Opening of Positions of RTC Judges for the City of Koronadal and Surallah Announced

What are you waiting for?

The Judicial and Bar Council has announced the opening, for application or recommendation, of the position of the Regional Trial Court Judge, for the following newly created branches:

1. RTC, Branch 42, Koronadal City (07110402)
2. RTC, Branch 44, Surallah (07110403)

The Announcement states that applications or recommendations (with conforme) must be submitted not later than 9 October 2014 to the JBC Secretariat, 2nd Flr. Centennial Bldg., Supreme Court, Padre Faura St., Manila (Tel. No. 552-9512; Fax No. 552-9598; e-mail address (jbc@scjudiciary.gov.ph and jbc87supremecourt@gmail.com), together with a duly accomplished and notarized Personal Data Sheet (JBC Form 1 - downloadable from the JBC Website (http://jbc.judiciary.gov.ph).

It can be recalled that Republic Act No. 9906 was enacted in 2009, creating four (4) additional branches of the RTC in the 11th Judicial Region stationed at the City of Koronadal and at the Municipality of Surallah, both in the Province of South Cotabato. RA 9906, in effect, amended Section 14, Paragraph (L) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, otherwise known as "THE JUDICIARY REORGANlZATION ACT OF 1980".

RA 7279: Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992

Republic Act No. 7279

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

ARTICLE I
TITLE, POLICY, PROGRAM AND DEFINITION OF TERMS

Section 1. Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992.”

Section 2. Declaration of State Policy and Program Objectives. – It shall be the policy of the State to undertake, in cooperation with the private sector, a comprehensive and continuing Urban Development and Housing Program, hereinafter referred to as the Program, which shall:

a) Uplift the conditions of the underprivileged and homeless citizens in urban areas and in resettlement areas by making available to them decent housing at affordable cost, basic services, and employment opportunities; Lawcenter.ph

b) Provide for the rational use and development of urban land in order to bring about the following:

(1) Equitable utilization of residential lands in urban and urbanizable areas with particular attention to the needs and requirements of the privileged and homeless citizens and not merely on the basis of market forces;

(2) Optimization of the use and productivity of land and urban resources;

(3) Development of urban areas conducive to commercial and industrial activities which can generate more economic opportunities for the people;

(4) Reduction in urban dysfunctions, particularly those that adversely affect public health, safety and ecology; and

(5) Access to land and housing by the underprivileged and homeless citizens.

c) Adopt workable policies to regulate and direct urban growth and expansion towards a dispersed urban net and more balanced urban-rural interdependence;

d) Provide for an equitable land tenure system that shall guarantee security of tenure to Program beneficiaries but shall respect the rights of small property owners and ensure the payment of just compensation;Lawcenter.ph

e) Encourage more effective people’s participation in the urban development process; and

f) Improve the capability of local government units in undertaking urban development and housing programs and projects.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act:

a) “Affordable cost” refers to the most reasonable price of land and shelter based on the needs and financial capability of Program beneficiaries and appropriate financing schemes;

b) “Areas for priority development” refers to those areas declared as such under existing statutes and pertinent executive issuances; Lawcenter.ph

c) “Blighted areas” refers to the areas where the structures are dilapidated, obsolete and unsanitary, tending to depreciate the value of the land and prevent normal development and use of the area;

d) “Consultation” refers to the constitutionally mandated process whereby the public on their own or through people’s organizations, is provided an opportunity to be heard and to participate in the decision-making process on matters involving the protection and promotion of its legitimate collective interests, which shall include appropriate documentation and feedback mechanisms;

e) “Idle hands” refers to non-agricultural lands in urban and urbanizable areas on which no improvements, as herein defined, have been made by the owner, as certified by the city, municipal or provincial assessor’

f) “Improvements” refers to all types of buildings and residential units, walls, fences, structures or construction of all kinds of a foxed character or which are adhered to the soil but shall not include trees, plants and growing fruits, and other fixtures that are mere superimpositions on the land, and the value of improvements shall not be less than fifty percent (50%) of the assessed value of the property;

g) “Joint venture” refers to the commitment or agreement by two (2) or more persons to carry out a specific or single business enterprise for their mutual benefit, for which purpose they combine their funds, land resource, facilities and services;

h) “Land assembly or consolidation” refers to the acquisition of lots or varying ownership through purchase or expropriation for the purpose of planned and rational development and socialized housing programs without individual property boundary restrictions;

i) “Land banking” refers to the acquisition of land at values based on existing use in advance of actual need to promote planned development and socialized housing programs;

j) “Land swapping” refers to the process of land ac quisition by exchanging land for another piece of land of equal value, or for shares of stock in a government or quasi-government corporation whose book value is of equal value to the land being exchanged, for the purpose of planned and rational development and provision for socialized housing where land values are determined based on land classification, market value and assessed value taken from existing tax declarations: Provided, That more valuable lands owned by private persons may be exchanged with less valuable lands to carry out the objectives of this Act;

k) “Land use plan” refers to the rational approach of allocating available land resources as equitably as possible among competing user groups and for different functions consistent with the development plan area and the Program under this Act;

l) “On-site development” refers to the process of upgrading and rehabilitation of bighted and slum urban areas with a view of minimizing displacement of dwellers in said areas, and with provisions for basic services as provided for in Section 21 hereof;

m) “Professional squatters” refers to individuals or groups who occupy lands without the express consent of the landowner and who have sufficient income for legitimate housing. The term shall also apply to persons who have previously been awarded homelots or housing units by the Government but who sold, leased or transferred the same to settle illegally in the same place or in another urban area, and non-bona fide occupants and intruders of lands reserved for socialized housing. The term shall not apply to individuals or groups who simply rent land and housing from professional squatters or squatting syndicates;

n) “Resettlement areas” refers to areas identified by the appropriate national agency or by the local government unit with respect to areas within its jurisdiction, which shall be used for the relocation of the underprivileged and homeless citizens;

o) “Security of tenure” refers to the degree of protection afforded to qualified Program beneficiaries against infringement or unjust, unreasonable and arbitrary eviction or disposition,
by virtue of the right of ownership, lease agreement, usufruct and other contractual arrangements;

p) “Slum Improvement and Resettlement Program or SIR” refers to the program of the National Housing Authority of upgrading and improving blighted squatter areas outside of Metro Manila pursuant to existing statutes and pertinent executive issuances;

q) “Small property owners” refers to those whose only real property consists of residential lands not exceeding three hundred square meters (300 sq. m.) in highly urbanized cities and eight hundred square meters (800 sq. m. ) in other urban areas;

r) “Socialized housing” refers to housing programs and projects covering houses and lots or homelots only undertaken by the Government or the private sector for the underprivileged and homeless citizens which shall include sites and services development, long-term financing, liberalized terms on interest payments, and such other benefits in accordance with the provisions of this Act;

s) “Squatting syndicates” refers to groups of persons engaged in the business of squatter housing for profit or gain;

t) “Underprivileged and homeless citizens” refers to the beneficiaries of this Act and to individuals or families residing in urban and urbanizable areas whose income or combined household income falls within the poverty threshold as defined by the National Economic and Development Authority and who do not own housing facilities. This shall include those who live in makeshift dwelling units and do not enjoy security of tenure;

u) “Unregistered or abandoned lands” refers to lands in urban and urbanizable areas which are not registered with the Register of Deeds, or with the city or municipal assessor’s office concerned, or which are uninhabited by the owner and have not been developed or devoted for any useful purpose, or appears unutilized for a period of three (3) consecutive years immediately prior to the issuance and receipt or publication of notice of acquisition by the Government as provided under this Act. It does not include land which has been abandoned by reason of force majeure or any fortuitous event; Provided, that prior to such event, such land was previously used for some useful or economic purpose; Lawcenter.ph

v) “Urban areas” refers to all cities regardless of their population density and to municipalities with a population density of at least five hundred (500) persons per square kilometer;

w) “Urbanizable areas” refers to sites and lands which, considering present characteristics and prevailing conditions, display marked and great potential of becoming urban areas within the period of five (5) years; and

x) “Zonal Improvement Program or ZIP” refers to the program of the National Housing Authority of upgrading and improving blighted squatter areas within the cities and municipalities of Metro Manila pursuant to existing statutes and pertinent executive issuances.

ARTICLE II
COVERAGE AND EXEMPTIONS

Section 4. Coverage. - The Program shall cover all lands in urban and urbanizable areas, including existing areas for priority development, zonal improvement sites, slum improvement and resettlement sites, and in other areas that may be identified by the local government units as suitable for socialized housing.

Section 5. Exemptions. – The following lands shall be exempt from the coverage of this Act:

a) Those included in the coverage of Republic Act No. 6657, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law;

b) Those actually used for national defense and security of the Stare;

c) Those used, reserved or otherwise set aside for government offices, facilities and other installations, whether owned by the National Government, its agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations, or by the local government units: Provided, however, That the lands herein mentioned, or portions thereof, which have not been used for the purpose for which they have been reserved or set aside for the past ten (10) years from the effectivity of this Act, shall be covered by this Act;

d) Those used or set aside for parks, reserves for flora and fauna, forests and watersheds, and other areas necessary to maintain ecological balance or environmental protection, as determined and certified to by the proper government agency; and

e) Those actually and primarily used for religious, charitable, or educational purposes, cultural and historical sites, hospitals and health centers, and cemeteries or memorial parks.

The exemptions herein provided shall not apply when the use or purpose of the abovementioned lands has ceased to exist. Lawcenter.ph

ARTICLE III
NATIONAL URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING FRAMEWORK

Section 6. Framework for Rational Development. - There shall be a National Urban Development and Housing Framework to be formulated by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board under the direction of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council in coordination with all local government units and other concerned public and private sectors within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act.

The Framework shall refer to the comprehensive plan for urban and urbanizable areas aimed at achieving the objectives of the Program. In the formulation of the framework, a review and rationalization of existing town and land use plans, housing programs, and all other projects and activities of government agencies and the private sector which may substantially affect urban land use patterns, transportation and public utilities, infrastructure, environment and population movements shall be undertaken with the concurrence of the local government units concerned.

ARTICLE IV
LAND USE, INVENTORY, ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION

Section 7. Inventory of Lands. - Within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act, all city and municipal governments shall conduct an inventory of all lands and improvements thereon within their respective localities. The inventory shall include the following:

a) Residential lands;

b) Government-owned lands, whether owned by the National
Government or any of its subdivisions, instrumentalities, or agencies, including government-owned or controlled corporations and their subsidiaries;

c) Unregistered or abandoned and idle lands; and

d) Other lands.

In conducting the inventory, the local government units concerned, in coordination with the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board and with the assistance of the appropriate government agencies, shall indicate the type of land use and the degree of land utilization, and other data or information necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.

For planning purposes, the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council shall be furnished by each local government unit a copy of its inventory which shall be updated every three (3) years.

