53 families end 30-year wait for titles

More than three decades of waiting for land ownership ended Tuesday for 53 urban poor families in Tanauan City, Batangas, as the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) awarded their Transfer Certificates of Title (TCTs) under the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling and SHFC president and CEO Federico Laxa led the awarding ceremony at the Barangay Mabini covered court.

The recipients included 40 families from Munting Paraiso Homeowners Association Inc. and 13 from Kaisahan Village Homeowners Association Inc. Some beneficiaries began their Community Mortgage Program (CMP) journey as early as 1989.

For Eileen Alcansare, president of Munting Paraiso HOA, the title represents the fulfillment of a long-held family dream.

“I’m extremely happy because I can finally say this is ours. This is what my husband and I worked hard for, something I can tell my children: We have a new life, a new home and our own land. These are the things we have always dreamed of,” she said.

Danilo Mercado said owning their home had given him a renewed sense of pride and dignity. He also hoped the government would expand the program to reach more disadvantaged families.

“I can now walk with my head held high because we finally have our own home. I hope the government expands these projects so that even those who have nothing can have a place of their own,” he said.

Munting Paraiso HOA has 135 member-beneficiaries. Of these, 25 had earlier received their titles during the Handog ng Pangulo event in San Juan City last September.

Kaisahan Village HOA, meanwhile, has 849 members. Fifty-one received their titles at the SHFC head office in Makati last year, while another 43 were awarded titles during this year’s Handog ng Pangulo.

Rosalinda Vergara, a Kaisahan Village member, said the title had finally given her peace of mind, knowing that the land she had paid for was legally hers.

“My dream has come true, and I have also fully paid for my lot. I can now have peace of mind knowing that it belongs to me. I am grateful to the social housing officials and everyone who helped me. I am fortunate to be among those given the opportunity to own land,” she said.

Fellow beneficiary Brely Dogelio also thanked the government for making land ownership affordable.

“The cost is really low and within reach. Anyone can afford to own a home. We are grateful that the government has this kind of program. This is a privilege for us. We can finally say this house and land are ours, something we can proudly call our own,” she said.