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CHIZ SAYS FREE HOUSING THROUGH USUFRUCT TO BENEFIT MILLIONS OF LOW-INCOME FILIPINOSSenator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said ...
28/08/2026

CHIZ SAYS FREE HOUSING THROUGH USUFRUCT TO BENEFIT MILLIONS OF LOW-INCOME FILIPINOS

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said that millions of low-income Filipinos stand to benefit from a legislation institutionalizing free housing through usufruct, a legal arrangement that grants families the right to occupy and enjoy government land and housing without owning them.

“Through usufruct, this bill seeks to grant Filipino families the right to occupy, use, and enjoy government land and improvements for residential purposes, while ownership remains with the State,” Escudero told colleagues in his sponsorship of Senate Bill No. 2421 or the Free Housing Through Usufruct Act under Committee Report No. 79 on Wednesday.

The senator explained that only underprivileged, homeless citizens who do not own real property and have no affiliation with squatting syndicates will qualify.

“Nakalatag sa Section 5 kung sinu-sino ang maaaring makinabang sa sapat at disenteng pabahay sa ilalim ng panukalang ito: mga Pilipinong kapos sa buhay at walang sariling tahanan, walang pag-aaring real property, at hindi professional squatter o miyembro ng squatting syndicate,” Escudero said.

Each usufruct agreement, he added, will be covered by a written contract detailing rights and obligations, including maintenance of the property and payment of utilities.

The veteran legislator emphasized that the housing units are strictly for residential use and warned that occupants cannot sell, transfer, mortgage, or rent out the units to others—acts that will cancel their right to use the property and ban them from government housing program for 10 years.

SB 2421 also requires registration of usufruct contracts with the Registry of Deeds, ensuring transparency and legal protection for beneficiaries. The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) will monitor implementation, while local government units will manage properties and guarantee access to basic services.

According to Escudero, the bill is designed to prevent abuse while securing tenure for genuine beneficiaries. “Ang bawat usufruct agreement naman ay nakapaloob sa isang nakasulat na kontrata kung saan nakasaad ang kanilang mga karapatan at obligasyon, pati ang mga kondisyon para sa patuloy na paggamit at pakikinabang sa ari-arian.”

The senator said the concept of usufruct dates back to Roman civil law but remains relevant today as a tool to address the stubborn problem of homelessness.

“Kung ang usufruct ay ang karapatang gamitin ang isang bagay at tamasahin ang mga bunga nito, nawa’y magbunga ang panukalang ito ng sapat at disenteng pabahay para sa milyun‑milyong Pilipinong nangangailangan,” he concluded.

Escudero, chair of the Senate Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement, led the measure’s passage through committee deliberations. It was presented at the plenary under Committee Report No. 79, which consolidated earlier bills filed by Senators Lito Lapid and Mark Villar and now awaits plenary debate and interpellation before moving to the period of amendments.

Magbibukas na sa September 1,2026 ang Kingdome ng KOJC sa C.P. Garcia Highway, Barangay Sasa,Davao City.Libu-libong KOJC...
27/08/2026

Magbibukas na sa September 1,2026 ang Kingdome ng KOJC sa C.P. Garcia Highway, Barangay Sasa,Davao City.

Libu-libong KOJC members at mga Davaoeño ang inaasahang dumalo sa grand opening.

Tiniyak naman ng City Traffic and Transport Management Office na handa na ang traffic plan at magdedeploy sila ng 30 enforcers sa umaga at 30 naman sa hapon.

CHIZ URGES SENATE TO PASS BILL FIXING 5-YEAR TERM FOR BARANGAY, SK OFFICIALSSenator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Tuesday e...
26/08/2026

CHIZ URGES SENATE TO PASS BILL FIXING 5-YEAR TERM FOR BARANGAY, SK OFFICIALS

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Tuesday exhorted his colleagues to act with urgency on Senate Bill No. 2387, which proposes to fix the tenure of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to five years instead of the current four-year term.

Delivering his sponsorship speech on the measure under Committee Report No. 77, Escudero said the Senate must act swiftly on the proposal before the end of September to ensure predictability in the conduct of the upcoming Barangay and SK Elections (BSKE) scheduled this November.

He noted that the filing of certificates of candidacy is already set for next month, underscoring the need for Congress to decide promptly whether the elections will proceed or be reset under the new term structure.