Section 8. Identification of Sites for Socialized Housing. - After the inventory, the local government units, in coordination with the National Housing Authority, the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, the National Mapping Resource Information Authority, and the Land Management Bureau, shall identify lands for socialized housing and resettlement areas for the immediate and future needs of the underprivileged and homeless in the urban areas, taking into consideration the degree of availability of basic services and facilities, their accessibility and proximity to job sites and other economic opportunities, and the actual number of registered beneficiaries.

Government-owned lands under paragraph (b) of the preceding section which have not been used for the purpose for which they have been reserved or set aside for the past ten (10)years from the effectivity of this Act and identified as suitable for socialized housing, shall immediately be transferred to the National Housing Authority subject to the approval of the President of the Philippines or by the local government unit concerned, as the case may be, for proper disposition in accordance with this Act.

Section 9. Priorities in the Acquisition of Land. – Lands for socialized housing shall be acquired in the following order:

a) Those owned by the Government or any of its subdivisions, instrumentalities, or agencies, including government-owned or controlled corporations and their subsidiaries;

b) Alienable lands of the public domain;

c) Unregistered or abandoned and idle lands;

d) Those within the declared Areas for Priority Development, Zonal
Improvement Program sites, and Slum Improvement and Resettlement
Program sites which have not yet been acquired;

e) Bagong Lipunan Improvement of Sites and Services or BLISS sites which have not yet been acquired; and Lawcenter.ph

f) Privately-owned lands.

Where on-site development is found more practicable and advantageous to the beneficiaries, the priorities mentioned in this section shall not apply. The local government units shall give budgetary priority to on-site development of government lands.

Section 10. Modes of Land Acquisition. - The modes of acquiring lands for purposes of this Act shall include, among others, community mortgage, land swapping, land assembly or consolidation, land banking, donation to the Government, joint-venture agreement, negotiated purchase, and expropriation: Provided, however, That expropriation shall be resorted to only when other modes of acquisition have been exhausted. Provided, further, That where expropriation is resorted to, parcels of land owned by small property owners shall be exempted for purposes of this Act: Provided, finally, That abandoned property, as herein defined, shall be reverted and escheated to the State in a proceeding analogous to the procedure laid down in Rule 91 of the Rules of Court.

For the purpose of socialized housing, government-owned and foreclosed properties shall be acquired by the local government units, or by the National Housing Authority primarily through negotiated purchase: Provided, That qualified beneficiaries who are actual occupants of the land shall be given the right of first refusal.

Section 11. Expropriation of Idle Lands. - All idle lands in urban and urbanizable areas, as defined and identified in accordance with this Act, shall be expropriated and shall form part of the public domain. These lands shall be disposed of or utilized by the Government for such purposes that conform with their land use plans. Expropriation proceedings shall be instituted if, after the lapse of one (1) year following receipt of notice of acquisition, the owner fails to introduce improvements as defined in Section 3(f) hereof, except in the case of force majeure and other fortuitous events. Exempted from this ownership of which is subject of a pending litigation.

Section 12. Disposition of Lands for Socialized Housing. - The National Housing Authority, with respect to lands belonging to the National Government, and the local government units with respect to other lands within their respective localities, shall coordinate with each other to formulate and make available various alternative schemes for the disposition of lands to the beneficiaries of the Program. These schemes shall not be limited to those involving transfer of ownership in fee simple but shall include lease, with option to purchase, usufruct or such other variations as the local government units or the National Housing Authority may deem most expedient in carrying out the purposes of this Act.

Consistent with this provision, a scheme for public rental housing may be adopted.

Section 13. Valuation of Lands for Socialized Housing. – Equitable land valuation guidelines for socialized housing shall be set by the Department of Finance on the basis of the market value reflected in the zonal valuation, or in its absence, on the latest real property tax declaration.

For sites already occupied by qualified Program beneficiaries, the Department of Finance shall factor into the valuation the blighted status of the land as certified by the local government unit or the National Housing Authority.

Section 14. Limitations on the Disposition of Lands for Socialized Housing. - No land for socialized housing, including improvements or rights thereon, shall be sold, alienated, conveyed, encumbered or leased by any beneficiary of this Program except to qualified Program beneficiaries as determined by the government agency concerned.

Should the beneficiary unlawfully sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of his lot or any right thereon, the transaction shall be null and void. He shall also lose his right to the land, forfeit the total amortization paid thereon, and shall be barred from the benefits under this Act for a period of ten (10) years from the date of violation.

In the event the beneficiary dies before full ownership of the land is vested on him, transfer to his heirs shall take place only upon their assumption of his outstanding obligations. In case of failure by the heirs to assume such obligations, the land shall revert to the Government for disposition in accordance with this Act. Lawcenter.ph

ARTICLE V
SOCIALIZED HOUSING

Section 15. Policy. - Socialized housing, as defined in Section 3 hereof, shall be the primary strategy in providing shelter for the underprivileged and homeless. However, if the tenurial arrangement in a particular socialized housing program is in the nature of leasehold or usufruct, the same shall be transitory and the beneficiaries must be encouraged to become independent from the Program within a given period of time, to be determined by the implementing agency concerned.

Section 16. Eligibility Criteria for Socialized Housing Program Beneficiaries. - To qualify for the socialized housing program, a beneficiary:

a) Must be a Filipino citizen;

b) Must be an underprivileged and homeless citizen, as defined in Section 3 of this Act;

c) Must not own any real property whether in the urban or rural areas; and

d) Must not be a professional squatter or a member of squatting syndicates.

Section 17. Registration of Socialized Housing Beneficiaries. - The Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, in coordination with the local government units, shall design a system for the registration of qualified Program beneficiaries in accordance with the Framework. The local government units, within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act, shall identify and register all beneficiaries within their respective localities.

Section 18. Balanced Housing Development. - The Program shall include a system to be specified in the Framework plan whereby developers of proposed subdivision projects shall be required to develop an area for socialized housing equivalent to at least twenty percent (20%) of the total subdivision area or total subdivision project cost, at the option of the developer, within the same city or municipality, whenever feasible, and in accordance with the standards set by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board and other existing laws. The balanced housing development as herein required may also be complied with by the developers concerned in any of the following manner:

a) Development of new settlement;

b) Slum upgrading or renewal of areas for priority development either through zonal improvement programs or slum improvement and resettlement programs;

c) Joint-venture projects with either the local government units or any of the housing agencies; or

d) Participation in the community mortgage program.

Section 19. Incentives for the National Housing Authority. - The National Housing Authority, being the primary government agency in charge of providing housing for the underprivileged and homeless, shall be exempted from the payment of all fees and charges of any kind, whether local or national, such as income and real taxes. All documents or contracts executed by and in favor of the National Housing Authority shall also be exempt from the payment of documentary stamp tax and registration fees, including fees required for the issuance of transfer certificates of titles.

Section 20. Incentives for Private Sector Participating in Socialized Housing. - To encourage greater private sector participation in socialized housing and further reduce the cost of housing units for the benefit of the underprivileged and homeless, the following incentives shall be extended to the private sector:

a) Reduction and simplification of qualification and accreditation requirements for participating private developers; Lawcenter.ph

b) Creation of one-stop offices in the different regions of the country for the processing, approval and issuance of clearances, permits and licenses: Provided, That clearances, permits and licenses shall be issued within ninety (90) days from the date of submission of all requirements by the participating private developers;

c) Simplification of financing procedures; and

d) Exemption from the payment of the following:

1) Project-related income taxes;
2) Capital gains tax on raw lands use for the project;
3) Value-added tax for the project concerned;
4) Transfer tax for both raw and completed projects; and
5) Donor’s tax for both lands certified by the local government units to have been donated for socialized housing purposes.

Provided, that upon application for exemption, a lien on that title of the land shall be annotated by the Register of Deeds: Provided, further, That the socialized housing development plan has already been approved by the appropriate government agencies concerned: Provided, finally, That all the savings acquired by virtue of this provision shall accrue in favor of the beneficiaries subject to the implementing guidelines to be issued by the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.

Appropriate implementing guidelines shall be prepared by the Department of Finance, in consultation with the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, for the proper implementation of the tax exemption mentioned in this section within one (1) year after the approval of this Act.

Property owners who voluntarily provide resettlement sites to illegal occupants of their lands shall be entitled to a tax credit equivalent to the actual non-recoverable expenses incurred in the resettlement, subject to the implementing guidelines jointly issued by the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and the Department of Finance.

Section 21. Basic Services. - Socialized housing or resettlement areas shall be provided by the local government unit or the National Housing Authority in cooperation with the private developers and concerned agencies with the following basic services and facilities:

a) Potable water;

b) Power and electricity and an adequate power distribution system;

c) Sewerage facilities and an efficient and adequate solid waste disposal system; and

d) Access to primary roads and transportation facilities.

The provision of other basic services and facilities such as health, education, communication, security, recreation, relief and welfare shall be planned and shall be given priority for implementation by the local government unit and concerned agencies in cooperation with the private sector and the beneficiaries themselves.

The local government unit, in coordination with the concerned national agencies, shall ensure that these basic services are provided at the most cost-efficient rates, and shall set a mechanism to coordinate operationally the thrusts, objectives and activities of other government agencies concerned with providing basic services to housing projects.

Section 22. Livelihood Component. - To the extent feasible, socialized housing and resettlement projects shall be located near areas where employment opportunities are accessible. The government agencies dealing with the development of livelihood programs and grant of livelihood loans shall give priority to the beneficiaries of the Program.

Section 23. Participation of Beneficiaries. - The local government units, in coordination with the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor and concerned government agencies, shall afford Program beneficiaries or their duly designated representatives an opportunity to be heard and to participate in the decision-making process over matters involving the protection and promotion of their legitimate collective interests which shall include appropriate documentation and feedback mechanisms. They shall also be encouraged to organize themselves and undertake self-help cooperative housing and other livelihood activities. They shall assist the Government in preventing the incursions of professional squatters and members of squatting syndicates into their communities. Lawcenter.ph

In instances when the affected beneficiaries have failed to organize themselves or form an alliance within a reasonable period prior to the implementation of the program or projects affecting them, consultation between the implementing agency and the affected beneficiaries shall be conducted with the assistance of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor and the concerned non-government organization.

Section 24. Consultation with Private Sector. - Opportunities for adequate consultation shall be accorded to the private sector involved in socialized housing project pursuant to this Act. Lawcenter.ph

ARTICLE VI
AREAS FOR PRIORITY DEVELOPMENT, ZONAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, SITES AND SLUM IMPROVEMENT AND RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM SITES

Section 25. Benefits. - In addition to the benefits provided under existing laws and other related issuances to occupants of areas for priority development, zonal improvement program sites and slum improvement and resettlement program site, such occupants shall be entitled to priority in all government projects initiated pursuant to this Act. They shall also be entitled to the following support services: Lawcenter.ph

a) Land surveys and titling at minimal cost;

b) Liberalized terms on credit facilities and housing loans and one hundred percent (100%) deduction from every homebuyer’s gross income tax of all interest payments made on documented loans incurred for the construction or purchase of the homebuyer’s house;

c) Exemption from the payment of documentary stamp tax, registration fees, and other fees for the issuance of transfer certificate of titles;

d) Basic services as provided for in Section 21 of this Act; and

e) Such other benefits that may arise from the implementation of this Act.

