Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Monday (Sept. 14) hailed the Senate’s approval on third and final reading of Senate Bill No. 2421, or the Adequate and Decent Housing Through Usufruct Act, saying the measure will provide millions of low‑income Filipinos with secure and decent homes.
Escudero, chair of the Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement, said the bill institutionalizes adequate and decent housing program that allows qualified beneficiaries to occupy and use government‑owned land for residential purposes through usufruct arrangements, while the State retains ownership.
“Through usufruct, families will gain the right to live in government housing without the burden of ownership costs, while ensuring transparency and legal protection through contracts registered with the Registry of Deeds,” he explained.
SB 2421 was passed with 18 affirmative votes, 0 negative vote, and 0 abstention.
Under the proposed law, only underprivileged Filipinos who do not own real property, and who are not professional squatters or members of squatting syndicates, will be eligible for the program. Housing units are strictly for residential use and cannot be sold, leased, mortgaged, or transferred. Violations will cancel the usufruct and disqualify offenders from government housing programs for 10 years.
The measure also allows local government units and other government agencies to extend the benefit to qualified personnel as part of their respective employee housing programs.
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development will oversee implementation and monitoring, while LGUs will manage the properties and ensure access to basic services such as water, electricity, and sanitation.
The senator stressed that the measure is designed to prevent abuse while securing tenure for genuine beneficiaries. He also noted that succession rights will allow qualified heirs to continue enjoying the housing benefit.
The bill was presented under Committee Report No. 79, consolidating earlier measures filed by Senators Lito Lapid and Camille Villar.