Solar Home System Financing for Social Housing Program Act
Filed on March 9, 2026, and referred to the Committees on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement; Energy; and Finance; it has been pending in committee since then with no recorded action.
The bill addresses energy access and affordability for marginalized communities.
The bill responds to the urgent need for reliable electricity in marginalized communities.
Solar Home System Financing for Social Housing Program Act
This bill aims to establish a financing program for solar home systems to support social housing initiatives, particularly for informal settler families (ISFs) who lack reliable electricity access.
Compared with current law:
No financing program for solar home systems in social housing.
Establishes a financing program for solar home systems to support social housing.
ISFs face high electricity costs and unreliable supply.
Aims to provide affordable solar energy solutions for ISFs.
Limited access to renewable energy for marginalized communities.
Promotes solar energy as a viable option for underprivileged communities.
The bill aims to establish a financing program for solar home systems to support social housing initiatives, particularly for informal settler families who lack reliable electricity access.
Source · full text✦ Dashed tags are AI-suggested nuance; solid tags follow the committee taxonomy.
Stalled: the bill has sat in committee for over six months with no action since its referral on March 10, 2026.
No floor deliberations yet — this measure has not reached plenary. Its committee-stage actions appear under Legislative history above.
Senate Office of the Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 26 MAR -9 P4:11 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1944 Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE SOLAR HOME SYSTEM FINANCING FOR SOCIAL HOUSING PROGRAM, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE The State is mandated to protect and promote the right of the Filipinos to have a decent house with basic services at an affordable cost. According to data, about 60 million people live in rural areas yet there are still several communities who do not have access to reliable electricity supply. Around 3.7 million Filipinos are reported to be part of informal settler families (ISFs). Many of those already residing in resettlement sites continue to face inconsistent electricity connections, highlighting the challenges in providing reliable power to marginalized communities?. Some of these ISFs who already reside in resettlement sites suffer from inconsistent power connections due to lack of electricity. The recent approval of the National Electrification Administration's (NEA) budget to supply electricity to 1,752 locations promises to accelerate progress in addressing this issue. However, the country's electricity generation remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels, which account for approximately 79% of the power supply, while solar energy contributes less than 3.8%. In recent years, the cost of solar energy has declined significantly, presenting an opportunity for the State to leverage this renewable resource to benefit 1 Denya, T.S. (2025). Powering up rural Philippines: Millions still waiting for electricity. Development Aid. 2 Philippines Population 2025 - United Nations Population Fund 3 Ibid.
underprivileged communities. Using solar energy for resettlement areas can help reduce electricity costs for families, provide a more reliable power supply, and promote environmental sustainability by lowering greenhouse gas emissions. This approach not only addresses the immediate needs of ISs but also aligns with long-term national goals for clean and efficient energy.4 Over the last few years, there has been a decline in the cost of solar, thus the State should take advantage of this renewable energy to be the one used for underprivileged communities. This renewable energy has the potential to reduce the electricity costs for the families living in these resettlement areas. Not only that, it is also more efficient and safe for the environment since it reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The social housing financing project, though beneficial in the long term, however, requires an up-front investment which the target beneficiaries cannot cover alone. Through this bill, the government can help in the initial cost by establishing renewable energy financing programs that expand the existing Renewable Energy financing options that normally is not available nor accessible to the underprivileged community. This bill seeks to establish the solar home system financing program that will be payable in 25-30 years. It aims to offer the benefits of solar energy to these communities while also generating long-term employment for the possible repairs and maintenance. In this measure, the implementation of establishing the solar home system hopes to aid Filipinos in reducing the cost of electricity, reduce the greenhouse gas emissions, and provide other benefits catering to these communities. In pursuit of expanding the social housing program, the immediate passage of this legislation is earnestly sought. JV EJERCITO 4 Ibid.
