MANILA — The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading House Bill 10772, seeking to improve the delivery of socialized housing programs, with a vote of 178 yes votes and 3 negative votes.

The bill seeks to amend Sections 10, 18 and 20 of Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act.

It aims to:

-- include the direct purchase and unsolicited proposals as provided under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Act as modes of land acquisition and creation of socialized housing programs and projects

-- provides that owners or developers of proposed Housing Development Projects specified in the Framework plan shall be required to develop an area for socialized housing equivalent to at least fifteen percent (15%) of the Total Project Area or cost for subdivisions or villages and at least five percent (5%) of condominium or vertical housing area or project cost

-- and provides the manner and more mode of incentives to the private sector for the purpose of Socialized Housing to encourage greater private sector participation and further reduce the cost of housing units for the benefit of the underprivileged and homeless.

In explaining her negative vote, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas said she does not believe the bill will address backlogs in housing, saying the mode of acquisition may serve as "gateway" to opening "more privatized and business oriented housing projects in the country, which defeats the purpose of having a genuine socialized housing."

"These amendments we think will worsen the rising housing production backlogs that we have every year. Instead, this may just give way to more privatized housing which doesn’t cater to those who truly need public housing," Brosas said.

Voting 172-0-7, the House also approved on Third Reading HB 10804, granting Philippine citizenship to Job Callarackal Oommen, a Caloocan parish priest from India.