ARTICLE VII
URBAN RENEWAL AND RESETTLEMENT

Section 26. Urban Renewal and Resettlement. - This shall include the rehabilitation and development of blighted and slum areas and the resettlement of Program beneficiaries in accordance with the provisions of this Act. On-site development shall be implemented whenever possible in order to ensure minimum movement of occupants of blighted lands and slum areas. The resettlement of the beneficiaries of the Program from their existing places of occupancy shall be undertaken only when on-site development is not feasible and after compliance with the procedures laid down in Section 28 of this Act.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

ARTICLE I
TITLE, POLICY, PROGRAM AND DEFINITION OF TERMS

Section 1. Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992.”

Section 2. Declaration of State Policy and Program Objectives. – It shall be the policy of the State to undertake, in cooperation with the private sector, a comprehensive and continuing Urban Development and Housing Program, hereinafter referred to as the Program, which shall:

a) Uplift the conditions of the underprivileged and homeless citizens in urban areas and in resettlement areas by making available to them decent housing at affordable cost, basic services, and employment opportunities; Lawcenter.ph

b) Provide for the rational use and development of urban land in order to bring about the following:

(1) Equitable utilization of residential lands in urban and urbanizable areas with particular attention to the needs and requirements of the privileged and homeless citizens and not merely on the basis of market forces;

(2) Optimization of the use and productivity of land and urban resources;

(3) Development of urban areas conducive to commercial and industrial activities which can generate more economic opportunities for the people;

(4) Reduction in urban dysfunctions, particularly those that adversely affect public health, safety and ecology; and

(5) Access to land and housing by the underprivileged and homeless citizens.

c) Adopt workable policies to regulate and direct urban growth and expansion towards a dispersed urban net and more balanced urban-rural interdependence;

d) Provide for an equitable land tenure system that shall guarantee security of tenure to Program beneficiaries but shall respect the rights of small property owners and ensure the payment of just compensation;Lawcenter.ph

e) Encourage more effective people’s participation in the urban development process; and

f) Improve the capability of local government units in undertaking urban development and housing programs and projects.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act:

a) “Affordable cost” refers to the most reasonable price of land and shelter based on the needs and financial capability of Program beneficiaries and appropriate financing schemes;

b) “Areas for priority development” refers to those areas declared as such under existing statutes and pertinent executive issuances; Lawcenter.ph

c) “Blighted areas” refers to the areas where the structures are dilapidated, obsolete and unsanitary, tending to depreciate the value of the land and prevent normal development and use of the area;

d) “Consultation” refers to the constitutionally mandated process whereby the public on their own or through people’s organizations, is provided an opportunity to be heard and to participate in the decision-making process on matters involving the protection and promotion of its legitimate collective interests, which shall include appropriate documentation and feedback mechanisms;

e) “Idle hands” refers to non-agricultural lands in urban and urbanizable areas on which no improvements, as herein defined, have been made by the owner, as certified by the city, municipal or provincial assessor’

f) “Improvements” refers to all types of buildings and residential units, walls, fences, structures or construction of all kinds of a foxed character or which are adhered to the soil but shall not include trees, plants and growing fruits, and other fixtures that are mere superimpositions on the land, and the value of improvements shall not be less than fifty percent (50%) of the assessed value of the property;

g) “Joint venture” refers to the commitment or agreement by two (2) or more persons to carry out a specific or single business enterprise for their mutual benefit, for which purpose they combine their funds, land resource, facilities and services;

h) “Land assembly or consolidation” refers to the acquisition of lots or varying ownership through purchase or expropriation for the purpose of planned and rational development and socialized housing programs without individual property boundary restrictions;

i) “Land banking” refers to the acquisition of land at values based on existing use in advance of actual need to promote planned development and socialized housing programs;

j) “Land swapping” refers to the process of land ac quisition by exchanging land for another piece of land of equal value, or for shares of stock in a government or quasi-government corporation whose book value is of equal value to the land being exchanged, for the purpose of planned and rational development and provision for socialized housing where land values are determined based on land classification, market value and assessed value taken from existing tax declarations: Provided, That more valuable lands owned by private persons may be exchanged with less valuable lands to carry out the objectives of this Act;

k) “Land use plan” refers to the rational approach of allocating available land resources as equitably as possible among competing user groups and for different functions consistent with the development plan area and the Program under this Act;

l) “On-site development” refers to the process of upgrading and rehabilitation of bighted and slum urban areas with a view of minimizing displacement of dwellers in said areas, and with provisions for basic services as provided for in Section 21 hereof;

m) “Professional squatters” refers to individuals or groups who occupy lands without the express consent of the landowner and who have sufficient income for legitimate housing. The term shall also apply to persons who have previously been awarded homelots or housing units by the Government but who sold, leased or transferred the same to settle illegally in the same place or in another urban area, and non-bona fide occupants and intruders of lands reserved for socialized housing. The term shall not apply to individuals or groups who simply rent land and housing from professional squatters or squatting syndicates;

n) “Resettlement areas” refers to areas identified by the appropriate national agency or by the local government unit with respect to areas within its jurisdiction, which shall be used for the relocation of the underprivileged and homeless citizens;

o) “Security of tenure” refers to the degree of protection afforded to qualified Program beneficiaries against infringement or unjust, unreasonable and arbitrary eviction or disposition,
by virtue of the right of ownership, lease agreement, usufruct and other contractual arrangements;

p) “Slum Improvement and Resettlement Program or SIR” refers to the program of the National Housing Authority of upgrading and improving blighted squatter areas outside of Metro Manila pursuant to existing statutes and pertinent executive issuances;

q) “Small property owners” refers to those whose only real property consists of residential lands not exceeding three hundred square meters (300 sq. m.) in highly urbanized cities and eight hundred square meters (800 sq. m. ) in other urban areas;

r) “Socialized housing” refers to housing programs and projects covering houses and lots or homelots only undertaken by the Government or the private sector for the underprivileged and homeless citizens which shall include sites and services development, long-term financing, liberalized terms on interest payments, and such other benefits in accordance with the provisions of this Act;

s) “Squatting syndicates” refers to groups of persons engaged in the business of squatter housing for profit or gain;

t) “Underprivileged and homeless citizens” refers to the beneficiaries of this Act and to individuals or families residing in urban and urbanizable areas whose income or combined household income falls within the poverty threshold as defined by the National Economic and Development Authority and who do not own housing facilities. This shall include those who live in makeshift dwelling units and do not enjoy security of tenure;

u) “Unregistered or abandoned lands” refers to lands in urban and urbanizable areas which are not registered with the Register of Deeds, or with the city or municipal assessor’s office concerned, or which are uninhabited by the owner and have not been developed or devoted for any useful purpose, or appears unutilized for a period of three (3) consecutive years immediately prior to the issuance and receipt or publication of notice of acquisition by the Government as provided under this Act. It does not include land which has been abandoned by reason of force majeure or any fortuitous event; Provided, that prior to such event, such land was previously used for some useful or economic purpose; Lawcenter.ph

v) “Urban areas” refers to all cities regardless of their population density and to municipalities with a population density of at least five hundred (500) persons per square kilometer;

w) “Urbanizable areas” refers to sites and lands which, considering present characteristics and prevailing conditions, display marked and great potential of becoming urban areas within the period of five (5) years; and

x) “Zonal Improvement Program or ZIP” refers to the program of the National Housing Authority of upgrading and improving blighted squatter areas within the cities and municipalities of Metro Manila pursuant to existing statutes and pertinent executive issuances.

ARTICLE II
COVERAGE AND EXEMPTIONS

Section 4. Coverage. - The Program shall cover all lands in urban and urbanizable areas, including existing areas for priority development, zonal improvement sites, slum improvement and resettlement sites, and in other areas that may be identified by the local government units as suitable for socialized housing.

Section 5. Exemptions. – The following lands shall be exempt from the coverage of this Act:

a) Those included in the coverage of Republic Act No. 6657, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law;

b) Those actually used for national defense and security of the Stare;

c) Those used, reserved or otherwise set aside for government offices, facilities and other installations, whether owned by the National Government, its agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations, or by the local government units: Provided, however, That the lands herein mentioned, or portions thereof, which have not been used for the purpose for which they have been reserved or set aside for the past ten (10) years from the effectivity of this Act, shall be covered by this Act;

d) Those used or set aside for parks, reserves for flora and fauna, forests and watersheds, and other areas necessary to maintain ecological balance or environmental protection, as determined and certified to by the proper government agency; and

e) Those actually and primarily used for religious, charitable, or educational purposes, cultural and historical sites, hospitals and health centers, and cemeteries or memorial parks.

The exemptions herein provided shall not apply when the use or purpose of the abovementioned lands has ceased to exist. Lawcenter.ph

ARTICLE III
NATIONAL URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING FRAMEWORK

Section 6. Framework for Rational Development. - There shall be a National Urban Development and Housing Framework to be formulated by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board under the direction of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council in coordination with all local government units and other concerned public and private sectors within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act.

The Framework shall refer to the comprehensive plan for urban and urbanizable areas aimed at achieving the objectives of the Program. In the formulation of the framework, a review and rationalization of existing town and land use plans, housing programs, and all other projects and activities of government agencies and the private sector which may substantially affect urban land use patterns, transportation and public utilities, infrastructure, environment and population movements shall be undertaken with the concurrence of the local government units concerned.

ARTICLE IV
LAND USE, INVENTORY, ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION

Section 7. Inventory of Lands. - Within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act, all city and municipal governments shall conduct an inventory of all lands and improvements thereon within their respective localities. The inventory shall include the following:

a) Residential lands;

b) Government-owned lands, whether owned by the National
Government or any of its subdivisions, instrumentalities, or agencies, including government-owned or controlled corporations and their subsidiaries;

c) Unregistered or abandoned and idle lands; and

d) Other lands.

In conducting the inventory, the local government units concerned, in coordination with the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board and with the assistance of the appropriate government agencies, shall indicate the type of land use and the degree of land utilization, and other data or information necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.

For planning purposes, the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council shall be furnished by each local government unit a copy of its inventory which shall be updated every three (3) years.

Section 8. Identification of Sites for Socialized Housing. - After the inventory, the local government units, in coordination with the National Housing Authority, the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, the National Mapping Resource Information Authority, and the Land Management Bureau, shall identify lands for socialized housing and resettlement areas for the immediate and future needs of the underprivileged and homeless in the urban areas, taking into consideration the degree of availability of basic services and facilities, their accessibility and proximity to job sites and other economic opportunities, and the actual number of registered beneficiaries.

Government-owned lands under paragraph (b) of the preceding section which have not been used for the purpose for which they have been reserved or set aside for the past ten (10)years from the effectivity of this Act and identified as suitable for socialized housing, shall immediately be transferred to the National Housing Authority subject to the approval of the President of the Philippines or by the local government unit concerned, as the case may be, for proper disposition in accordance with this Act.