Senate Wifice of the Don Corp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 26 MAR -9 P4:11 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1944 Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE SOLAR HOME SYSTEM FINANCING FOR SOCIAL HOUSING PROGRAM, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Solar Home System
2 Financing for Social Housing Program Act".
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The Constitution mandates that the State shall
protect and promote the right of people to decent housing with basic services at affordable cost. The informal settler families (ISFs), particularly those located in 6 danger zones and those displaced by government infrastructure projects and 7 calamities deserve no less than habitable resettlement areas as well as climate- 8 resilient communities. Recognizing the right to have quality, reliable, affordable, safe and regular 10 supply of electric power vis-a-vis the vulnerability of the Philippine archipelago and its local communities, particularly the poor, women, and children, to potential dangerous consequences of climate change, the State shall strengthen, integrate, consolidate and institutionalize initiatives to address climate change in the context of sustainable development, such as the prioritization of renewable sources in energy generation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms.
a) Solar Energy - refers to the energy derived from solar radiation that can be converted into useful thermal or electricity energy. b) Solar Energy Systems - refers to energy systems which convert solar energy into thermal or electrical energy. c) Solar Home System (SHS) - refers to a stand-alone photovoltaic system that offers a cost-effective mode of supplying amenity power for lighting and appliances to remote off-grid households. Depending on viability, SHS may be grid-tie, off-grid or hybrid solar PV. d) Net Metering - refers to a system, appropriate for distributed generation, in which a distribution grid user has a two-way connection to the grid and is only charged for his/her net electricity consumption and is credited for any overall contribution to the electricity grid. e) Off-grid Systems - refer to electrical systems not connected to the wires and related facilities of the On-Grid Systems of the Philippines. f) On-grid Systems, - refers to electrical systems composed of interconnected transmission lines, distribution lines, substations, and related facilities for the purpose of conveyance of the bilk power on the grid of the Philippines. g) Renewable Energy Systems - refer to energy systems which convert RE resources into useful energy forms, like electrical, mechanical, etc. h) Rural Electrification - refers to the delivery of basic electricity services, consisting of power generation, sub-transmission, and/or extension of associated power delivery system that would bring about important social and economic benefits to the countryside.
Sec 4. Creating the solar home systems financing for social housing program. -
All current and future social housing financing programs shall require the integration of the SHS financing program to defray up-front investment of poor families and communities on solar PV installations to provide secure, dean, and environmental- friendly power services in both in-city and off-city resettlement sites. The annual target for solar housing units shall be based on the combined annual social housing targets of the LGUs, NHA and SHFC. Per housing unit, a corresponding budget will be allocated for SHS financing based on the prevailing cost of solar home systems in the market
on top of the cost for the production of the housing units. The terms of the financing program, which may be in the form of loans, grants and equity contributions from the shelter agencies shall be designed so that electricity-related expenditures of households over the medium term will not be greater than expenditures they would incur if they were connected to the electricity grid. The annual target for solar housing units shall be based on the combined annual social housing targets of the NHA and SHFC. Per housing unit, a corresponding budget will be allocated for SHS financing based on the prevailing cost of solar home systems 9 in the market on top of the cost for the production of the housing units.
Sec. 5. Promotion of Solar Home Systems. - As an affordable, viable,
11 accessible, dean and cheaper energy source for social housing programs. - The NHA and SHFC shall incorporate education and information dissemination immediately in the first phase of the implementation of resettlement projects to orient ISFs about the SHS financing program.
Sec. 6. Appropriations. -The amount necessary for the implementation of this
16 Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Department of Housing
18 and Sustainable Urban Development (DHSUD), NHA and the SHFC, in coordination with the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and other government agencies concerned, shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations within thirty (30) days upon the effectivity of this 22 Act.
Sec. 8. Separability Cause. - If any provision, section or part of this Art shall be
declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, invalidate or impair any other provisions, sections or parts thereof.
Sec. 9. Repealing Cause. - All laws, acts, decrees, executive orders, issuances,
and rules and regulations or parts thereof which are contrary to and inconsistent with this Art is hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Art shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation of in the Official Gazette. Approved,
Reproduced from the Senate document. The official PDF is the authoritative version.