The House committee on Housing and Urban Development passed House Bill 165 declaring a portion of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, Barangay Krus na Ligas as a disposable asset for housing and urban settlement.
The bill titled “An Act Authorizing the Sale of Barangay Krus na Ligas to its Legitimate Residents, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act 9500, Otherwise Known as the University of the Philippines Charter of 2008,” is authored by Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. (4th District, Quezon City).
The bill provides for the qualifications of beneficiaries who can be covered by the proposed amendatory statute.
It defines qualified Krus na Ligas residents as “only those who by themselves, or through their predecessors-in-interest, have been in continuous possession and occupation of the same in the concept of owner since time immemorial, or for a period of not less than 30 years immediately preceding the approval of the Act, and uncontested by any other resident of the same parcels of land, shall have the option to secure title under the provisions of the Act.”
The bill amends Section 23 of Republic Act (RA) 9500 or the “UP Charter of 2008” so that the preservation of the value of the assets of UP shall be of primordial consideration.
It provides that the sale of any existing real property of UP shall be prohibited provided that the UP Board of Regents may alienate real property donated after the effectivity of the Act if the terms of the donation specifically allow it.
It further provides that as a matter of specific exception, Krus na Ligas is declared as a disposable asset of UP subject to the provisions of RA 7279, or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992.”
The bill mandates an inter-agency committee headed by the local government of Quezon City and composed of the University of the Philippines, the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the Act, including the determination of the actual metes and bounds and the process of valuation of the area of Krus na Ligas.
The area covered under Transfer Certificate (TCT) No. RT 57197 (192690) shall already be deemed included and part of Krus na Ligas.
The total area shall not exceed a maximum of 25 hectares. Provided, finally, that the total area shall not include any currently existing vital facility of UP.
Barangay Krus na Ligas is a community in Diliman, Quezon City that has been in existence as early as the Spanish occupation of the Philippines. (Congress)
