QC buys lands for ISF distribution

More than 3,000 informal settler families (ISF) in Quezon City may soon own the lands where they have lived for decades after the city government formally acquired the properties from various landowners.

Mayor Joy Belmonte led the deed of sale signing ceremonies with the rightful owners of the land occupied by the informal settlers.

The properties were bought by the Quezon City government from the Prosperity Industrial Corp., Manila Remnant Co., Inc., and Tofemi Realty Corp., among others.

Said parcels of land are located in the villages of Baesa (24,285 square meters), Old Balara (5,000 sqm.) Bagong Silangan (90,675 sqm.) and Payatas (19,476 sqm.).

“This is the beginning of realizing your long-cherished dream. We will buy the land with the city budget to end your wait,” the mayor said.

According to the City Housing Community Development and Resettlement Department (HCDRD), a total of 3,478 families will benefit from the program. The total is broken into: 2,000 in Baesa; 1,127 in Bagong Silangan; 301 in Payatas; and 50 in Old Balara.

The land bought by the city government will eventually be awarded to the residents through a direct purchase program (DPP).

“In the past, lands were only bought through the community mortgage program or CMP which was a very long process because there were many agencies involved,” she said. “Now, with the DPP, the city itself will mediate and liaise with private landowners so that you can own the lot through a faster process and at a low cost.”

HCDRD said the properties’ zonal value in the four barangays ranged from P9,000 to P18,000 per square meter. However, the beneficiaries from Payatas, Bagong Silangan, and Baesa will only have to pay P3,000 per sqm., and P5,000 per sqm. in Old Balara.

The land acquisitions were made possible through City Resolution 8721-2021 introduced by Councilor Marivic Co-Pilar; City Resolution 8699-2021 authored by Councilor Franz Pumaren; and City Resolutions 8689-2021 and 8690-2021 of Councilor Mikey Belmonte.

The Quezon City government aims to provide permanent housing and security of land tenure to 17,000 indigent and informal settler families by 2022.