Section 9. Priorities in the Acquisition of Land. – Lands for socialized housing shall be acquired in the following order:

a) Those owned by the Government or any of its subdivisions, instrumentalities, or agencies, including government-owned or controlled corporations and their subsidiaries;

b) Alienable lands of the public domain;

c) Unregistered or abandoned and idle lands;

d) Those within the declared Areas for Priority Development, Zonal
Improvement Program sites, and Slum Improvement and Resettlement
Program sites which have not yet been acquired;

e) Bagong Lipunan Improvement of Sites and Services or BLISS sites which have not yet been acquired; and Lawcenter.ph

f) Privately-owned lands.

Where on-site development is found more practicable and advantageous to the beneficiaries, the priorities mentioned in this section shall not apply. The local government units shall give budgetary priority to on-site development of government lands.

Section 10. Modes of Land Acquisition. - The modes of acquiring lands for purposes of this Act shall include, among others, community mortgage, land swapping, land assembly or consolidation, land banking, donation to the Government, joint-venture agreement, negotiated purchase, and expropriation: Provided, however, That expropriation shall be resorted to only when other modes of acquisition have been exhausted. Provided, further, That where expropriation is resorted to, parcels of land owned by small property owners shall be exempted for purposes of this Act: Provided, finally, That abandoned property, as herein defined, shall be reverted and escheated to the State in a proceeding analogous to the procedure laid down in Rule 91 of the Rules of Court.

For the purpose of socialized housing, government-owned and foreclosed properties shall be acquired by the local government units, or by the National Housing Authority primarily through negotiated purchase: Provided, That qualified beneficiaries who are actual occupants of the land shall be given the right of first refusal.

Section 11. Expropriation of Idle Lands. - All idle lands in urban and urbanizable areas, as defined and identified in accordance with this Act, shall be expropriated and shall form part of the public domain. These lands shall be disposed of or utilized by the Government for such purposes that conform with their land use plans. Expropriation proceedings shall be instituted if, after the lapse of one (1) year following receipt of notice of acquisition, the owner fails to introduce improvements as defined in Section 3(f) hereof, except in the case of force majeure and other fortuitous events. Exempted from this ownership of which is subject of a pending litigation.

Section 12. Disposition of Lands for Socialized Housing. - The National Housing Authority, with respect to lands belonging to the National Government, and the local government units with respect to other lands within their respective localities, shall coordinate with each other to formulate and make available various alternative schemes for the disposition of lands to the beneficiaries of the Program. These schemes shall not be limited to those involving transfer of ownership in fee simple but shall include lease, with option to purchase, usufruct or such other variations as the local government units or the National Housing Authority may deem most expedient in carrying out the purposes of this Act.

Consistent with this provision, a scheme for public rental housing may be adopted.

Section 13. Valuation of Lands for Socialized Housing. – Equitable land valuation guidelines for socialized housing shall be set by the Department of Finance on the basis of the market value reflected in the zonal valuation, or in its absence, on the latest real property tax declaration.

For sites already occupied by qualified Program beneficiaries, the Department of Finance shall factor into the valuation the blighted status of the land as certified by the local government unit or the National Housing Authority.

Section 14. Limitations on the Disposition of Lands for Socialized Housing. - No land for socialized housing, including improvements or rights thereon, shall be sold, alienated, conveyed, encumbered or leased by any beneficiary of this Program except to qualified Program beneficiaries as determined by the government agency concerned.

Should the beneficiary unlawfully sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of his lot or any right thereon, the transaction shall be null and void. He shall also lose his right to the land, forfeit the total amortization paid thereon, and shall be barred from the benefits under this Act for a period of ten (10) years from the date of violation.

In the event the beneficiary dies before full ownership of the land is vested on him, transfer to his heirs shall take place only upon their assumption of his outstanding obligations. In case of failure by the heirs to assume such obligations, the land shall revert to the Government for disposition in accordance with this Act. Lawcenter.ph

ARTICLE V
SOCIALIZED HOUSING

Section 15. Policy. - Socialized housing, as defined in Section 3 hereof, shall be the primary strategy in providing shelter for the underprivileged and homeless. However, if the tenurial arrangement in a particular socialized housing program is in the nature of leasehold or usufruct, the same shall be transitory and the beneficiaries must be encouraged to become independent from the Program within a given period of time, to be determined by the implementing agency concerned.

Section 16. Eligibility Criteria for Socialized Housing Program Beneficiaries. - To qualify for the socialized housing program, a beneficiary:

a) Must be a Filipino citizen;

b) Must be an underprivileged and homeless citizen, as defined in Section 3 of this Act;

c) Must not own any real property whether in the urban or rural areas; and

d) Must not be a professional squatter or a member of squatting syndicates.

Section 17. Registration of Socialized Housing Beneficiaries. - The Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, in coordination with the local government units, shall design a system for the registration of qualified Program beneficiaries in accordance with the Framework. The local government units, within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act, shall identify and register all beneficiaries within their respective localities.

Section 18. Balanced Housing Development. - The Program shall include a system to be specified in the Framework plan whereby developers of proposed subdivision projects shall be required to develop an area for socialized housing equivalent to at least twenty percent (20%) of the total subdivision area or total subdivision project cost, at the option of the developer, within the same city or municipality, whenever feasible, and in accordance with the standards set by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board and other existing laws. The balanced housing development as herein required may also be complied with by the developers concerned in any of the following manner:

a) Development of new settlement;

b) Slum upgrading or renewal of areas for priority development either through zonal improvement programs or slum improvement and resettlement programs;

c) Joint-venture projects with either the local government units or any of the housing agencies; or

d) Participation in the community mortgage program.

Section 19. Incentives for the National Housing Authority. - The National Housing Authority, being the primary government agency in charge of providing housing for the underprivileged and homeless, shall be exempted from the payment of all fees and charges of any kind, whether local or national, such as income and real taxes. All documents or contracts executed by and in favor of the National Housing Authority shall also be exempt from the payment of documentary stamp tax and registration fees, including fees required for the issuance of transfer certificates of titles.

Section 20. Incentives for Private Sector Participating in Socialized Housing. - To encourage greater private sector participation in socialized housing and further reduce the cost of housing units for the benefit of the underprivileged and homeless, the following incentives shall be extended to the private sector:

a) Reduction and simplification of qualification and accreditation requirements for participating private developers; Lawcenter.ph

b) Creation of one-stop offices in the different regions of the country for the processing, approval and issuance of clearances, permits and licenses: Provided, That clearances, permits and licenses shall be issued within ninety (90) days from the date of submission of all requirements by the participating private developers;

c) Simplification of financing procedures; and

d) Exemption from the payment of the following:

1) Project-related income taxes;
2) Capital gains tax on raw lands use for the project;
3) Value-added tax for the project concerned;
4) Transfer tax for both raw and completed projects; and
5) Donor’s tax for both lands certified by the local government units to have been donated for socialized housing purposes.

Provided, that upon application for exemption, a lien on that title of the land shall be annotated by the Register of Deeds: Provided, further, That the socialized housing development plan has already been approved by the appropriate government agencies concerned: Provided, finally, That all the savings acquired by virtue of this provision shall accrue in favor of the beneficiaries subject to the implementing guidelines to be issued by the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.

Appropriate implementing guidelines shall be prepared by the Department of Finance, in consultation with the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, for the proper implementation of the tax exemption mentioned in this section within one (1) year after the approval of this Act.

Property owners who voluntarily provide resettlement sites to illegal occupants of their lands shall be entitled to a tax credit equivalent to the actual non-recoverable expenses incurred in the resettlement, subject to the implementing guidelines jointly issued by the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and the Department of Finance.

Section 21. Basic Services. - Socialized housing or resettlement areas shall be provided by the local government unit or the National Housing Authority in cooperation with the private developers and concerned agencies with the following basic services and facilities:

a) Potable water;

b) Power and electricity and an adequate power distribution system;

c) Sewerage facilities and an efficient and adequate solid waste disposal system; and

d) Access to primary roads and transportation facilities.

The provision of other basic services and facilities such as health, education, communication, security, recreation, relief and welfare shall be planned and shall be given priority for implementation by the local government unit and concerned agencies in cooperation with the private sector and the beneficiaries themselves.

The local government unit, in coordination with the concerned national agencies, shall ensure that these basic services are provided at the most cost-efficient rates, and shall set a mechanism to coordinate operationally the thrusts, objectives and activities of other government agencies concerned with providing basic services to housing projects.

Section 22. Livelihood Component. - To the extent feasible, socialized housing and resettlement projects shall be located near areas where employment opportunities are accessible. The government agencies dealing with the development of livelihood programs and grant of livelihood loans shall give priority to the beneficiaries of the Program.

Section 23. Participation of Beneficiaries. - The local government units, in coordination with the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor and concerned government agencies, shall afford Program beneficiaries or their duly designated representatives an opportunity to be heard and to participate in the decision-making process over matters involving the protection and promotion of their legitimate collective interests which shall include appropriate documentation and feedback mechanisms. They shall also be encouraged to organize themselves and undertake self-help cooperative housing and other livelihood activities. They shall assist the Government in preventing the incursions of professional squatters and members of squatting syndicates into their communities. Lawcenter.ph

In instances when the affected beneficiaries have failed to organize themselves or form an alliance within a reasonable period prior to the implementation of the program or projects affecting them, consultation between the implementing agency and the affected beneficiaries shall be conducted with the assistance of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor and the concerned non-government organization.

Section 24. Consultation with Private Sector. - Opportunities for adequate consultation shall be accorded to the private sector involved in socialized housing project pursuant to this Act. Lawcenter.ph

ARTICLE VI
AREAS FOR PRIORITY DEVELOPMENT, ZONAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, SITES AND SLUM IMPROVEMENT AND RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM SITES

Section 25. Benefits. - In addition to the benefits provided under existing laws and other related issuances to occupants of areas for priority development, zonal improvement program sites and slum improvement and resettlement program site, such occupants shall be entitled to priority in all government projects initiated pursuant to this Act. They shall also be entitled to the following support services: Lawcenter.ph

a) Land surveys and titling at minimal cost;

b) Liberalized terms on credit facilities and housing loans and one hundred percent (100%) deduction from every homebuyer’s gross income tax of all interest payments made on documented loans incurred for the construction or purchase of the homebuyer’s house;

c) Exemption from the payment of documentary stamp tax, registration fees, and other fees for the issuance of transfer certificate of titles;

d) Basic services as provided for in Section 21 of this Act; and

e) Such other benefits that may arise from the implementation of this Act.

ARTICLE VII
URBAN RENEWAL AND RESETTLEMENT

Section 26. Urban Renewal and Resettlement. - This shall include the rehabilitation and development of blighted and slum areas and the resettlement of Program beneficiaries in accordance with the provisions of this Act. On-site development shall be implemented whenever possible in order to ensure minimum movement of occupants of blighted lands and slum areas. The resettlement of the beneficiaries of the Program from their existing places of occupancy shall be undertaken only when on-site development is not feasible and after compliance with the procedures laid down in Section 28 of this Act.

Section 27. Action Against Professional Squatters and Squatting Syndicates. - The local government units, in cooperation with the Philippine National Police, the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), and the PCUP-accredited urban poor organization in the area, shall adopt measures to identify and effectively curtail the nefarious and illegal activities of professional squatters and squatting syndicates, as herein defined.

