Manila passes government housing ordinance

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno signed on Monday an ordinance strengthening the city government’s housing projects for informal settler families.

Ordinance 8730, the Manila Urban Housing Ordinance, seeks to “provide adequate and affordable shelter facilities to Manileños, giving due priority to the homeless and underprivileged.”

The ordinance states that “all housing shall have a mixed-income occupancy with priority given to low-income households. Projects shall likewise incorporate climate and disaster resilience, urban environmental infrastructure improvements, and urban greening innovations in its designs.”

Under Ordinance 8730, horizontal and vertical housing beneficiaries will pay P2,000 rent if they are minimum wage earners or if they are government employees with Salary Grade 8 and below.

Those earning above the minimum wage and earning between Salary Grade 9 to 18 shall pay P3,000.

“All monthly rental fees shall be given to the Manila Urban Settlement Office for proper accounting,” the ordinance read.

All housing projects have a length of stay for a period of 50 years, but only the rent agreements for the horizontal housing units, townhouses or single detached houses are renewable, subject to the agreement of both parties.