Davao City councilor proposes collective land ownership for urban poor housing

A Davao City councilor has filed a proposed ordinance that would keep land acquired for socialized housing under collective community ownership, aiming to stop poor families from selling their lots under financial pressure and returning to informal settlements, SunStar reported.

Councilor Temujin Ocampo introduced the proposed Davao City Urban Poor Collective Land Tenure Ordinance in a privilege speech during the City Council's regular session on Nov. 3. The measure was referred on first reading to the Committee on Housing, Rural and Urban Development.

According to the Homeless People's Federation Philippines Inc. (HPFPI), Ocampo filed the proposal after visiting Thailand for the World Habitat Day celebration at the federation's invitation, where he observed community-led housing initiatives in other Asian countries.

Ocampo said housing programs that give individual titles often leave low-income families exposed to distress sales, predatory developers and displacement. "When an urban poor family receives a separate title, poverty often forces them to sell that land," he said, adding that this pushes families back to riverbanks, hazard-prone slopes and new informal settlements.

The ordinance would set up a Collective Land Acquisition Program, using master titles and community land trusts to hold socialized housing land permanently in collective ownership. Beneficiary families would receive long-term Certificates of Occupancy and Usufruct Rights, which Ocampo said would protect their right to live in and use their homes across generations while shielding the land from market speculation.

The measure also proposes a Davao City Collective Socialized Housing Trust Fund to finance land acquisition and development. It would be funded by an initial seed allocation, development funds and idle land tax collections, and would provide direct equity subsidies to senior citizens, persons with disabilities and single parents.

In the same session, the council, through a resolution filed by Ocampo, recognized two local homeowners' associations honored at the Collective Housing Awards at Thailand's Government House in Bangkok. The Kasilak Phase 1 Homeowners Association of Barangay 76-A Bucana placed second among three Philippine awardees, while the Samahang Matute at Soliman Homeowners Association Inc. of Barangay Los Amigos, Tugbok District, placed third. HPFPI said APOAMF of Pasig City took first place.

Separately, the Davao City Housing Office reminded the public to deal only directly with its office on the BALAI Calinan Housing Project, a public rental socialized housing development in Barangay Talomo River, Calinan District. The office said it does not collect membership fees or application payments for the project.