A hundred families in Lucena City finally received certificates recognizing their right to own the residential lots they have occupied, marking the latest rollout of the Marcos administration's Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., together with Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Sec. Jose Ramon Aliling, personally handed the Certificates of Entitlement (COEs) to qualified beneficiaries in Barangay Ibabang Iyam on Tuesday.

The recipients are covered by Presidential Proclamation No. 436, which was issued in 2003 to facilitate land distribution to long-time occupants, bringing a total of 285 beneficiaries under the proclamation, following the earlier awarding of certificates to 185 families.

The distribution also raised 684 families nationwide who have received either Certificates of Entitlement or Certificates of Lot Award under the Expanded 4PH Program.

Aliling said the government's housing initiative goes beyond building new homes by also securing land tenure for families who have waited years to own the properties where they live.

"Our direction is clear. Not only to build new housing units, but also to strengthen the security of tenure for families who have long waited under various Presidential Proclamations," Aliling said.

The secretary added that DHSUD and its key agencies will continue expanding access to secure and affordable housing for more Filipino families.

"You can count on us at DHSUD, together with our key shelter agencies, to continue working so that more Filipino families can own decent, safer, and affordable homes that will allow them to live with greater dignity," Aliling added.