Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling on Sunday said beneficiaries under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program expressed gratitude to the administration for distributing Certificates of Lot Award (CELA) after decades of waiting, as more poor families benefit from the flagship housing initiative.

Aliling said representatives from accredited homeowners’ associations (HOAs), who are beneficiaries of the Enhanced Community Mortgage Program (ECMP), personally received their CELAs from the President during the recently concluded National Housing Expo 2025.

“Masayang-masaya kami... isa ito sa mga naging daan para magkaroon kami ng sarili naming bahay,” said Noli Parcon, who represented the Megaville 2 HOA in Barangay Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City. He said he was moved by the President’s sincerity in personally distributing the CELAs, which provided security to informal settlers.

(“We are very happy… this is one of the ways we were able to have our own house.”)

“Natuwa ako na siya naging Pangulo natin... Nakikita niya po pangangailangan ng tao... hindi niya tinataboy palabas, hindi niya nire-relocate sa mga malalayo. Kaya sa termino niya, nagkaroon ng katuparan itong... pangarap namin para magkaroon ng bahay,” he added. (“I am happy that he became our President… He sees the needs of the people… he doesn’t drive them away or relocate them far. That’s why in his term, this dream of ours to have our own house came true.”)

Among those who waited decades for this milestone was Erlinda Asiao of Pasig, who described the day as deeply emotional as she finally received her CELA after more than 25 years.

“Actually, natutuwa talaga kami... for almost 25 years na kami nakatira sa lugar namin sa Pasig. Ngayon lang talaga nagkaroon ng katuparan na magkaroon na kami ng sariling papel... nag-uumapaw kami sa galak, sa tuwa,” she said. (“We are really happy… we’ve lived in Pasig for almost 25 years. It’s only now that we’ve finally gotten our own papers… we are overflowing with joy.”)

“Natutuwa kami, lalong-lalo na sa’ting mahal na Pangulo, si Ferdinand Marcos Jr., binigyan niya ng pansin yung sitwasyon namin... at ganoon din po si Secretary Ramon Aliling... lahat ng sinabi niya sa amin, lahat ng pinangako niya—ito na nga, ito na po yung araw ng katuparan,” Asiao added.

(“We’re grateful, especially to our beloved President, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who paid attention to our situation… and also to Secretary Ramon Aliling… everything he told us, everything he promised—this is the day it has finally come true.”)

For Amy Honrado of Wawang Pulo HOA in Valenzuela City, the certificate brought peace of mind after years of fear and uncertainty.

“Akala namin talaga hindi na siya mate-take out... Iniisip namin baka bigla na lang kami mapaalis. Pero ito na nga, dumating na nga yung point na mate-take out na kami... ang saya-saya, overwhelming, parang iba yung pakiramdam kasi nandito kami, makakaharap namin yung Presidente… Sana po tuloy-tuloy po yung pagtulong niya sa tao,” she said.

(“We really thought it would never be taken out… We feared we’d be forced to leave. But now, the time has come… we’re so happy, it’s overwhelming, especially since we got to meet the President… I hope his help for the people continues.”)

“Super saya po kasi after how many years na paghihintay namin... hindi po biro ang mangupahan dahil sa taas ng mga presyo ng bilihin. At last, nakamit na po namin yung aming dream na magkaroon ng sariling bahay at lupa,” shared Nallie Villegas, also from the same HOA.

(“We’re super happy after so many years of waiting… renting is no joke with today’s high prices. At last, we’ve achieved our dream of owning a home and lot.”)

Upon his assumption last May, Aliling revived the pro-poor and people-centric ECMP in compliance with President Marcos Jr.’s directive to expand the 4PH program to benefit more families, particularly informal settler families and the working class. About 5,000 families are targeted to benefit from 34 ECMP projects spearheaded by the Social Housing Finance Corporation.