Romualdez seeks rental subsidy for homeless Pinoys

Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez is urging the swift passage of House Bill No. 7230, the Rental Housing Subsidy Program Act, which aims to provide monthly rental support to millions of informal settler families (ISFs) across the country.

The measure defines ISFs as households living without the consent of property owners, without legal claim to their lot, or in danger-prone areas such as esteros, railroad tracks, garbage dumps, riverbanks, shorelines, and waterways, in line with Republic Act No. 11201.

Under the proposed law, eligible ISFs in Metro Manila would receive a rental subsidy of ₱3,500 per month. For families in other regions, the rate will be determined by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) in coordination with the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, based on local minimum wages and rental rates, but not exceeding ₱3,500. Subsidy payments will never surpass the actual rent.

Romualdez said the program is designed to give social protection, support access to formal housing, and provide a flexible safety net for families temporarily displaced by disasters.

“Financial aid to low-income families or displaced individuals help afford decent housing in the rental market, acting as a flexible safety net when permanent solutions are not immediate. This gives better access to jobs/schools and often serve as a bridge until permanent housing is available,” Romualdez said Thursday.

The subsidy will be granted until beneficiaries move into their permanent housing or until the intended housing project is completed, whichever comes first. If project completion is delayed, the subsidy may be extended, with costs covered by the implementing agency.

To qualify, beneficiaries must vacate their current informal settlement and relocate to a government-authorized area. Continuous eligibility requires that they remain in the new location unless authorized by government authorities and pay any portion of the rent not covered by the subsidy.

Those maintaining good payment records under the program will be prioritized for future government housing initiatives.