Any person or group identified as such shall be summarily evicted and their dwellings or structures demolished, and shall be disqualified to avail of the benefits of the Program. A public official who tolerates or abets the commission of the abovementioned acts shall be dealt with in accordance with existing laws.

For purposes of this Act, professional squatters or members of squatting syndicates shall be imposed the penalty of six (6) years imprisonment or a fine of not less than Sixty thousand pesos (P60,000) but not more than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000), or both, at the discretion of the court.

Section 28. Eviction and Demolition.- Eviction or demolition as a practice shall be discouraged. Eviction or demolition, however, may be allowed under the following situations:

(a) When persons or entities occupy danger areas such as esteros, railroad tracks, garbage dumps, riverbanks, shorelines, waterways, and other public places such as sidewalks, roads, parks, and playgrounds; Lawcenter.ph

(b) When government infrastructure projects with available funding are about to be implemented; or

(c) When there is a court order for eviction and demolition.

In the execution of eviction or demolition orders involving underprivileged and homeless citizens, the following shall be mandatory:

(1) Notice upon the effected persons or entities at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of eviction or demolition;

(2) Adequate consultations on the matter of resettlement with the duly designated representatives of the families to be resettled and the affected communities in the areas where they are to be relocated;

(3) Presence of local government officials or their representatives during eviction or demolition;

(4) Proper identification of all persons taking part in the demolition;

(5) Execution of eviction or demolition only during regular office hours from Mondays to Fridays and during good weather, unless the affected families consent otherwise;

(6) No use of heavy equipment for demolition except for structures that are permanent and of concrete materials;

(7) Proper uniforms for members of the Philippine National Police who shall occupy the first line of law enforcement and observe proper disturbance control procedures; and

ARTICLE VIII
COMMUNITY MORTGAGE PROGRAM

Section 31. Definition. – The Community Mortgage Program (CMP) is a mortgage financing program of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation which assists legally organized associations of underprivileged and homeless citizens to purchase and develop a tract of land under the concept of community ownership. The primary objective of the program is to assist residents of blighted or depressed areas to own the lots they occupy, or where they choose to relocate to, and eventually improve their neighborhood and homes to the extent of their affordability.

Section 32. Incentives. - To encourage its wider implementation, participants in the CMP shall be granted with the following privileges or incentives: Lawcenter.ph

(a) Government-owned or controlled corporations and local government units, may dispose of their idle lands suitable for socialized housing under the CMP through negotiated salt at prices based on acquisition cost plus financial carrying costs;

(b) Properties sold under the CMP shall be exempted from the capital gains tax; and

(c) Beneficiaries under the CMP shall not be evicted nor dispossessed of their lands or improvements unless they have incurred arrearages in payments of amortizations for three (3) months.

Section 33. Organization of Beneficiaries. – Beneficiaries of the Program shall be responsible for their organization into associations to manage their subdivisions or places of residence, to secure housing loans under existing Community Mortgage Program and such other projects beneficial to them. Subject to such rules and regulations to be promulgated by the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation, associations organized pursuant to this Act may collectively acquire and own lands covered by this Program. Where the beneficiaries fail to form an association by and among themselves, the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation shall initiate the organization of the same in coordination with the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor and the local government units concerned. No person who is not a bona fide resident of the area shall be a member or officer of such association.

ARTICLE IX
RELATED STRATEGIES

Section 34. Promotion of Indigenous Housing Materials and Technologies. - The local government units, in cooperation with the National Housing Authority, Technology and Livelihood Resource Center, and other concerned agencies, shall promote the production and use of indigenous, alternative, and low-cost construction materials and technologies for socialized housing.

Section 35. Transport System. - The local government units, in coordination with the Departments of Transportation and Communications, Budget and Management, Trade and Industry, Finance, and Public Works and Highways, the Home Insurance Guaranty Corporation, and other concerned government agencies, shall device a set of mechanisms including incentives to the private sector so that a viable transport system shall evolve and develop in the urban areas. It shall also formulate standards designed to attain these objectives:

(a) Smooth flow traffic;

(b) Safety and convenience of travel;

(c) Minimum use of land space; Lawcenter.ph

(d) Minimum damage to the physical environment; and

(e) Adequate and efficient transport service to the people and goods at minimum cost.

Section 36. Ecological Balance. - The local government units shall coordinate with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in taking measures that will plan and regulate urban activities for the conservation and protection of vital, unique and sensitive ecosystems, scenic landscapes, cultural sites and other similar resource areas.

To make the implementation of this function more effective, the active participation of the citizenry in environmental rehabilitation and in decision-making process shall be promoted and encouraged. The local government units shall recommend to the Environment and Management Bureau the immediate closure of factories, mines and transport companies which are found to be causing massive pollution.

Section 37. Population Movements. - The local government units shall set up an effective mechanism, together with the appropriate agencies like the Population Commission, the National Economic and Development Authority and the National Statistics Office, to monitor trends in the movements of population from rural to urban, urban to urban, and urban to rural areas. They shall identify measures by which such movements can be influenced to achieve balance between urban capabilities and population, to direct appropriate segments of the population into areas where they can have access to opportunities to improve their lives and to contribute to national growth and recommend proposed legislation to Congress, if necessary.

The Population Commission, the National Economic and Development Authority, and the National Statistics Office shall likewise provide advanced planning information to national and local government planners on population projections and the consequent level of services needed in particular urban and urbanizable areas. This service will include early-warning systems on expected dysfunctions in a particular urban area due to population increases, decreases, or age structure changes.

Section 38. Urban-rural Interdependence. - To minimize rural to urban migration and pursue urban decentralization, the local government units shall coordinate with the National Economic and Development Authority and other government agencies in the formulation of national development programs that will stimulate economic growth and promote socioeconomic development in the countryside. Lawcenter.ph

ARTICLE X
PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

Section 39. Role of Local Government Units. - The local government units shall be charged with the implementation of this Act in their respective localities, in coordination with the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, the national housing agencies, the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, the private sector and other non-government organizations.
They shall prepare a comprehensive land use plan for their respective localities in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

Section 40. Role of Government Housing Agencies. - In addition to their respective existing powers and functions, and those provided for in this Act, the hereunder mentioned housing agencies shall perform the following:

(a) The Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council shall, through the key housing agencies, provide local government units with necessary support such as:

(1) Formulation of standards and guidelines as well as providing technical support in the preparation of town and land use plans;

(2) In coordination with the National Economic and Development Authority and the National Statistics Office, provide data and information for forward-planning by the local government units in their areas, particularly on projections as to the population and development trends in their localities and the corresponding investment programs needed to provide appropriate types and levels of infrastructure, utilities, services and land use patterns; and

(3) Assistance in obtaining funds and other resources needed in the urban development and housing programs in their areas or responsibility.

(b) The National Housing Authority, upon request of local government units, shall provide technical and other forms of assistance in the implementation of their respective urban development and housing programs with the objective of augmenting and enhancing local government capabilities in the provision of housing benefits to their constituents;

(c) The National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation shall administer the Community Mortgage Program under this Act and promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act; and Lawcenter.ph

(d) The Home Insurance Guaranty Corporation shall design an appropriate guarantee scheme to encourage financial institutions to go into direct lending for housing.

Section 41. Annual Report. - The Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and the local government units shall submit a detailed annual report with respect to the implementation of this Act to the President and the Congress of the Republic of the Philippines.

ARTICLE XI
FUNDING

Section 42. Funding. - Funds for the urban development and housing program shall come from the following sources:

(a) A minimum of fifty percent (50%) from the annual net income of the Public Estates Authority, to be used by the National Housing Authority to carry out its programs of land acquisition for resettlement purposes under this Act;

(b) Proceeds from the disposition of ill-gotten wealth, not otherwise previously set aside for any other purpose, shall be applied to the implementation of this Act and shall be administered by the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation;

(c) Loans, grants, bequests and donations, whether from local or foreign sources;
(d) Flotation of bonds, subject to the guidelines to be set by the Monetary Board;

(e) Proceeds from the social housing tax and, subject to the concurrence of the local government units concerned, idle lands tax as provided in Section 236 of the Local Government Code of 1991 and other existing laws;

(f) Proceeds from the sale of disposition of alienable public lands in urban areas; and

(g) Domestic and foreign investment or financing through appropriate arrangements like the build-operate-and-transfer scheme.

Section 43. Socialized Housing Tax. – Consistent with the constitutional principle that the ownership and enjoyment pf property bear a social function and to raise funds from the Program, all local government units are hereby authorized to impose an additional one-half percent (0.5%) tax on the assessed value of all lands in urban areas in excess of Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000). Lawcenter.ph

ARTICLE XII
TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

Section 44. Moratorium on Eviction and Demolition. - There shall be a moratorium on the eviction of all program beneficiaries and on the demolition of their houses or dwelling units for a period of three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act: Provided, That the moratorium shall not apply to those persons who have constructed their structures after the effectivity of this Act and for cases enumerated in Section 28 hereof.

ARTICLE XIII
COMMON PROVISIONS

Section 45. Penalty Cause. – Any person who violates any provision of this Act shall be imposed the penalty of not more than six (6) years of imprisonment or a fine of not less than Five thousand pesos (P5,000) but not more than One hundred thousand pesos (P10,000), or both, at the discretion of the court: Provided, That, if the offender is a corporation, partnership, association or other juridical entity, the penalty shall be imposed on the officer or officers of said corporation, partnership, association or juridical entity who caused the violation.

Section 46. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act shall be included in the annual budget of implementing agencies in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and every year thereafter.

Section 47. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Section 48. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules and regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 49. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect upon its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.



Approved,

(Sgd.) NEPTALI A.GONZALES (Sgd.) RAMON V. MITRA

President of the Senate Speaker of the House of Representatives



This Act which is a consolidation of House Bill No. 34310 and Senate Bill No. 234 was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on

February 3, 1992. Lawcenter.ph



(Sgd.) ANACLETO D. BADOY, JR. (Sgd.) CAMILO L. SABIO
Secretary of the Senate Secretary General

Approved. March 24, 1992



(Sgd.) CORAZON C. AQUINO
President of the Philippines

RA 10175: CYBERCRIME PREVENTION ACT OF 2012

If I remember it correctly,the Supreme Court Decision declaring the Cybercrime Law as constitutional, except for certain provisions, came out on February 18, 2014. We heard a lot of discussions from both sides, but do we know what the law really provides? I am posting here a copy of the law from www.gov.ph for your reference. I strongly suggest however that you should also read the Supreme Court Decision so you would know what provisions were declared as unconstitutional.


Republic of the Philippines
Congress of the Philippines
Metro Manila
Fifteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday the Twenty-fifth day of July two thousand eleven.

