Millions of low-income Filipinos could soon access free housing under Senate Bill No. 2421, or the Free Housing Through Usufruct Act, sponsored by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
Under the bill, underprivileged, homeless citizens who do not own real property and are not affiliated with squatting syndicates will be granted the right to occupy government-owned residential lands without transferring title ownership from the State.
To prevent abuse, beneficiaries are bound by written contracts requiring them to pay utilities and maintain the units. Beneficiaries are strictly prohibited from selling, mortgaging or renting out the properties. Violators will lose their occupancy rights and face a 10-year ban from all government housing programs.
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and local government units will oversee implementation, contract registration, and basic services. Escudero emphasized that utilizing usufruct, a concept rooted in Roman civil law, offers a sustainable solution to secure housing for vulnerable families while protecting public land.