Pursuant to Memorandum Circular No. 68 s. 2006, as amended by Memorandum Circular No. 147 s. 2007, the following guidelines are hereby issued to facilitate the evaluation, conduct of complete staff work (CSW), and approval of proposed proclamation for housing purposes.

SECTION 1: Objectives

1.1	Facilitate the issuance of proclamations for housing purposes by specifying the requirements, processes and timeframe for the evaluation and CSW by concerned agencies;
1.2	Harmonize the roles and collaboration of concerned agencies, particularly the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the processing of proposed proclamations for housing sites;
1.3	Rationalize the issuance of housing proclamations pursuant to national and local development plans and the land disposition schemes stipulated in the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA), which shall not be limited to transfer of ownership, but to include lease, with option to purchase, usufruct or such other variations as deemed most expedient;
1.4	Encourage the LGUs to be the primary actor in the identification of areas for proclamation as socialized housing sites and in curtailing new occupation and invasion of public and government lands by informal settlers in accordance with the provisions of the UDHA and related policies.

SECTION 2: Scope

This guideline shall apply to all requests for the issuance of a Presidential Proclamation or Executive Order to reserve or designate public land and/or government-owned land for housing purposes.

SECTION 3: General Principles

3.1	HUDCC shall be the clearing agency of all requests for proclamation for housing purposes. All requesting parties, including government agencies shall coordinate with the HUDCC regarding proposed housing proclamations to be endorsed to the DENR and the Office of the President.
3.2	Pursuant to the Urban Development and Housing Act, the LGU is responsible for identifying lands for socialized housing and resettlement areas for the immediate and future needs of the underpriviledged and homeless in the urban areas. As such, as much as possible, requests for proclamation for socialized housing purposes should be proposed or endorsed by the LGU concerned.
3.3	For purposes of proposals for housing proclamation, the proponent shall be required to submit a sketch map and boundary description identifying the proposed area for proclamation. The said sketch map is only indicative and shall be subject to actual and final survey upon signing of the Proclamation by the President. The area and technical descriptions covered by the proclamation may change based on actual ground survey.
3.4	Other requirements by concerned government agencies with respect to proposed proclamation shall still apply.

SECTION 4: Creation of a Pre-Proclamation Committee

4.1	A Pre-Proclamation Committee (PPC) shall be created in areas with public lands or government lands identified for possible proclamation as housing site in order to facilitate the review and evaluation of the same by concerned agencies.
4.2	The PPC shall be composed of representatives from the following offices:

4.3	The PPC shall have the following functions:

1. Conduct joint site inspection and evaluation of the proposed area;
   
   
2. Conduct meetings and coordinate with the proponents/ beneficiaries to assist them in the completion of requirements for the proclamation;
   
   
3. Identify issues and concerns regarding the proposed project, facilitate the resolution of said issues and/or submit recommendation to the DENR and HUDCC Central Office for appropriate action;

SECTION 5: Processing of Proposals

5.1

SCREENING. Proponents of housing proclamation shall submit to the HUDCC a letter-request together with a list of actual occupants or target beneficiaries (certified by the Urban Poor Affairs Office of the concerned city/municipality), sketch map and boundary description of the area/property requested for proclamation for preliminary screening.

5.1.1	Initial Screening by HUDCC. Upon receipt of a request for proclamation for housing purposes, HUDCC shall conduct preliminary screening of the request. HUDCC shall coordinate with the proponent, land owner/administrator and the LGU to evaluate of the feasibility of the proposal within 15 days.
5.1.2	Land Status Verification. HUDCC shall also coordinate with the DENR-CENRO for the conduct of land status verification to determine the classification and status of the subject property based on its existing records prior to further evaluation.

• The CENRO shall complete its review of the sketch map and boundary description within 5 days and endorse the same to the DENR-PENRO.
  
  
• The DENR-PENRO shall complete its evaluation of the submitted sketch map within 5 days and endorse the same to the Regional Office.
  
  
• The DENR Regional Office, through its Chief Land Surveys Division, shall review and take final action on the sketch map within 15 days. It shall then submit its report to HUDCC Central Office.
  

5.2	EVALUATION OF THE PRE-PROCLAMATION COMMITTEE. If HUDCC determines that the proposed proclamation merits further evaluation, HUDCC, through its regional office, shall facilitate the convening of a PPC at the local level.

If the proposed site is found feasible for proclamation as housing site, the PPC members shall facilitate the issuance of endorsement/ clearance from their regional and central offices.

All agencies concerned shall observe compliance with the timeframe and all other provisions of this guideline. The concerned agencies, particularly DOH, DPWH and DENR shall include the processing of clearances for housing proclamation in the respective agency targets and key result areas, and designate focal person to monitor and ensure compliance.

SECTION 6. This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila this 15th day of July in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Eight.


By the President:

(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary