Strict compliance with guidelines in the screening of beneficiaries • UPAO as the appropriate body to screen applicants • Payment scheme where amortization starts at year 1, instead of a 3-year payment of lease rental • Transparency in project implementation to increase awareness of beneficiaries on the housing project and get their cooperation • A local government unit could be a serious implementer of medium rise housing as a socialized housing project