Estrada’s turn to award land for Manila’s landless

Mayor Joseph Estrada

The city government of Manila on Monday awarded land certificates to 79 families under the Land for the Landless program of the Urban Settlements Office.

Mayor Joseph Estrada led the lot awarding to beneficiaries who were described as longtime occupants and owners of the houses standing on the lot they applied for. They were given 20 years to pay the low-cost monthly installments.

More than half of the beneficiaries, or 50 families, came from District I in Tondo. Four families were from District 2 also in Tondo, five from District 4 in Sampaloc, 13 from District 5 in Paco and seven from District 6 in Sta. Mesa.  The Land for the Landless program is based on the City Charter of Manila and the City Tenants and Security Committee Resolution No. 16-A. The city government bought the private properties to be distributed to qualified applicants.

Since 1967, about 85 percent of 92 estates spread all over the six districts of Manila have been awarded. Under the project, the lot awardees should have the capacity to pay and have no landholdings elsewhere. Within two years from the awarding of the lot, the beneficiaries should occupy the area and vacate the premises not included in the award.

The lot awarded cannot be sold or rented for 20 years without the written consent of the mayor, and it should be used for residential purposes only. Failure to follow the conditions of the award will result in forfeiture.—Erika Sauler