Pabahay Para Sa Mga Kawani Ng Suc Act (Pabahay-suc Act)

Senat Office of the € TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES MAY 20 P5:26 First Regular Session ) RECEIVED BY: SENATE Senate Bill No. 2149 Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SUSTAINABLE HOUSING PROGRAM FOR TENURED PERSONNEL OF STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES, PROVIDING CAMPUS AND OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING ASSISTANCE EXPLANATORY NOTE State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) serve as vital institutions in advancing quality education, research, innovation, and public service throughout the country. Behind these institutions are teaching and non-teaching personnel who devote decades of their lives to shaping future generations and strengthening national development. Despite their invaluable contribution, many SUC personnel continue to face housing insecurity, particularly upon retirement from government service. While some SUCs currently provide campus housing, such privilege is generally co-terminous with active employment, requiring retirees to vacate their housing units shortly after separation from service. This situation places many long-serving personnel, especially senior citizens and low-income employees, in difficult and uncertain living conditions during their retirement years. At the same time, the State must ensure that institutional housing policies remain fiscally sustainable, operationally viable, and responsive to the evolving needs of SUCs and their active workforce. There is therefore a need to strike a balance between extending meaningful housing assistance to retired personnel while preserving the primary function of campus housing as support for active university operations. This measure seeks to establish a comprehensive and sustainable housing program for qualified tenured personnel of SUCs through a combination of: (1) affordable in-campus housing; (2) transitional post-retirement occupancy

arrangements; (3) off-campus housing assistance; and (4) access to affordable financing and government housing programs. The bill likewise mandates all SUCs to formulate a Housing Development Program tailored to their financial, land, and institutional capacities, while encouraging partnerships with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Pag-IBIG Fund, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Land Bank of the Philippines, and other government financial institutions. Through this measure, the State reaffirms its commitment to the welfare, dignity, and security of educators and public servants who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of education and nation-building. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

Senals Office of the SOrretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session MAY 20 P5:26 RECEIVED BY: SENATE Senate Bill No. 2149 Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SUSTAINABLE HOUSING PROGRAM FOR TENURED PERSONNEL OF STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES, PROVIDING CAMPUS AND OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING ASSISTANCE Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Pabahay Para

2 sa mga Kawani ng SUC Act (Pabahay-SUC Act)."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the

4 State to promote the welfare, dignity, and well-being of personnel of State 5 Universities and Colleges (SUCs) by supporting access to affordable, decent, 6 and sustainable housing opportunities. Towards this end, the State shall encourage SUCs, in coordination with relevant government agencies and financial institutions, to establish housing assistance programs for qualified teaching and non-teaching personnel, while ensuring fiscal sustainability, institutional flexibility, and the continued availability of campus housing for operational and academic purposes.

SEC. 3. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to the following personnel of

SUCs: (a) Tenured Teaching Personnel - faculty members who have attained permanent or regular status in accordance with the standards established

by the SUC concerned and applicable civil service laws, rules, and regulations; and 3 (b) Tenured Non-Teaching Personnel - permanent non-academic personnel holding plantilla positions in the SUC concerned.

SEC. 4. Campus Housing Program. - Subject to the availability of

6 land, housing units, and funds, SUCs shall provide affordable in-campus 7 housing to qualified personnel under such terms and conditions as may be 8 determined by the Board of Regents or governing board of the concerned SUC. In-campus housing shall primarily serve active personnel whose 10 presence within or near campus is necessary or beneficial to university operations, instruction, research, extension services, student welfare, or campus security. The Board of Regents shall establish transparent and objective criteria for eligibility, prioritization, occupancy, and rental rates, taking into consideration the following: (a) Years of service; (b) Salary grade and financial capacity; (c) Housing need and absence of residential property near the SUC; (d) Senior citizen or disability status; (e) Nature of duties and operational necessity; and (f) Other analogous factors.

SEC. 5. Transitional Post-Retirement Occupancy. - Qualified

retirees who are lawful occupants of in-campus housing units at the time of retirement may be granted transitional post-retirement occupancy for a period not exceeding five (5) years, subject to: (a) Availability of housing units; (b) Compliance with housing rules and regulations; (c) Continuing housing need; and 29 (d) Policies established by the Board of Regents.

The Board of Regents may establish longer occupancy periods for retirees 2 in exceptional circumstances, subject to the financial and operational capacity 3 of the SUC concerned. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as granting ownership rights over 5 in-campus housing units.

SEC. 6. Alternative Housing Assistance. - SUCs shall establish

7 linkages and partnerships with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Pag-IBIG Fund, Government Service Insurance 9 System (GSIS), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Development Bank of the 10 Philippines (DBP), and other government agencies and financial institutions to assist qualified personnel in accessing affordable off-campus housing options. Such assistance may include, but shall not be limited to: (a) Housing referral and facilitation services; (b) Rental assistance programs; (c) Socialized or affordable housing projects; (d) Access to soft loan programs and preferential financing arrangements; and/or (e) Technical assistance and financial literacy programs related to housing acquisition.

SEC. 7. SUC Housing Development Program. - Within one (1) year

from the effectivity of this Act, every SUC shall formulate and adopt a Housing Development Program consistent with its institutional development plan. The Housing Development Program shall include: (a) Assessment of existing housing inventory and projected housing demand; (b) Identification of available land and infrastructure capacity; (c) Proposed housing assistance mechanisms; (d) Financing and partnership strategies; (e) Sustainability and maintenance plans; and (f) Such other measures as may be necessary to implement the objectives of this Act.

SEC. 8. Public-Private Partnerships and Joint Ventures. - Subject

to existing laws, rules, and regulations, SUCs may enter into joint ventures,

1 public-private partnerships, usufruct agreements, lease arrangements, or other 2 similar contractual mechanisms with government agencies, government-owned or -controlled corporations, private entities, and financial institutions for the planning, financing, construction, development, maintenance, or management 5 of affordable housing projects and related facilities for qualified personnel.

SEC. 9. Implementing Agencies. - The Commission on Higher

7 Education (CHED), in coordination with DHSUD, Pag-IBIG Fund, GSIS, LBP, 8 DBP, SUCs, and other relevant agencies, shall provide technical assistance and policy guidance for the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 10. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial

implementation of this Act shall be charged against the existing appropriations of the concerned agencies. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. Implementation of this Act shall be subject to the availability of funds and the financial and institutional capacity of the SUC concerned.

SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The rules and

regulations necessary for the effective and efficient enforcement of the provisions of this Act shall be formulated by the CHED, in coordination with other implementing agencies as stated in Section 9 of this Act and in consultation with relevant government agencies, LGU, the private sector, and other stakeholders, and shall be implemented within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act. Unjustified or willful failure or refusal of the concerned government agencies to promulgate the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) within the specified period shall subject the heads of these government agencies to administrative penalties under applicable civil service laws. Should the IRR contain provisions that are contrary to this Act, the heads 28 of the government agencies responsible for such provision, when done in bad faith or with gross negligence, shall be held administratively liable.

SEC. 12. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act

is declared unconstitutional, the remainder hereof or any provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,

2 executive order, letter of instruction, rule, or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after

its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 6 circulation. Approved,