Quezon City declares more socialized housing areas

MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City government has declared several parcels of land occupied by informal settlers as socialized housing areas.

Ordinance SP 1931 S-2009, recently signed into law by Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., declared nine parcels of land in Barangays Bagong Silang, Kaligayan, Fairview, Santa Lucia and Baesa as under the city’s socialized housing program.

To enable informal settlers to acquire ownership and shelter security, the lots covered by the ordinance were disposed of by the city government through the city’s socialized housing program by direct sale.

The measure is intended to facilitate the development of these areas and pave the way for the beneficiaries to avail themselves of the various benefits and exemptions accorded by the national and local governments.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue’s memorandum circular 42-01 provides tax incentives to sellers of real properties in existing Areas for Priority Development (APD) sites and in other areas that may be identified by local government units as suitable for socialized housing projects under Republic Act 7279, also known as the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992, and the valuation of the subject real properties for national internal revenue tax purposes.

RA 7279 states that it is the policy of the state to undertake a comprehensive and continuing urban development and housing program, which shall not only provide for equitable land tenure to beneficiaries but shall also respect the rights of property owners and ensure payment of just compensation.

The city government is the owner of the lots covered by the new ordinance.