SOCIALIZED HOUSING FORUM: SCALING SOLUTIONS THROUGH POLICY, PRACTICE, AND PARTNERSHIPS

SECRETARY ERNESTO V. PEREZ

DIRECTOR GENERAL, ANTI-RED TAPE AUTHORITY

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March 24, 2026 | Ben Chan ArtSuite, Ateneo de Manila University

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JOINT MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR ON HOUSING

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SOCIALIZED / ECONOMIC HOUSING: KEY ISSUES

1. REGULATORY

• Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) (e.g. Environmental Compliance Certification (ECC));
• Land Registration Authority (LRA) (e.g. Land Title, approval of subdivision plans);
• Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) (e.g. Land conversion);
• Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) (e.g. License to Sell);
• Local Government Unit (LGU) (e.g. Preliminary Permit, Locational Clearance, Preliminary Approval Locational Clearance (PALC), Development Permit, Memorandum of Agreement, Building Permit);
• Barangay (e.g., Barangay Locational Clearance, Barangay Resolution)

2. PRICE CEILING

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3. AVAILABILITY OF LAND  

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4. LOW RETURN ON INVESTMENT (ROI)  

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RESULTS OF THE WOG REENGINEERING AND PROCESS STREAMLINING WORKSHOP​

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RESULTS OF THE WOG REENGINEERING AND PROCESS STREAMLINING WORKSHOP​

General findings during the workshop are as follows:

• Physical transmittal of documents adds to the turnaround time of processing applications
• Scheduling of site inspections may add significant delays as inspectors group applications according to their locations. This is in consideration of travelling efforts and costs.
• Scheduling of Committee meetings need at least a day to invite and convene members (DA)
• Redundant verification activity conducted by Receiving / Records Officer and Encoder (LRA)
• Duplicative evaluation activity of applications are being done at the regional level and central office (DHSUD) and approval needs to be secured from the latter.

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SOCIALIZED / ECONOMIC HOUSING PHASES​

1. LGU Locational Clearance, Zoning Certificate or DHSUD Zoning Certificate
2. DA Certificate of Eligibility/None Eligibility for conversion of Agri Lands 
3. DAR Land Conversion
4. PAMB Clearance
5. DENR Environmental Compliance Certificate
6. PHIVOLCS Hazard Assessment Report

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ACQUISITION & PREPARATION OF LAND

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SOCIALIZED / ECONOMIC HOUSING PHASES​

Streamlining of the

1. DAR Land Conversion
2. PAMB Clearance
3. DENR Environmental Compliance Certificate
4. PHIVOLCS Hazard Assessment Report

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ACQUISITION & PREPARATION OF LAND

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% REDUCTION

Steps: 28.16%

TAT: 11.43%

SOCIALIZED / ECONOMIC HOUSING PHASES​

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1. CAAP Height Clearance Permit
2. LGU Barangay Certificate
3. LGU Development Permit (Subdivision)
4. LGU Building Permit
5. DOLE/PRC Certificate
6. NCCA Position as a requirement for DHSUD Certificate of Registration / License to Sell (CRLS)
7. DOE Indorsement
8. NWRB Water Permit
9. DHSUD Development Permit (Condominium)

DEVELOPMENT & CONSTRUCTION

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SOCIALIZED / ECONOMIC HOUSING PHASES​

Streamlining of the DHSUD Development Permit (Condominium)

DEVELOPMENT & CONSTRUCTION

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% REDUCTION

Steps: 53.33%

TAT: 15.79%

GREENLANE / ONE STOP SHOP AND DATA SHARING MECHANISM

PROPOSED REFORMS

DHSUD, together with the DICT and ARTA, shall establish an electronic housing one-stop shop system to enhance the performance of the existing Housing One-Stop Processing Center (HOPC).  Specifically, the system to be utilized by HOPC and its Regional One-Stop Housing Permit Offices (ROSHPOs) shall receive applications, payments, complaints, release housing-related certificates, clearances, permits; and serve as a venue for data sharing among government agencies. 

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GREENLANE / ONE STOP SHOP AND DATA SHARING MECHANISM

All covered agencies and LGUs are enjoined to automate / computerize their databases and ensure capacities for data and information-sharing among concerned departments and offices. This shall include digital archiving wherein hard copies of plans and permits shall be converted to digital copies through scanning or any form of digital conversion for easier retrieval of files.

PROPOSED REFORMS

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STREAMLINED PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS

STANDARD LOCAL ORDINANCES

PROPOSED REFORMS

• Requirements for relevant permits, clearances, certifications from National and Local Governments shall be harmonized to remove redundancies and repetitive submission thereof.

• National and Local Governments are directed to redesign their processes and adhere to the agreed timeline stipulated in the JMC.

• Inclusion of standard guidelines for the creation of local ordinances adopting the provisions of the JMC.

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GENERAL PROVISIONS

PROPOSED REFORMS

• Acceptance of Applications and Requests - The receiving officers or employees shall preliminarily assess the completeness of the application or request. They shall immediately inform the applicant or the requesting party of any deficiency in the accompanying requirements.

• Automatic Approval - All concerned NGAs and LGUs shall approve or deny all applications for clearances, permits, or any other documentary requirements within the prescribed processing periods stated in this JMC. Otherwise, such applications shall be deemed approved upon the lapse of the prescribed period, provided that the application has not been duly denied in writing within the said timeframe.

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• Barangay Clearance - the requirement to secure a Barangay Clearance shall be integrated into the permitting system of the City or Municipality. Under this integration, applicants shall no longer be required to obtain the Barangay Clearance directly from individual Barangays.

• Oversight Committee - An Oversight Committee on Socialized/Economic Housing shall be created, with the DHSUD Secretary as Chairperson and ARTA Director General as Vice-Chairperson, to oversee the implementation of the JMC;  create Technical Working Groups (TWGs) that may include an Advisory Council from the Private Sector, as necessary.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

PROPOSED REFORMS

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The JMC on Socialized Housing was launched in November 2025 and will be officially released in April 2026

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