Manila: At least 8,100 low-income and informal settler families nationwide have secured land ownership through a land acquisition loan worth PHP870.6 million under the Enhanced Community Mortgage Program (ECMP).

According to Philippines News Agency, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) announced that the loans cover 47 ECMP projects approved during the program's first year of implementation under the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (Expanded 4PH) Program. The program, implemented by the Social Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC), assists organized communities, particularly informal settler families, in legally acquiring the land they occupy.

DHSUD reported that 25 communities have already received land acquisition assistance. This assistance has enabled more than 4,000 beneficiaries to complete the purchase of their properties, marking significant progress in the government's efforts to provide secure land tenure.

Housing Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling stated that the program reflects the Marcos administration's commitment to expanding homeownership and providing secure land tenure for low-income families. The latest approved projects extend the reach of the government's flagship housing program by covering four homeowners' associations in Palawan, Camarines Norte, and Isabela.