[ Republic Act No. 10175 ]

AN ACT DEFINING CYBERCRIME, PROVIDING FOR THE PREVENTION, INVESTIGATION, SUPPRESSION AND THE IMPOSITION OF PENALTIES THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012″.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State recognizes the vital role of information and communications industries such as content production, telecommunications, broadcasting electronic commerce, and data processing, in the nation’s overall social and economic development. The State also recognizes the importance of providing an environment conducive to the development, acceleration, and rational application and exploitation of information and communications technology (ICT) to attain free, easy, and intelligible access to exchange and/or delivery of information; and the need to protect and safeguard the integrity of computer, computer and communications systems, networks, and databases, and the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information and data stored therein, from all forms of misuse, abuse, and illegal access by making punishable under the law such conduct or conducts. In this light, the State shall adopt sufficient powers to effectively prevent and combat such offenses by facilitating their detection, investigation, and prosecution at both the domestic and international levels, and by providing arrangements for fast and reliable international cooperation.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms are hereby defined as follows:

(a) Access refers to the instruction, communication with, storing data in, retrieving data from, or otherwise making use of any resources of a computer system or communication network.

(b) Alteration refers to the modification or change, in form or substance, of an existing computer data or program.

(c) Communication refers to the transmission of information through ICT media, including voice, video and other forms of data.

(d) Computer refers to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electrochemical, or other data processing or communications device, or grouping of such devices, capable of performing logical, arithmetic, routing, or storage functions and which includes any storage facility or equipment or communications facility or equipment directly related to or operating in conjunction with such device. It covers any type of computer device including devices with data processing capabilities like mobile phones, smart phones, computer networks and other devices connected to the internet.

(e) Computer data refers to any representation of facts, information, or concepts in a form suitable for processing in a computer system including a program suitable to cause a computer system to perform a function and includes electronic documents and/or electronic data messages whether stored in local computer systems or online.

(f) Computer program refers to a set of instructions executed by the computer to achieve intended results.

(g) Computer system refers to any device or group of interconnected or related devices, one or more of which, pursuant to a program, performs automated processing of data. It covers any type of device with data processing capabilities including, but not limited to, computers and mobile phones. The device consisting of hardware and software may include input, output and storage components which may stand alone or be connected in a network or other similar devices. It also includes computer data storage devices or media.

(h) Without right refers to either: (i) conduct undertaken without or in excess of authority; or (ii) conduct not covered by established legal defenses, excuses, court orders, justifications, or relevant principles under the law.

(i) Cyber refers to a computer or a computer network, the electronic medium in which online communication takes place.

(j) Critical infrastructure refers to the computer systems, and/or networks, whether physical or virtual, and/or the computer programs, computer data and/or traffic data so vital to this country that the incapacity or destruction of or interference with such system and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national or economic security, national public health and safety, or any combination of those matters.

(k) Cybersecurity refers to the collection of tools, policies, risk management approaches, actions, training, best practices, assurance and technologies that can be used to protect the cyber environment and organization and user’s assets.

(l) Database refers to a representation of information, knowledge, facts, concepts, or instructions which are being prepared, processed or stored or have been prepared, processed or stored in a formalized manner and which are intended for use in a computer system.

(m) Interception refers to listening to, recording, monitoring or surveillance of the content of communications, including procuring of the content of data, either directly, through access and use of a computer system or indirectly, through the use of electronic eavesdropping or tapping devices, at the same time that the communication is occurring.

(n) Service provider refers to:

(1) Any public or private entity that provides to users of its service the ability to communicate by means of a computer system; and

(2) Any other entity that processes or stores computer data on behalf of such communication service or users of such service.

(o) Subscriber’s information refers to any information contained in the form of computer data or any other form that is held by a service provider, relating to subscribers of its services other than traffic or content data and by which identity can be established:

(1) The type of communication service used, the technical provisions taken thereto and the period of service;

(2) The subscriber’s identity, postal or geographic address, telephone and other access numbers, any assigned network address, billing and payment information, available on the basis of the service agreement or arrangement; and

(3) Any other available information on the site of the installation of communication equipment, available on the basis of the service agreement or arrangement.

(p) Traffic data or non-content data refers to any computer data other than the content of the communication including, but not limited to, the communication’s origin, destination, route, time, date, size, duration, or type of underlying service.

CHAPTER II
PUNISHABLE ACTS

SEC. 4. Cybercrime Offenses. — The following acts constitute the offense of cybercrime punishable under this Act:

(a) Offenses against the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computer data and systems:

(1) Illegal Access. – The access to the whole or any part of a computer system without right.

(2) Illegal Interception. – The interception made by technical means without right of any non-public transmission of computer data to, from, or within a computer system including electromagnetic emissions from a computer system carrying such computer data.

(3) Data Interference. — The intentional or reckless alteration, damaging, deletion or deterioration of computer data, electronic document, or electronic data message, without right, including the introduction or transmission of viruses.

(4) System Interference. — The intentional alteration or reckless hindering or interference with the functioning of a computer or computer network by inputting, transmitting, damaging, deleting, deteriorating, altering or suppressing computer data or program, electronic document, or electronic data message, without right or authority, including the introduction or transmission of viruses.

(5) Misuse of Devices.

(i) The use, production, sale, procurement, importation, distribution, or otherwise making available, without right, of:

(aa) A device, including a computer program, designed or adapted primarily for the purpose of committing any of the offenses under this Act; or

(bb) A computer password, access code, or similar data by which the whole or any part of a computer system is capable of being accessed with intent that it be used for the purpose of committing any of the offenses under this Act.

(ii) The possession of an item referred to in paragraphs 5(i)(aa) or (bb) above with intent to use said devices for the purpose of committing any of the offenses under this section.

(6) Cyber-squatting. – The acquisition of a domain name over the internet in bad faith to profit, mislead, destroy reputation, and deprive others from registering the same, if such a domain name is:

(i) Similar, identical, or confusingly similar to an existing trademark registered with the appropriate government agency at the time of the domain name registration:

(ii) Identical or in any way similar with the name of a person other than the registrant, in case of a personal name; and

(iii) Acquired without right or with intellectual property interests in it.

(b) Computer-related Offenses:

(1) Computer-related Forgery. —

(i) The input, alteration, or deletion of any computer data without right resulting in inauthentic data with the intent that it be considered or acted upon for legal purposes as if it were authentic, regardless whether or not the data is directly readable and intelligible; or

(ii) The act of knowingly using computer data which is the product of computer-related forgery as defined herein, for the purpose of perpetuating a fraudulent or dishonest design.

(2) Computer-related Fraud. — The unauthorized input, alteration, or deletion of computer data or program or interference in the functioning of a computer system, causing damage thereby with fraudulent intent: Provided, That if no

damage has yet been caused, the penalty imposable shall be one (1) degree lower.

(3) Computer-related Identity Theft. – The intentional acquisition, use, misuse, transfer, possession, alteration or deletion of identifying information belonging to another, whether natural or juridical, without right: Provided, That if no damage has yet been caused, the penalty imposable shall be one (1) degree lower.

(c) Content-related Offenses:

(1) Cybersex. — The willful engagement, maintenance, control, or operation, directly or indirectly, of any lascivious exhibition of sexual organs or sexual activity, with the aid of a computer system, for favor or consideration.

(2) Child Pornography. — The unlawful or prohibited acts defined and punishable by Republic Act No. 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009, committed through a computer system: Provided, That the penalty to be imposed shall be (1) one degree higher than that provided for in Republic Act No. 9775.

(3) Unsolicited Commercial Communications. — The transmission of commercial electronic communication with the use of computer system which seek to advertise, sell, or offer for sale products and services are prohibited unless:

(i) There is prior affirmative consent from the recipient; or

(ii) The primary intent of the communication is for service and/or administrative announcements from the sender to its existing users, subscribers or customers; or

(iii) The following conditions are present:

(aa) The commercial electronic communication contains a simple, valid, and reliable way for the recipient to reject. receipt of further commercial electronic messages (opt-out) from the same source;

(bb) The commercial electronic communication does not purposely disguise the source of the electronic message; and

(cc) The commercial electronic communication does not purposely include misleading information in any part of the message in order to induce the recipients to read the message.

(4) Libel. — The unlawful or prohibited acts of libel as defined in Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, committed through a computer system or any other similar means which may be devised in the future.

SEC. 5. Other Offenses. — The following acts shall also constitute an offense:

(a) Aiding or Abetting in the Commission of Cybercrime. – Any person who willfully abets or aids in the commission of any of the offenses enumerated in this Act shall be held liable.

(b) Attempt in the Commission of Cybercrime. — Any person who willfully attempts to commit any of the offenses enumerated in this Act shall be held liable.

SEC. 6. All crimes defined and penalized by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, and special laws, if committed by, through and with the use of information and communications technologies shall be covered by the relevant provisions of this Act: Provided, That the penalty to be imposed shall be one (1) degree higher than that provided for by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, and special laws, as the case may be.

SEC. 7. Liability under Other Laws. — A prosecution under this Act shall be without prejudice to any liability for violation of any provision of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, or special laws.

CHAPTER III
PENALTIES

SEC. 8. Penalties. — Any person found guilty of any of the punishable acts enumerated in Sections 4(a) and 4(b) of this Act shall be punished with imprisonment of prision mayor or a fine of at least Two hundred thousand pesos (PhP200,000.00) up to a maximum amount commensurate to the damage incurred or both.

Any person found guilty of the punishable act under Section 4(a)(5) shall be punished with imprisonment of prision mayor or a fine of not more than Five hundred thousand pesos (PhP500,000.00) or both.

If punishable acts in Section 4(a) are committed against critical infrastructure, the penalty of reclusion temporal or a fine of at least Five hundred thousand pesos (PhP500,000.00) up to maximum amount commensurate to the damage incurred or both, shall be imposed.

Any person found guilty of any of the punishable acts enumerated in Section 4(c)(1) of this Act shall be punished with imprisonment of prision mayor or a fine of at least Two hundred thousand pesos (PhP200,000.00) but not exceeding One million pesos (PhP1,000,000.00) or both.

Any person found guilty of any of the punishable acts enumerated in Section 4(c)(2) of this Act shall be punished with the penalties as enumerated in Republic Act No. 9775 or the “Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009″: Provided, That the penalty to be imposed shall be one (1) degree higher than that provided for in Republic Act No. 9775, if committed through a computer system.

Any person found guilty of any of the punishable acts enumerated in Section 4(c)(3) shall be punished with imprisonment of arresto mayor or a fine of at least Fifty thousand pesos (PhP50,000.00) but not exceeding Two hundred fifty thousand pesos (PhP250,000.00) or both.

Any person found guilty of any of the punishable acts enumerated in Section 5 shall be punished with imprisonment one (1) degree lower than that of the prescribed penalty for the offense or a fine of at least One hundred thousand pesos (PhP100,000.00) but not exceeding Five hundred thousand pesos (PhP500,000.00) or both.

SEC. 9. Corporate Liability. — When any of the punishable acts herein defined are knowingly committed on behalf of or for the benefit of a juridical person, by a natural person acting either individually or as part of an organ of the juridical person, who has a leading position within, based on: (a) a power of representation of the juridical person provided the act committed falls within the scope of such authority; (b) an authority to take decisions on behalf of the juridical person: Provided, That the act committed falls within the scope of such authority; or (c) an authority to exercise control within the juridical person, the juridical person shall be held liable for a fine equivalent to at least double the fines imposable in Section 7 up to a maximum of Ten million pesos (PhP10,000,000.00).

