Over 1,400 Nagueños are set to gain land ownership under the Enhanced Community Mortgage Program (ECMP), a community-focused initiative implemented through the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development’s (DHSUD) Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.

The Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), a shelter agency under DHSUD, formally awarded loan checks totaling over ₱65.8 million to 420 beneficiary families across three local communities: Mabolo Village Homeowners' Association Phases 1 and 2, and the Saint Joseph Homeowners Association. This latest turnover brings total ECMP support in the city to over 800 families, with combined financial assistance reaching approximately ₱92 million following earlier distributions to two other partner communities.

Representing DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling at the awarding was Assistant Secretary Johnson Domingo, who joined Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo and SHFC President and CEO Federico Laxa in recognizing the three communities that are now a step closer to securing ownership of the land they call home.

With the latest beneficiaries from 420 families, more than 800 families in Naga City have now benefited from ECMP projects. In June, SHFC also extended assistance to two other ECMP communities in the city, further strengthening the government's efforts to provide secure tenure to organized low-income communities.

For DHSUD, the developments in Naga City demonstrate how the Expanded 4PH Program can respond to the actual housing needs of communities, particularly families who wish to remain in the neighborhoods where they have built their homes and livelihoods.

Secretary Aliling said the continuing rollout of ECMP reflects the administration's commitment to make government housing assistance more accessible and responsive, especially for families who have long sought security of tenure.

"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," Secretary 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.

Mayor Robredo, meanwhile, expressed appreciation to DHSUD and SHFC for their continued assistance to Naga City, describing the Community Mortgage Program (CMP) as a "life-changing" initiative because families can secure their homes without having to leave their existing communities.

"Ang best ang CMP kasi onsite. Hindi na sila mamomroblemang ilipat sila," Mayor Robredo said.

For the beneficiary communities, the assistance represents years of hope finally turning into a concrete opportunity for security of tenure.

Mabolo Village Phase 1 President Rowena Bañas and Mabolo Village Phase 2 President Marissa Ramirez described the assistance as an "answered prayer," while Saint Joseph Homeowners Association Inc. President Nilo Villaflor highlighted how timely the support was, as their community had previously faced the threat of eviction.

Revived in 2025 under the Expanded 4PH, the ECMP is the enhanced and streamlined version of the 38-year-old Community Mortgage Program. It was developed to make government housing assistance more accessible and responsive to the needs of organized low-income communities seeking to acquire the land they occupy.

As of August, a total of 47 ECMP projects have been approved, which will benefit more than 8,000 families in various parts of the country.#