The Manila Urban Settlements Office or MUSO shall act as the primary local government entity responsible for the management of housing and urban development within the territorial jurisdiction of the City.
The Manila Urban Settlements Office shall have the following powers and functions to be exercised by itself, through delegation, and/or in partnership with a local government entity or Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), giving due consideration to the policies of National Government Agencies (NGAs) directly concerned with socialized housing and informal settlement upgrading:
a. Develop and implement the Manila Shelter Plan, including related plans involving urban renewal, open spaces and the like;
b. Initiate, construct, and implement housing projects including but not limited to Land-for-the-Landless, Vertical Housing, and Horizontal Housing Project of the City;
c. Initiate purchase or lease lots, buildings and part thereof for Housing, subject to the approval of the Housing Investment Committee;
d. Promote urban housing communities’ development, with due regard to climate change, ecological balance and geo-hazard assessment;
e. Formulate and establish a ONE STOP SHOP HOUSING PROCESSING CENTER of the City of Manila tasked to process all housing related permits, clearances and certifications, including but not limited to land-use reclassification, development permits, locational clearances and other housing related activities;
f. Provide technical assistance to any related housing development project
The MUSO shall be composed of the following Offices:
a. Office of the Director of MUSO
b. Assistant Director of MUSO
c. Personnel and Administrative Services
Personnel Services embrace all those activities relating to the recruitment, training, and retention of the personnel required to run the Manila Urban Settlements Office (MUSO). It also covers codification and administration of the ground rules under which employees operate and develop the skills necessary to perform the MUSO’s functions.
d. Finance and Investments
Finance and Investments Division central function is to oversee the flow of resources among MUSO’s various operating and administrative divisions. It is also MUSO’s primary agent that monitors financial transactions which include payment of amortizations, rental and other fees, interests and penalties in connection with the City’s housing projects.
e. Information and Database Management
The Information and Database Management Division is responsible for gathering, processing, and analyzing quantifiable and relevant MUSO information. Relevant information shall include stakeholders, beneficiaries, its employees, and financial operations, maintenance, and purchasing activity, inventory, landholding, and estates. It shall likewise manage various database of MUSO for applicants, beneficiaries, and estates among others.
f. Project Management
Project Management is in-charge of administration of vertical and horizontal housing projects and developments of the City of Manila, from beneficiary selection, to building maintenance, and implementation of house rules and regulations. A Project Management Team, which shall operate as the Building Administrator and/or Property Manager as the case may be, shall be deployed for every housing project.
g. Planning and Development
Planning and Development Division takes the lead in the strategic planning process for long-range and short-term goals of MUSO. It shall coordinate with other divisions to ensure accomplishment of goals and compliance with the Local Shelter Plan. It shall prepare all physical, social, economic, and institutional development schemes and plans for housing project of the City of Manila, as well as for National Projects being implemented in the City.
h. Legal Affairs
The Legal Affairs Division primarily provides legal services to MUSO, which shall include issuing opinions on questions arising from qualifications of the beneficiaries, assessing, and evaluating conflicting applications of home lots and housing units, as well as processing of transfer and/or Certificates of Award. It shall handle protests, complaints and other oppositions involving awards of lots or housing units by conducting fact-finding investigation, and hearings. It is tasked to issue demand letters or notices in case of non-payment or violation of terms of award. It shall likewise process acquisition of land, which shall include the conduct of due diligence on the property, negotiate with the landowner and draft the contracts and other documents. It shall provide legal support for special projects.
i. Estate Management
Estate Management Division is in-charge of the supervision, management, development, and implementation of the Land-for-the-Landless Program. It shall manage all lands acquired by the City for housing and maintain a registry of the same. It shall ensure proper implementation of all schemes and plans prepared by the Planning and Development Division.
j. Special Projects and Community Affairs
Special Projects and Community Affairs Division formulates plans and programs to establish self-sufficient and resilient communities in all housing developments in the City of Manila. It shall conduct social preparation activities to properly inform and update the affected communities of any developments. It shall initiate projects relating to livelihood, employment, food production and other social services within the housing developments to ensure improved quality of life. It shall implement a communications plan to inform stakeholders and beneficiaries of the plans and programs of the City for housing.
k. Research and Urban Poor Affairs Division
The Research and Urban Poor Affairs Division primarily plans, supervises, directs, coordinates, and undertakes research, and studies/analyses, including but not limited to concept papers, research proposals, policy guidelines, or research studies of the social, technological, economic, environmental and legal profile of bona fide tenants, occupants, and residents in the different landed estates, land, and other real estate properties acquired by the City under the established policies and guidelines under its land-for-the-landless and socialized housing programs, as well as issues related to Urban Poor Affairs.