Over 1,000 families to receive long-awaited COEs

More than 1,000 families living on government-proclaimed lands in Laguna, Quezon, and Iloilo are set to receive long-awaited Certificates of Entitlement (COEs), formalizing land tenure under the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.

The COE distribution — scheduled from December 2025 to early 2026 — covers residential sites in Los Baños, Laguna; Lucena City, Quezon; and Jaro, Iloilo City. These areas were designated for socialized housing through Presidential Proclamation Nos. 550, 436, and 1538, but many occupants have waited decades for official documentation.

The rollout aims to convert proclaimed public lands into secure housing sites for qualified long-time occupants. In Los Baños, 764 beneficiaries across Barangays Lalakay, Bambang, and Timugan have been cleared following Local Inter-Agency Committee (LIAC) validation, with COE handover to be completed in three phases.

In Jaro, Iloilo, 216 qualified families are expected to receive their certificates during the holiday season. Another 185 validated beneficiaries in Lucena City will receive their COEs by January 2026.

Officials said the staggered timeline ensures accurate beneficiary confirmation and continued coordination with local governments. They added that securing land tenure remains central to ongoing efforts to provide stability for informal and low-income households.

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) said it will continue working with local government units and national agencies to fast-track COE issuance in other proclaimed areas.