The Housing And Resettlement Office (HARO) is tasked to accommodate urban poor affairs such as

security of tenure, land dispute complaints, ejectment cases, and other queries and make necessary
actions and recommendations regarding the matter. It is also tasked to conduct necessary ocular
inspections, site investigations, and validations of occupancy, and hold community dialogues,
consultations, and other discussions.

The HARO also initiates community organizing and project orientation. It coordinates with
concerned agencies and barangay officials regarding local and national development projects wherein
compulsory relocation of ISFs (or private lot owners) is necessary.

The HARO also monitors the actual demolition of structures and relocation of ISFs to resettlement
areas ensuring that the implementation is following the UDHA or Urban Development Housing Act
of 1992 or RA 7279. This Act aims to provide for a comprehensive and continuing urban
development and housing program and establish the mechanism for its implementation.
Thus, the HARO is mandated to implement Republic Act No.7279, focusing on socialized housing
and resettlement programs for the City’s underprivileged and homeless constituents or Informal
Settler Families (ISFs).

Before the actual relocation, the HARO coordinates with concerned agencies for the provision of
food assistance, transfer of students, and livelihood programs to the relocatees.

Furthermore, the HARO negotiates with the private lot owners for possible CMP Projects and
prepares all certifications for Meralco and Maynilad applications, as a way of assisting with the basic
needs of the Informal Settler Families (ISF).

In line with the battle cry of our beloved Mayor Along Malapitan “ Aksyon at Malasakit” the
HARO supports the vision of our local government - “The historic City of Caloocan, the center of
sustainable economic growth, peopled by resilient, peace-loving and dynamic communities, living in
a safe and ecologically balanced environment, served by a government that gives the highest value to
the needs of the citizens.”

It is our GOAL to provide decent, affordable and disaster resilient, and climate change adaptive
shelter that has adequate facilities for the formation of a livable and socially responsible residential
community.

LEGAL BASIS

The National Government issued a mandate to every LGU for the provision of housing services in
their respective territorial jurisdiction. The legal basis is found in the following statutes and
issuances:

1. The 1987 CONSTITUTION Art. 13. Social Justice and Human Rights

2. SUPREME COURT DECISIONS IN G.R. NOS. 171947 – 171948 (DECEMBER 18,

2008) The ruling is referred to as the “Mandamus” ordering petitioners or the ten
government agencies to clean up, rehabilitate and preserve Manila Bay in their different
capacities.

3. REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10121 The act dictates the integration of Disaster Risk Reduction
(DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) in the formulation of development plans
to address and assess the vulnerabilities brought about by these conditions; inclusive of
these is the City Shelter Plan.

4. THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160) Every LGU
is mandated to safeguard and ensure the general welfare of its constituency. Among the
enumerated basic services and facilities that the LGU needs to provide to its people are
programs and projects for low-cost housing.
HARO coordinates with the NCR Key Shelter Agencies like the Department of Human Settlements
and Urban Development (DHSUD), NHA, NHMFC, HGC, HLURB Pag Ibig Fund which
extensively orients the local government on the available programs, and technical and financing
assistance through loans and grants.

We also have the Caloocan City Local Housing Board which adopts or formulates a continuing plan
for the city-wide housing or shelter program and urban development by establishing a database on
population, land use, classification, and utilization of properties within the city to cope with the urban
problems related to housing and development.

SERVICES

SOCIALIZED HOUSING UNIT / HIGH-DENSITY HOUSING


The HARO coordinates with the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Social Housing Finance
Corporation (SHFC) for the provision of socialized housing units or High-Density Housing Projects (HDH)
and makes the allotted units available to the qualified beneficiaries through a housing loan scheme with
minimal amortization.

ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATIONS FOR ELECTRIFICATION and WATER CONNECTION

UNDER SOCIALIZED HOUSING PROGRAM

To help the Informal Settler Families (ISFs) and qualified program beneficiaries secure certifications of
occupancy instead of Transfer of Certificate of Title (TCT) as proof of ownership, as per the requirement of the
utility companies.

LOT ACQUISITION THROUGH THE COMMUNITY MORTGAGE PROGRAM (CMP)

A financing program of the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) assists legally organized associations
of underprivileged and homeless citizens to purchase and develop a tract of land under the concept of
community ownership. The program aims to improve the living conditions of homeless and underprivileged
citizens by providing them with affordable financing with which they can secure tenure on the land they
occupy and eventually improve their neighborhoods and homes to the extent of their affordability.

LOT ACQUISITION THROUGH DIRECT PURCHASE PROGRAM

The HARO assists the community or the ISF families occupying a certain property to directly buy the property
from the landowner/s and acquire the lot wherein their house structures are built by directly purchasing the lot,
to eventually provide security of tenure to the actual occupants.

LOT ACQUISITION THROUGH COORDINATION WITH THE NATIONAL HOUSING

AGENCIES

The HARO and other National Housing Agencies through LIAC (Local Inter-Agency Committee) provide
tenure through the housing programs of the National Government. Provision of housing to ISF affected by
demolitions and government projects.

ACCREDITATION OF HOMEOWNERS/COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS

The Department evaluates requirements submitted by applicants for accreditation as a legitimate organization
and Issues Certificates of Accreditation to legitimate organizations.

ESTATE MANAGEMENT -BENEFICIARY/IES ACCOUNTS SERVICES AND

MANAGEMENT – Amortization Payment

The Department issues an order of payment to beneficiaries of the Socialized Housing Program who will pay
their monthly amortizations, until full payment and titling, particularly the awardees in the Camarin 1 & 2
Project.
 CENSUS SURVEY OF CALOOCAN CITY INFORMAL SETTLERS AND POTENTIAL
BENEFICIARIES – REQUEST FOR CENSUS SURVEY/ VALIDATION)

The HARO is mandated to conduct census survey in the community of urban poor in all districts of the City to
determine the exact location and number of the informal settler families (ISFs) occupying different areas in
every barangay and to gather vital information/ data relative to their living condition as well as to prepare and
consolidate records of their socio-economic profile. HARO acts on the request for census survey/validation of
specific areas with ISFs.