Councilor proposes collective land ownership for Davao City's urban poor housing

A Davao City councilor is seeking an ordinance that would place land acquired for socialized housing under collective community ownership rather than issuing individual titles to urban poor families, Mindanao Times reported.

City Councilor Temujin B. Ocampo introduced the proposed "Davao City Urban Poor Collective Land Tenure Ordinance" through a privilege speech during the regular session of the 21st City Council on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Ocampo argued that individual titling makes poor households vulnerable to distress sales, predatory developers and forced displacement. He said that poverty pushes many families to sell their titled lots, after which they often return to riverbanks, hazard-prone slopes or new informal settlements.

"Housing is not a mere commodity; it is a fundamental human right and the bedrock of human dignity," Ocampo said.

Under the measure, the city would acquire land through a Collective Land Acquisition Program (CLAP), backed by Master Titles and Community Land Trusts (CLTs). According to Ocampo, land bought for socialized housing would remain under collective ownership in perpetuity.

Instead of individual titles, families would be issued long-term Certificates of Occupancy and Usufruct Rights (COUR). Ocampo said these would secure their homes while shielding the land from market speculation.

The proposal also creates a Davao City Collective Socialized Housing Trust Fund, which would draw on an initial seed allocation, development funds and collections from the idle land tax. The fund would cover land acquisition and site development, as well as direct equity subsidies for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and single parents.

The proposed ordinance was considered read on first reading and referred to the council's Committee on Housing, Rural, and Urban Development (Socialized Housing Projects) for further deliberation.