More informal settler families in QC get permanent housing — Belmonte

Mayor Joy Belmonte in a recent meeting with PWDs, solo parents and ISFs.

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government continues to help informal settler families (ISFs), who have been living in the city for decades fulfill their dreams of having permanent homes.

Over the weekend, at least 100 families from four homeowner’s associations in Barangay Gulod received their land titles, through the direct sale and direct purchase program facilitated by their barangay.

With the help of the barangay, the beneficiaries were able to finally buy the land they have been residing on for decades from private landowners.

Based on the report of the Housing Community Development and Resettlement Department (HCDRD), since July 2019, the city has given security of land tenure to over 17,000 underprivileged beneficiaries through the city’s Land Acquisition and Socialized Housing program. The department also cited that more families benefited at a faster rate than any time before.

“Sinisikap ng pamahalaang lungsod na mapabilis ang proseso ng pagbibigay natin ng permanenteng tahanan at maging in-city ang ating housing program kung saan ang mga mamamayan ay mananatili sa QC at hindi na mapupunta pa sa lugar na malayo sa kanilang kinagisnan at pinagkakakitaan,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

The city has established various land acquisition programs to ramp up and effectively address the housing needs of the residents: the direct sale and direct purchase program, and usufruct agreement for lands owned by other government agencies.

Mayor Joy Belmonte in a recent meeting with women groups residing in different ISF areas.

The direct sale and direct purchase program of the city government has helped 7,620 ISFs to finally own the land where they have lived for years. As of writing, the city has already acquired a total of 36.1 hectares of land in Barangays Payatas, Bagong Silangan, Baesa, and Old Balara.

A usufruct agreement, on the other hand, gives the city government the authority to develop properties owned by National Housing Authority (NHA) which will benefit 6,873 ISFs from the program.

A total of 292 direct sale beneficiaries were also able to receive their land titles. There are also 298 QCitizen families who have benefitted from the community mortgage program in partnership with the national government.

The city government has also established housing units that will benefit 1,176 ISFs, and rental housing for 317 families in Barangays Greater Lagro, Payatas, Nagkaisang Nayon, and Gulod.

A total of 46 units were also established in Bagong Silangan as transitional housing. The city was also able to relocate 1,500 families from danger zones.

“Iisa lang naman ang layunin ng ating lokal na pamahalaan: ang maisakatuparan ang pangarap ng bawat QCitizen na magkaroon ng maayos at disenteng tirahan sa lungsod kung saan sila pinanganak, lumaki, umibig, nagkapamilya, at naghahanap-buhay,” Mayor Belmonte added.

/MUF