If the commission of any of the punishable acts herein defined was made possible due to the lack of supervision or control by a natural person referred to and described in the preceding paragraph, for the benefit of that juridical person by a natural person acting under its authority, the juridical person shall be held liable for a fine equivalent to at least double the fines imposable in Section 7 up to a maximum of Five million pesos (PhP5,000,000.00).

The liability imposed on the juridical person shall be without prejudice to the criminal liability of the natural person who has committed the offense.

CHAPTER IV
ENFORCEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION

SEC. 10. Law Enforcement Authorities. — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) shall be responsible for the efficient and effective law enforcement of the provisions of this Act. The NBI and the PNP shall organize a cybercrime unit or center manned by special investigators to exclusively handle cases involving violations of this Act.

S. No. 2796
H. No. 5808

Republic of the Philippines
Congress of the Philippines
Metro Manila
Fifteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday the Twenty-fifth day of July two thousand eleven.

[ Republic Act No. 10175 ]

AN ACT DEFINING CYBERCRIME, PROVIDING FOR THE PREVENTION, INVESTIGATION, SUPPRESSION AND THE IMPOSITION OF PENALTIES THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012″.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State recognizes the vital role of information and communications industries such as content production, telecommunications, broadcasting electronic commerce, and data processing, in the nation’s overall social and economic development. The State also recognizes the importance of providing an environment conducive to the development, acceleration, and rational application and exploitation of information and communications technology (ICT) to attain free, easy, and intelligible access to exchange and/or delivery of information; and the need to protect and safeguard the integrity of computer, computer and communications systems, networks, and databases, and the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information and data stored therein, from all forms of misuse, abuse, and illegal access by making punishable under the law such conduct or conducts. In this light, the State shall adopt sufficient powers to effectively prevent and combat such offenses by facilitating their detection, investigation, and prosecution at both the domestic and international levels, and by providing arrangements for fast and reliable international cooperation.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms are hereby defined as follows:

(a) Access refers to the instruction, communication with, storing data in, retrieving data from, or otherwise making use of any resources of a computer system or communication network.

(b) Alteration refers to the modification or change, in form or substance, of an existing computer data or program.

(c) Communication refers to the transmission of information through ICT media, including voice, video and other forms of data.

(d) Computer refers to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electrochemical, or other data processing or communications device, or grouping of such devices, capable of performing logical, arithmetic, routing, or storage functions and which includes any storage facility or equipment or communications facility or equipment directly related to or operating in conjunction with such device. It covers any type of computer device including devices with data processing capabilities like mobile phones, smart phones, computer networks and other devices connected to the internet.

(e) Computer data refers to any representation of facts, information, or concepts in a form suitable for processing in a computer system including a program suitable to cause a computer system to perform a function and includes electronic documents and/or electronic data messages whether stored in local computer systems or online.

(f) Computer program refers to a set of instructions executed by the computer to achieve intended results.

(g) Computer system refers to any device or group of interconnected or related devices, one or more of which, pursuant to a program, performs automated processing of data. It covers any type of device with data processing capabilities including, but not limited to, computers and mobile phones. The device consisting of hardware and software may include input, output and storage components which may stand alone or be connected in a network or other similar devices. It also includes computer data storage devices or media.

(h) Without right refers to either: (i) conduct undertaken without or in excess of authority; or (ii) conduct not covered by established legal defenses, excuses, court orders, justifications, or relevant principles under the law.

(i) Cyber refers to a computer or a computer network, the electronic medium in which online communication takes place.

(j) Critical infrastructure refers to the computer systems, and/or networks, whether physical or virtual, and/or the computer programs, computer data and/or traffic data so vital to this country that the incapacity or destruction of or interference with such system and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national or economic security, national public health and safety, or any combination of those matters.

(k) Cybersecurity refers to the collection of tools, policies, risk management approaches, actions, training, best practices, assurance and technologies that can be used to protect the cyber environment and organization and user’s assets.

(l) Database refers to a representation of information, knowledge, facts, concepts, or instructions which are being prepared, processed or stored or have been prepared, processed or stored in a formalized manner and which are intended for use in a computer system.

(m) Interception refers to listening to, recording, monitoring or surveillance of the content of communications, including procuring of the content of data, either directly, through access and use of a computer system or indirectly, through the use of electronic eavesdropping or tapping devices, at the same time that the communication is occurring.

(n) Service provider refers to:

(1) Any public or private entity that provides to users of its service the ability to communicate by means of a computer system; and

(2) Any other entity that processes or stores computer data on behalf of such communication service or users of such service.

(o) Subscriber’s information refers to any information contained in the form of computer data or any other form that is held by a service provider, relating to subscribers of its services other than traffic or content data and by which identity can be established:

(1) The type of communication service used, the technical provisions taken thereto and the period of service;

(2) The subscriber’s identity, postal or geographic address, telephone and other access numbers, any assigned network address, billing and payment information, available on the basis of the service agreement or arrangement; and

(3) Any other available information on the site of the installation of communication equipment, available on the basis of the service agreement or arrangement.

(p) Traffic data or non-content data refers to any computer data other than the content of the communication including, but not limited to, the communication’s origin, destination, route, time, date, size, duration, or type of underlying service.

CHAPTER II
PUNISHABLE ACTS

SEC. 4. Cybercrime Offenses. — The following acts constitute the offense of cybercrime punishable under this Act:

(a) Offenses against the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computer data and systems:

(1) Illegal Access. – The access to the whole or any part of a computer system without right.

(2) Illegal Interception. – The interception made by technical means without right of any non-public transmission of computer data to, from, or within a computer system including electromagnetic emissions from a computer system carrying such computer data.

(3) Data Interference. — The intentional or reckless alteration, damaging, deletion or deterioration of computer data, electronic document, or electronic data message, without right, including the introduction or transmission of viruses.

(4) System Interference. — The intentional alteration or reckless hindering or interference with the functioning of a computer or computer network by inputting, transmitting, damaging, deleting, deteriorating, altering or suppressing computer data or program, electronic document, or electronic data message, without right or authority, including the introduction or transmission of viruses.

(5) Misuse of Devices.

(i) The use, production, sale, procurement, importation, distribution, or otherwise making available, without right, of:

(aa) A device, including a computer program, designed or adapted primarily for the purpose of committing any of the offenses under this Act; or

(bb) A computer password, access code, or similar data by which the whole or any part of a computer system is capable of being accessed with intent that it be used for the purpose of committing any of the offenses under this Act.

(ii) The possession of an item referred to in paragraphs 5(i)(aa) or (bb) above with intent to use said devices for the purpose of committing any of the offenses under this section.

(6) Cyber-squatting. – The acquisition of a domain name over the internet in bad faith to profit, mislead, destroy reputation, and deprive others from registering the same, if such a domain name is:

(i) Similar, identical, or confusingly similar to an existing trademark registered with the appropriate government agency at the time of the domain name registration:

(ii) Identical or in any way similar with the name of a person other than the registrant, in case of a personal name; and

(iii) Acquired without right or with intellectual property interests in it.

(b) Computer-related Offenses:

(1) Computer-related Forgery. —

(i) The input, alteration, or deletion of any computer data without right resulting in inauthentic data with the intent that it be considered or acted upon for legal purposes as if it were authentic, regardless whether or not the data is directly readable and intelligible; or

(ii) The act of knowingly using computer data which is the product of computer-related forgery as defined herein, for the purpose of perpetuating a fraudulent or dishonest design.

(2) Computer-related Fraud. — The unauthorized input, alteration, or deletion of computer data or program or interference in the functioning of a computer system, causing damage thereby with fraudulent intent: Provided, That if no

damage has yet been caused, the penalty imposable shall be one (1) degree lower.

(3) Computer-related Identity Theft. – The intentional acquisition, use, misuse, transfer, possession, alteration or deletion of identifying information belonging to another, whether natural or juridical, without right: Provided, That if no damage has yet been caused, the penalty imposable shall be one (1) degree lower.

(c) Content-related Offenses:

(1) Cybersex. — The willful engagement, maintenance, control, or operation, directly or indirectly, of any lascivious exhibition of sexual organs or sexual activity, with the aid of a computer system, for favor or consideration.

(2) Child Pornography. — The unlawful or prohibited acts defined and punishable by Republic Act No. 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009, committed through a computer system: Provided, That the penalty to be imposed shall be (1) one degree higher than that provided for in Republic Act No. 9775.

(3) Unsolicited Commercial Communications. — The transmission of commercial electronic communication with the use of computer system which seek to advertise, sell, or offer for sale products and services are prohibited unless:

(i) There is prior affirmative consent from the recipient; or

(ii) The primary intent of the communication is for service and/or administrative announcements from the sender to its existing users, subscribers or customers; or

(iii) The following conditions are present:

(aa) The commercial electronic communication contains a simple, valid, and reliable way for the recipient to reject. receipt of further commercial electronic messages (opt-out) from the same source;

(bb) The commercial electronic communication does not purposely disguise the source of the electronic message; and

(cc) The commercial electronic communication does not purposely include misleading information in any part of the message in order to induce the recipients to read the message.

(4) Libel. — The unlawful or prohibited acts of libel as defined in Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, committed through a computer system or any other similar means which may be devised in the future.

SEC. 5. Other Offenses. — The following acts shall also constitute an offense:

(a) Aiding or Abetting in the Commission of Cybercrime. – Any person who willfully abets or aids in the commission of any of the offenses enumerated in this Act shall be held liable.

(b) Attempt in the Commission of Cybercrime. — Any person who willfully attempts to commit any of the offenses enumerated in this Act shall be held liable.

SEC. 6. All crimes defined and penalized by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, and special laws, if committed by, through and with the use of information and communications technologies shall be covered by the relevant provisions of this Act: Provided, That the penalty to be imposed shall be one (1) degree higher than that provided for by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, and special laws, as the case may be.

SEC. 7. Liability under Other Laws. — A prosecution under this Act shall be without prejudice to any liability for violation of any provision of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, or special laws.

CHAPTER III
PENALTIES

SEC. 8. Penalties. — Any person found guilty of any of the punishable acts enumerated in Sections 4(a) and 4(b) of this Act shall be punished with imprisonment of prision mayor or a fine of at least Two hundred thousand pesos (PhP200,000.00) up to a maximum amount commensurate to the damage incurred or both.

Any person found guilty of the punishable act under Section 4(a)(5) shall be punished with imprisonment of prision mayor or a fine of not more than Five hundred thousand pesos (PhP500,000.00) or both.

If punishable acts in Section 4(a) are committed against critical infrastructure, the penalty of reclusion temporal or a fine of at least Five hundred thousand pesos (PhP500,000.00) up to maximum amount commensurate to the damage incurred or both, shall be imposed.

Any person found guilty of any of the punishable acts enumerated in Section 4(c)(1) of this Act shall be punished with imprisonment of prision mayor or a fine of at least Two hundred thousand pesos (PhP200,000.00) but not exceeding One million pesos (PhP1,000,000.00) or both.

