January 11, 2009 04:18 PM Sunday
[ journal.com.ph ]
SENATE Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, assured they would work “overtime” to ensure the passage next month of a new law extending the Rent Control Law or RA 9341, for another three years.
Speaking at the regular radio program of Vice President Noli de Castro yesterday, Zubiri said he got assurance from Senate committee on housing chair, Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, that the committee would prioritize the extension of the law which expired last December.
Zubiri was former committee chair but yielded it to Biazon after a reorganization of the chamber last November that also elevated Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile as Senate President.
Zubiri said he filed a resolution extending the law but deliberation was delayed due to the chamber’s discussion on the 2009 general appropriations and the revival of the investigation on the so-called 2004 ‘fertilizer fund scam.
He added they plan to make the law retroactive at the start of this month when it reaches the bicameral conference committee level when variations with the bill’s counterpart at the Lower House are settled by lawmakers of both chamber.
He said covered also by the measure are boarding houses and “bedspacers” to benefit student and all dwellings where the monthly rent falls at P10,000 and below.
Not covered however, are condominiums and others of similar nature.
The proposal retained the old law’s cap of 10 percent increase per year in the monthly rent. Paul M. Gutierrez
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