Section 3Sec./Art. 3

Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms are defined as follows:

(a) Abandoned subdivision or condominium refers to a project whose development has not been completed in accordance with the approved development plan despite the lapse of at least ten (10) years from the target date of completion and it appears that said project owner or developer has no intention to complete the project development or, despite diligent effort for at least the last five (5) years, the project owner or developer cannot be located;

(b) Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) refers to the document, formulated by the local government in consultation with its stakeholders, that defines or provides guidelines on the allocation, utilization, development and management of all lands within a given territory or jurisdiction according to the inherent qualities of the land itself and supportive economic, demographic, socio-cultural and environmental objectives;

(c) Housing refers to a multi-dimensional concept relating to the process of residing and the objects of dwelling whose main attributes are location relative to access to livelihood, tenure arrangements, cost and physical structure, as well as their environment. Housing is likewise a physical structure as well as a social structure, functioning at different spatial scales from homes, neighborhoods, communities, municipalities, cities, provinces, and regions. It is also a sector of the economy, an important category of land use in both urban and rural areas, especially in cities, and is an important factor in the overall dynamics of the urban system;

(d) Human Settlements comprise of (a) physical components of shelter and infrastructure; and (b) services to which the physical elements provide support, such as community services which include education, health, culture, welfare, recreation and nutrition;

(e) Informal Settler Families (ISFs) refer to households living in a lot, whether private or public, without the consent of the property owner; or those without legal claim over the property they are occupying; or those living in danger areas such as esteros, railroad tracks, garbage dumps, riverbanks, shorelines, and waterways;

(f) Peoples plan refers to the plan formulated by the beneficiary-association, which shall contain a site development plan that conforms to the CLUP of the local government unit under whose jurisdiction the project site is proposed to be located, including community health, sanitation, and security plans, as well as non-physical development components such as self-help housing cooperative, livelihood, self-help development, capability building, and a system of allocation of socialized housing units that promote and protect the welfare of the elderly, persons with disability, and children;

(g) Public housing is housing that is owned and/or managed by the government for the purpose of providing housing to underserved families;

(h) Urban Development refers to the process of occupation and use of land or space for activities such as residential, industrial, commercial and the like or their combinations, necessary to carry out the functions of urban living. It entails the building or rebuilding of more or less permanent structures over land that is often withdrawn or converted from its original use, resulting in the creation of a built environment; and

(i) Urban Development Planning refers to the process that involves the planning of diverse elements that comprise an urbanizing and urbanized area, including its physical infrastructure, environment, housing, transportation and management of land use and urban growth.

CHAPTER III

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT