Payatas Families Say Goodbye to Squatter Label With Land Titles
Pacita Verzonilla’s family has lived in Payatas for decades, and now it holds the land title. “Hindi na po kami squatters ng Payatas kasi mayroon na po kaming titulo,” said Verzonilla, president of the Payatas Clans Lot 2-E Homeowners’ Association.
Verzonilla was among 91 Community Mortgage Program (CMP) beneficiaries from Quezon City and Caloocan who received Transfer Certificates of Title (TCTs) on Oct. 8. In English, her words mean her family is no longer squatters because it now has a title.
SHFC, DHSUD Award Land Titles to 91 Families in Quezon City
The Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) handed out the titles. The ceremony took place at the DHSUD Auditorium in Quezon City.
DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling and SHFC President and CEO Federico Laxa led the awarding. They were joined by DHSUD Senior Undersecretary Eduardo Robles Jr., SHFC Executive Vice President Atty. Leo Deocampo and other senior officials.
The awarding marked National Shelter Month under the theme “Tahanan. Pamayanan. Kinabukasan.” It also showcased affordable housing for informal settler families under the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.
The beneficiaries belong to four homeowners’ associations. Three are in Quezon City: Payatas Clans Lot 2-E, Sandigan ng Maralita sa Batasan (Raquel Property) and Kapatiran Horseshoe. The fourth, Camarin Mahogany, is in Caloocan City.
Community Mortgage Program Brings Security of Tenure to Informal Settler Families
The titles give the beneficiary families peace of mind, knowing they own the land where their homes stand. For many, it fulfills a long-held dream of a land title.
“Napakahalaga ng araw na ito sa buhay at kabanata ng buhay ng mga pamilya ng mga homeowners’ association dahil magkakaroon na ng katuparan ang pangarap na titulo para sa kinatatayuan ng kanilang mga tahanan,” Laxa said. It was a milestone for the families.
SHFC says it has awarded about 1,200 land titles in the past 25 days alone. The pace reflects efforts to fast-track housing services, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive that assistance reach people more quickly.
Established in 1998, the CMP helps legally organized associations of low-income families acquire and develop land through community ownership. Since its inception, the program has benefited more than 300,000 families nationwide.