“Mr. President, I ask that the body act on this bill with urgency for or against it, before the end of September, given the fact that the Barangay Elections is scheduled to be conducted this November and the filing of Certificates of Candidacy are slated already in the coming month,” Escudero said.

“Although I favor this measure, I hope this body will give priority to this measure so that we can decide on it and so that there will be predictability with respect to the upcoming elections—whether indeed it will push through or will be postponed in accordance with the new term that will be approved by Congress, should it decide in its wisdom,” he added.

The veteran legislator explained that the Constitution expressly empowers Congress to determine the term of barangay officials, a policy judgment affirmed by the Supreme Court in Macalintal v. Senate. He noted that the Court recognized the need to balance continuity against accountability, and administrative efficiency against democratic change.

“That is the policy judgment which the present measure asks us to consider—whether, as a matter of policy, a five-year term provides a better governing window than the four years presently provided by law,” he stressed.

Escudero argued that a five‑year term provides a better governing window than the current four years, allowing barangay and SK officials sufficient time to organize, implement, and evaluate programs without the disruption of frequent elections.

“Barangays are planners, implementers, first responders, peacekeepers, conciliators, and frontline service providers—all at a scale where government knows the family, the street, and often the problem by name,” he said.

He added that the proposal is not unprecedented, citing past laws, namely Republic Act No. 6653 and Republic Act No. 8524 that also prescribed five‑year terms for barangay officials. “This bill is a term‑setting measure, enacted in the exercise of the power expressly conferred upon Congress by Article X, Section 8 of the Constitution,” Escudero pointed out.

Committee Report No. 77, jointly prepared by the Committees on Local Government and Finance, has recommended the approval of SB 2387 with amendments, taking into consideration SB 2067 filed by Senator Imee Marcos.

During Monday’s hearing presided by Escudero, multi‑sectoral representatives expressed strong support for the five-year-term. The Liga ng mga Barangay, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), and the National Youth Commission (NYC) all backed the measure, stressing that a longer term would institutionalize stability and break the cycle of frequent postponements.

25/08/2026

May sapat at stable supply na ng kuryente ang Anflo Industrial Estate sa pagbukas ng San Pedro Substation ng Davao Light & Power Co. sa Panabo City, kanina August 25,2026.

Inaasahan na ngayon na dadami pa ang mga international companies na magtatayo ng mga planta sa Panabo dahil sa maaasahang power supply mula DLPC.

Mayroong 25 companies ang nasa 63-hectare export processing zone na kabilang sa mga ini-export at ang mga bola ng tennis, coconut water at iba pang produkto.

Sa pagbukas ng 10-MVA San Pedro substation, umaasa ang Anflocor management na madadagdagan pa ang mga ito dahil may 10 pang area ang bakante sa ngayon at marami na ang inquiries.

Sa Phase 2 ng project, aabot sa 33 MVA ang idagdag ng DLPC.

CHIZ’S BILL FIXING TENURE OF BARANGAY, SK OFFICIALS RECEIVES STRONG BACKINGSenator Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s proposal to...
24/08/2026

CHIZ’S BILL FIXING TENURE OF BARANGAY, SK OFFICIALS RECEIVES STRONG BACKING

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s proposal to fix the tenure of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to five years to ensure long-term stability in grassroots governance has received a multi-sectoral support during Monday’s public hearing of the Senate Sub-Committee on Local Government.

In a committee hearing presided by Escudero, representatives from the Liga ng mga Barangay, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, and the National Youth Commission (NYC) expressed their strong support for the bill aimed at institutionalizing the five-year term and breaking the cycle of frequent postponement of barangay and SK polls.

“My bill does not extend. My bill fixes,” Escudero told the public hearing which was also attended by officials of the Commission on Elections and relevant government agencies, and members of civil society groups. “The natural effect will, of course, be to postpone the upcoming election, but the subject matter of this bill is fixing the term, not just postponement.”

Escudero emphasized that barangay governments, as the frontline of public service, need longer terms to sustain community development, disaster response, and peace and order programs without election disruptions.

According to NYC representative Eriven Nepomuceno, the proposed measure is a “strategic progression to ensure that local officials have sufficient time to implement meaningful community programs and improve public service delivery.”

Councilor Jose Maria Rodriguez, who represented the Liga ng mga Barangay, said they “respectfully manifests its position in favor of a consolidated measure fixing the term of office of elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan at five years and establishing a definite election schedule corresponding to that term.”

