The local government of Cainta, Rizal, has provided land ownership opportunities to hundreds of informal settler families living along rivers and creeks in the municipality.

Mayor Keith Nieto said that more than 400 families have already been granted lots where they can build permanent homes.

"Actually, this is my fourth housing project in Cainta. We have in Corinthians, Upper Cuatro, 3.5 and in Sitio San Miguel," Nieto told members of the PaMaMariSan-Rizal Press Corps on Tuesday.

"We buy the land, and then we cut it into dimensions that are visible for them to build a house. And we award it to them," he added.

The mayor said beneficiaries will pay the local government for the lot based on its acquisition cost, payable in 25 years with zero interest.

"It's payable in 25 years and zero interest. So, we're just talking about P300 to P400 a month. I'm already dead [by that time] but they have not yet done paying it," he said.

Nieto emphasized that the program is meant to give families long-term security and independence.

"But what's important is that even after I'm done with politics, they'll be certain in their lives that they don't have to join or get involved in politics so that they can retain their houses because by the time that I leave this, they'll own it. They can own it. They're no longer informal settlers [in our town]," he said.

However, the local government will reclaim the lot if a beneficiary is found to have sold it.

"Actually, the selling of their lot is already void. The property will be reclaimed by the government so we can reassign it to someone also deserving," Nieto said.

He added that beneficiaries have a holding period of five years and may sell the property after that, but they will no longer qualify for any future housing projects.