Manila squatters get land

Ninety-nine indigent families in Manila were awarded their own home lots on Wednesday.

Mayor Alfredo Lim noted that most of the beneficiaries were informal settlers who had already occupied the lots given to them.

“You already have houses built there, but the land isn’t yours. Today, your dreams of both a house and lot are finally fulfilled. It’s all yours,” Lim said in Filipino during the turnover rites.

The land certificates were awarded under the city government’s Land for the Landless and Socialized Housing Program, where lots are awarded to qualified beneficiaries through a low-cost sale or by installment basis payable in 30 years.

Wednesday’s awarding brought to 1,291 the number of families who have benefited from the program since since 2007 under Lim’s administration.

At least half of the latest beneficiaries, or 47 families, came from District I in Tondo. Eight came from District II, also in Tondo; one from District III, in Sta. Cruz; 14 from District IV, in Sampaloc; 16 from District V in Paco; and 13 from District VI.