Senate Bill 2387 reiterates existing term‑limit rules: barangay officials may serve up to three consecutive terms, while SK officials are restricted to only one term. Those already on their third consecutive term cannot run in the November 2028 elections.

According to Escudero, counting existing terms ensures fairness, preventing incumbents from benefiting from an outright extension.

The hearing agenda also included SB 2067 filed by Senator Imee Marcos, which seeks to postpone the November 2026 Barangay and SK elections to October 2027, citing economic and logistical constraints.

Escudero directed the committee secretariat to draft a report reflecting the amendments and resource persons’ inputs, which is expected to be completed this week for deliberation in the plenary.

“Subject to the amendments proposed by the parties which we shall consider—including the decoupling, the COMELEC’s points on appropriations and the election date, as well as the position of PPCRV and NAMFREL that elections proceed as scheduled with the five‑year term to begin thereafter—we shall reflect these in the committee report,” he concluded.

24/08/2026

Department of Finance Secretary Frederick Go iniisa-isa ang mga economic achievement at program ng pamahalaan at nilatag ang mga business opportunities sa bansa lalo na sa Mindanao, nang magsalita ang kalihim sa Philippine Economic Briefing sa Davao City ngayong August 24,2026.

“The opportunities before Mindanao are immense and require our concerted efforts. Achieving our development goals calls for a whole-of-government approach and strong collaboration with the private sector and development partners. By working together, we can create the conditions for investments to flourish and ensure that the benefits of development reach more communities across the region."

23/08/2026

Mapa-wow ka talaga kapag nakita mo ang napakagandang white sand beach na ito sa Davao City.

Ang beach na ito na napanatili ang ganda ay bahagi ng Aboitiz Cleanergy Park sa Punta Dumalag, Matina Aplaya, Davao City kung saan naroon ang Pawikan sanctuary na nagsilbing harchery at rescue center para sa mga pawikan.

Agricultural Drone sumabit sa kable ng kuryente sa Purok 5, Barangay Maparat, Compostela, Davao de Oro at nagdulot ng bl...
23/08/2026

Agricultural Drone sumabit sa kable ng kuryente sa Purok 5, Barangay Maparat, Compostela, Davao de Oro at nagdulot ng blackout.

Ayon ito sa Facebook post ng Northern Davao Electric Cooperative o NORDECO ngayong 1:00pm, August 23,2026.

Photos: NORDECO

Naglabas ng guide ang Santo Nino College Foundation, Inc. sa South Cotabato para sa gagamiting transparent bags ng mga e...
22/08/2026

Naglabas ng guide ang Santo Nino College Foundation, Inc. sa South Cotabato para sa gagamiting transparent bags ng mga estudyante, g**o, at empleyado.

Paraan ito ng paaralan para sa security at safety ng lahat na papasok sa school.

Photo: Santo Nino College Foundation, Inc.

PDEA RO11, OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES DISMANTLE DRUG DEN IN DAVAO CITY; 4 ARRESTEDThe Regional Special Enforcement T...
22/08/2026

PDEA RO11, OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES DISMANTLE DRUG DEN IN DAVAO CITY; 4 ARRESTED

The Regional Special Enforcement Team (RSET) of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office 11 (PDEA RO11), in collaboration with the National Bureau of Investigation Southeastern Mindanao Regional Office 11 (NBI SEMRO 11) and the City Mobile Force Company (CMFC), successfully dismantled a drug den and arrested four drug suspects during a buy-bust operation conducted at 88 Artiaga Street, Purok 3, Barangay 33-D, Davao City, on August 21, 2026 at around 8:20 P.M.

Arrested during the operation was the suspect identified as the drug den maintainer, alias “Eric,” 60 years old, after he sold one sachet of suspected shabu worth ₱1,000.00 to a PDEA poseur-buyer.

Also apprehended during the operation were alias “Marvin,” a drug den employee, and two drug den visitors, alias “Rodrigo” and alias “Wencesito.”

Authorities confiscated a total of nine sachets of suspected shabu in varying sizes, with an estimated total weight of approximately 20 grams, with a standard market value of ₱136,000.00. Also seized were assorted drug paraphernalia and the marked buy-bust money.

Atty. Benjamin Gaspi, Regional Director of PDEA Regional Office 11, commended the operating units and partner agencies for their successful coordination and collaboration, emphasizing the Agency’s unwavering commitment to dismantling drug dens and preventing the proliferation of illegal drugs in communities.

The arrested individuals will face charges for violation of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, as amended.

-PDEA XI

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