Any person found guilty of any of the punishable acts enumerated in Section 4(c)(2) of this Act shall be punished with the penalties as enumerated in Republic Act No. 9775 or the “Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009″: Provided, That the penalty to be imposed shall be one (1) degree higher than that provided for in Republic Act No. 9775, if committed through a computer system.

Any person found guilty of any of the punishable acts enumerated in Section 4(c)(3) shall be punished with imprisonment of arresto mayor or a fine of at least Fifty thousand pesos (PhP50,000.00) but not exceeding Two hundred fifty thousand pesos (PhP250,000.00) or both.

Any person found guilty of any of the punishable acts enumerated in Section 5 shall be punished with imprisonment one (1) degree lower than that of the prescribed penalty for the offense or a fine of at least One hundred thousand pesos (PhP100,000.00) but not exceeding Five hundred thousand pesos (PhP500,000.00) or both.

SEC. 9. Corporate Liability. — When any of the punishable acts herein defined are knowingly committed on behalf of or for the benefit of a juridical person, by a natural person acting either individually or as part of an organ of the juridical person, who has a leading position within, based on: (a) a power of representation of the juridical person provided the act committed falls within the scope of such authority; (b) an authority to take decisions on behalf of the juridical person: Provided, That the act committed falls within the scope of such authority; or (c) an authority to exercise control within the juridical person, the juridical person shall be held liable for a fine equivalent to at least double the fines imposable in Section 7 up to a maximum of Ten million pesos (PhP10,000,000.00).

If the commission of any of the punishable acts herein defined was made possible due to the lack of supervision or control by a natural person referred to and described in the preceding paragraph, for the benefit of that juridical person by a natural person acting under its authority, the juridical person shall be held liable for a fine equivalent to at least double the fines imposable in Section 7 up to a maximum of Five million pesos (PhP5,000,000.00).

The liability imposed on the juridical person shall be without prejudice to the criminal liability of the natural person who has committed the offense.

CHAPTER IV
ENFORCEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION

SEC. 10. Law Enforcement Authorities. — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) shall be responsible for the efficient and effective law enforcement of the provisions of this Act. The NBI and the PNP shall organize a cybercrime unit or center manned by special investigators to exclusively handle cases involving violations of this Act.

SEC. 11. Duties of Law Enforcement Authorities. — To ensure that the technical nature of cybercrime and its prevention is given focus and considering the procedures involved for international cooperation, law enforcement authorities specifically the computer or technology crime divisions or units responsible for the investigation of cybercrimes are required to submit timely and regular reports including pre-operation, post-operation and investigation results and such other documents as may be required to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for review and monitoring.

SEC. 12. Real-Time Collection of Traffic Data. — Law enforcement authorities, with due cause, shall be authorized to collect or record by technical or electronic means traffic data in real-time associated with specified communications transmitted by means of a computer system.

Traffic data refer only to the communication’s origin, destination, route, time, date, size, duration, or type of underlying service, but not content, nor identities.

All other data to be collected or seized or disclosed will require a court warrant.

Service providers are required to cooperate and assist law enforcement authorities in the collection or recording of the above-stated information.

The court warrant required under this section shall only be issued or granted upon written application and the examination under oath or affirmation of the applicant and the witnesses he may produce and the showing: (1) that there are reasonable grounds to believe that any of the crimes enumerated hereinabove has been committed, or is being committed, or is about to be committed: (2) that there are reasonable grounds to believe that evidence that will be obtained is essential to the conviction of any person for, or to the solution of, or to the prevention of, any such crimes; and (3) that there are no other means readily available for obtaining such evidence.

SEC. 13. Preservation of Computer Data. — The integrity of traffic data and subscriber information relating to communication services provided by a service provider shall be preserved for a minimum period of six (6) months from the date of the transaction. Content data shall be similarly preserved for six (6) months from the date of receipt of the order from law enforcement authorities requiring its preservation.

Law enforcement authorities may order a one-time extension for another six (6) months: Provided, That once computer data preserved, transmitted or stored by a service provider is used as evidence in a case, the mere furnishing to such service provider of the transmittal document to the Office of the Prosecutor shall be deemed a notification to preserve the computer data until the termination of the case.

The service provider ordered to preserve computer data shall keep confidential the order and its compliance.

SEC. 14. Disclosure of Computer Data. — Law enforcement authorities, upon securing a court warrant, shall issue an order requiring any person or service provider to disclose or submit subscriber’s information, traffic data or relevant data in his/its possession or control within seventy-two (72) hours from receipt of the order in relation to a valid complaint officially docketed and assigned for investigation and the disclosure is necessary and relevant for the purpose of investigation.

SEC. 15. Search, Seizure and Examination of Computer Data. — Where a search and seizure warrant is properly issued, the law enforcement authorities shall likewise have the following powers and duties.

Within the time period specified in the warrant, to conduct interception, as defined in this Act, and:

(a) To secure a computer system or a computer data storage medium;

(b) To make and retain a copy of those computer data secured;

(c) To maintain the integrity of the relevant stored computer data;

(d) To conduct forensic analysis or examination of the computer data storage medium; and

(e) To render inaccessible or remove those computer data in the accessed computer or computer and communications network.

Pursuant thereof, the law enforcement authorities may order any person who has knowledge about the functioning of the computer system and the measures to protect and preserve the computer data therein to provide, as is reasonable, the necessary information, to enable the undertaking of the search, seizure and examination.

Law enforcement authorities may request for an extension of time to complete the examination of the computer data storage medium and to make a return thereon but in no case for a period longer than thirty (30) days from date of approval by the court.

SEC. 16. Custody of Computer Data. — All computer data, including content and traffic data, examined under a proper warrant shall, within forty-eight (48) hours after the expiration of the period fixed therein, be deposited with the court in a sealed package, and shall be accompanied by an affidavit of the law enforcement authority executing it stating the dates and times covered by the examination, and the law enforcement authority who may access the deposit, among other relevant data. The law enforcement authority shall also certify that no duplicates or copies of the whole or any part thereof have been made, or if made, that all such duplicates or copies are included in the package deposited with the court. The package so deposited shall not be opened, or the recordings replayed, or used in evidence, or then contents revealed, except upon order of the court, which shall not be granted except upon motion, with due notice and opportunity to be heard to the person or persons whose conversation or communications have been recorded.

SEC. 17. Destruction of Computer Data. — Upon expiration of the periods as provided in Sections 13 and 15, service providers and law enforcement authorities, as the case may be, shall immediately and completely destroy the computer data subject of a preservation and examination.

SEC. 18. Exclusionary Rule. — Any evidence procured without a valid warrant or beyond the authority of the same shall be inadmissible for any proceeding before any court or tribunal.

SEC. 19. Restricting or Blocking Access to Computer Data. — When a computer data is prima facie found to be in violation of the provisions of this Act, the DOJ shall issue an order to restrict or block access to such computer data.

SEC. 20. Noncompliance. — Failure to comply with the provisions of Chapter IV hereof specifically the orders from law enforcement authorities shall be punished as a violation of Presidential Decree No. 1829 with imprisonment of prision correctional in its maximum period or a fine of One hundred thousand pesos (Php100,000.00) or both, for each and every noncompliance with an order issued by law enforcement authorities.

CHAPTER V
JURISDICTION

SEC. 21. Jurisdiction. — The Regional Trial Court shall have jurisdiction over any violation of the provisions of this Act. including any violation committed by a Filipino national regardless of the place of commission. Jurisdiction shall lie if any of the elements was committed within the Philippines or committed with the use of any computer system wholly or partly situated in the country, or when by such commission any damage is caused to a natural or juridical person who, at the time the offense was committed, was in the Philippines.

There shall be designated special cybercrime courts manned by specially trained judges to handle cybercrime cases.

CHAPTER VI
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Sec. 22. General Principles Relating to International Cooperation — All relevant international instruments on international cooperation in criminal matters, arrangements agreed on the basis of uniform or reciprocal legislation, and domestic laws, to the widest extent possible for the purposes of investigations or proceedings concerning criminal offenses related to computer systems and data, or for the collection of evidence in electronic form of a criminal, offense shall be given full force and effect.

CHAPTER VII
COMPETENT AUTHORITIES

SEC 23. Department of Justice (DOJ). — There is hereby created an Office of Cybercrime within the DOJ designated as the central authority in all matters related to international mutual assistance and extradition.

SEC. 24. Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center. — There is hereby created, within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act, an inter-agency body to be known as the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), under the administrative supervision of the Office of the President, for policy coordination among concerned agencies and for the formulation and enforcement of the national cybersecurity plan.

SEC. 25. Composition. — The CICC shall be headed by the Executive Director of the Information and Communications Technology Office under the Department of Science and Technology (ICTO-DOST) as Chairperson with the Director of the NBI as Vice Chairperson; the Chief of the PNP; Head of the DOJ Office of Cybercrime; and one (1) representative from the private sector and academe, as members. The CICC shall be manned by a secretariat of selected existing personnel and representatives from the different participating agencies.

SEC. 26. Powers and Functions. — The CICC shall have the following powers and functions:

(a) To formulate a national cybersecurity plan and extend immediate assistance for the suppression of real-time commission of cybercrime offenses through a computer emergency response team (CERT);

(b) To coordinate the preparation of appropriate and effective measures to prevent and suppress cybercrime activities as provided for in this Act;

(c) To monitor cybercrime cases being bandied by participating law enforcement and prosecution agencies;

(d) To facilitate international cooperation on intelligence, investigations, training and capacity building related to cybercrime prevention, suppression and prosecution;

(e) To coordinate the support and participation of the business sector, local government units and nongovernment organizations in cybercrime prevention programs and other

related projects;

(f) To recommend the enactment of appropriate laws, issuances, measures and policies;

(g) To call upon any government agency to render assistance in the accomplishment of the CICC’s mandated tasks and functions; and

(h) To perform all other matters related to cybercrime prevention and suppression, including capacity building and such other functions and duties as may be necessary for the proper implementation of this Act.

CHAPTER VIII
FINAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 27. Appropriations. — The amount of Fifty million pesos (PhP50,000,000.00) shall be appropriated annually for the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 28. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The ICTO-DOST, the DOJ and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall jointly formulate the necessary rules and regulations within ninety (90) days from approval of this Act, for its effective implementation.

SEC. 29. Separability Clause — If any provision of this Act is held invalid, the other provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 30. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees or rules inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. Section 33(a) of Republic Act No. 8792 or the “Electronic Commerce Act” is hereby modified accordingly.

SEC. 31. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

(Sgd.) FELICIANO BELMONTE JR.
Speaker of the House
of Representatives

(Sgd.) JUAN PONCE ENRILE
President of the Senate

This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 2796 and House Bill No. 5808 was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on June 5, 2012 and June 4, 2012, respectively.

(Sgd.) MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP
Secretary General
House of Representatives

(Sgd.) EMMA LIRIO-REYES
Secretary of the Senate



Approved: SEP 12 2012

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III
President of the Philippines