More than 360 families in Iloilo City received around P50 million in housing assistance from the Social Housing Finance Corporation and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development during a ceremony held in Jaro on Wednesday, 4 February.

A total of 367 families benefited from the assistance, which included a check worth over P46.5 million for the land acquisition of the Mirasol Village Homeowners’ Association Inc., as well as a grant amounting to more than P2.6 million.

The awarding was led by DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling and SHFC President and CEO Federico Laxa, together with Iloilo Lone District Rep. Julienne Baronda.

The community, located in Barangay Dungon C in Mandurriao district, is among the first 36 projects approved under SHFC’s Enhanced Community Mortgage Program. Beneficiaries also received their respective Certificates of Lot Award, confirming their ownership of the land where their homes stand.

Launched in July last year under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino, or 4PH Program, the ECMP is a revitalized version of SHFC’s flagship Community Mortgage Program. It aims to provide organized communities with secure land tenure and access to safe and affordable housing through a streamlined, people-centered process.

“Mahirap man ang pinagdaanan ninyo, magandang balita naman ang ibibigay namin sa inyo ni Secretary Aliling dahil mawawakasan na ang inyong paghihintay na makasa-inyo ang inyong lupa,” Laxa said.

The assistance came as a relief for residents who had recently faced the threat of eviction. April Rose Segumalian, president of the homeowners’ association, said the program not only secured their tenure but also restored hope among residents.

“Noong wala pa po ang ECMP, gumigising po kami tuwing umaga nang walang assurance— na baka paalisin kami ng may-ari ng lupa (anumang oras),” she said. “Ngayon, may pagasa na po kaming matawag na amin ang lupang ito.”

Baronda congratulated the beneficiaries, saying the success of the project reflects strong coordination between local and national government agencies.

Four other communities — Centennial Sunrise HOA, Megaville 2 HOA, and Villa Soledad HOA in Pasig City, and Wawang Pulo HOA Phase 1 in Valenzuela City — have also received land acquisition checks and complementary grants under the program.

Several DHSUD and SHFC officials attended the ceremony, including DHSUD Senior Undersecretary Eduardo Robles Jr. and Human Settlements Adjudication Commission Executive Commissioner Atty. Avelino Tolentino III.