More than 1,400 Nagueños are a step closer to securing ownership of the land they occupy after receiving assistance under the Enhanced Community Mortgage Program (ECMP), part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.

The Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), a key shelter agency of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), awarded loan assistance to the Mabolo Village Homeowners’ Association Phases 1 and 2 and the Saint Joseph Homeowners Association during a ceremony Wednesday in Barangay Pacol, Naga City, commemorating Jesse Robredo Day.

DHSUD Assistant Secretary Johnson Domingo, representing Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling, joined Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo and SHFC President and CEO Federico Laxa in recognizing the three beneficiary communities.

The latest assistance covers 420 families. DHSUD said more than 800 families in Naga City have now benefited from ECMP projects after SHFC extended assistance to two other communities in June.

The program allows organized low-income communities to acquire the land they already occupy, enabling families to secure land tenure without relocating from communities where they have established their homes and livelihoods.

“Sa ilalim ng Expanded 4PH, hindi lamang bahay ang ating ipinagkakaloob. Alinsunod sa direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., tinutulungan din nating makamit ng mga pamilya ang seguridad sa paninirahan sa lupang matagal na nilang tinitirhan,” Aliling said.

“Sa pamamagitan ng ECMP, nabibigyan natin sila ng pagkakataong manatili sa kanilang komunidad habang tinatahak ang landas tungo sa legal at pangmatagalang seguridad sa kanilang tahanan,” he added.

Robredo welcomed the assistance, describing the Community Mortgage Program as “life-changing” because beneficiaries can secure their homes without being displaced.

“Ang best ang CMP kasi onsite. Hindi na sila mamomroblemang ilipat sila,” Robredo said.

Leaders of the beneficiary communities also welcomed the assistance. Mabolo Village Phase 1 President Rowena Bañas and Phase 2 President Marissa Ramirez described it as an “answered prayer,” while Saint Joseph Homeowners Association Inc. President Nilo Villaflor said the support came after their community had faced the threat of eviction.

Revived in 2025 under the Expanded 4PH, the ECMP is an enhanced and streamlined version of the 38-year-old Community Mortgage Program.

As of August, 47 ECMP projects have been approved nationwide, covering more than 8,000 families.