Manila: A total of 124 informal settler families (ISFs) in Marikina City officially secured land ownership after receiving their individual Transfer Certificates of Title (TCTs) under the government's flagship housing program.

According to Philippines News Agency, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling and Social Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC) President Federico Laxa led the awarding ceremony for the members of the Samahang Magkakapitbahay ng Purol III Homeowners Association, Inc. (HOA) Phase II-A in Barangay Malanday. The distribution of titles is part of the sustained implementation of the Enhanced Community Mortgage Program (ECMP) spearheaded by the SHFC, one of the key housing modalities revived by Aliling under the Expanded 4PH Program.

On behalf of the beneficiaries, HOA president Cristina Bautista welcomed the TCTs as the realization of their decades-long dream of security on the land they have inhabited for 30 years. "Kami po naging alipin ng pangarap, pero eto na po ang bunga, ang katuparan ng aming mga pangarap, eto (TCT) na ang katibayan, hawak na natin (We became slaves to our dreams... but here is the fruit, the fulfillment of our dreams... this TCT is the proof, we are finally holding it)," she said.

Aliling underscored that the initiative is in response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to provide affordable and safe homes to every Filipino under the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.