After months of deliberation in both Houses of Congress, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. 12216 on May 29, 2025, officially extending the corporate life of the National Housing Authority (NHA) by another 25 years, just in time for the agency’s 50th anniversary on July 31.NHA General Manager Joeben A. Tai, who pushed for the law’s passage, expressed his deepest satisfaction and gratitude to the legislators who rallied for the timely passing of R.A. 12216, as this grants the NHA another 25 years of corporate term extension, further expanding its powers and functions to cover housing operations and even support services. DANNY QUERUBIN
MANILA, Philippines – TININTAHAN ni Pangulong Ferdinand ‘Marcos Jr. ang batas na magpapalakas sa National Housing Authority sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalawig sa corporate term nito at bigyang katuwiran ang kapangyarihan nito.
PInawalang-bisa ng Republic Act No. 12216 ang ‘Presidential Decree No. 757, series of 1975.’ Sa ilalim ng bagong batas, ang NHA ay patuloy na iiral bilang isang corporate body kung saan bubuo ito at magpapatupad ng komprehensibo, pinagsama-sama at abot-kayang’ housing programs.
PInalalawig ng batas ang corporate term ng NHA para sa panibagong 25 taon simula July 31, 2025 , nilagdaan nito lamang May 29, 2025.
sa ialim ng administrative supervision ng Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD), dapat na itaas o dagdagan ang awtorisadong capitalization ng NHA mula P5 billion hanggang P10 billion.
“The NHA shall exercise the power of succession, to sue and be sued, and to adopt and use a seal which shall be judicially noticed; and it shall also acquire property rights and interests, and encumber or otherwise dispose the same, as it may deem appropriate,” ayon sa batas.
Sa ilalim ng bagong batas, “the agency is also tasked to develop and maintain a database and census of families and households along waterways, in danger areas, government infrastructure project sites, and government-owned lands in Metro Manila and all regions across the country.”
Kailangan din na i-establish nito ang ‘socialized at low-cost housing loan restructuring at condonation program,’ sasailalim sa mga tuntunin at kondisyon na maaaring itakda ng Board of Directors.
Nakasaad din na “nothing in this Act shall operate to abolish the Authority and affect the validity or legality of any right, duty, or obligation created by or in respect of the Authority prior to the effectivity of this Act.”
Idagdag pa rito, ipagpapatuloy naman ng NHA na gampanan ang lahat ng karapatan, obligasyon at pananagutan na mayroon ito sa panahon na epektibo pa ang original charter nito.
Samantala, aatasan naman ng DHSUD ang Board na ‘deliberate and reach agreements’ ukol sa reorganization ng Authority, alinsunod sa Republic Act No. 11201, lalo na pagdating sa mandato ng Authority at relasyon nito sa ibang key shelter agencies (KSAs) at sa local government units. Kris Jose
