Little by little and step by step, the dream of owning the land they have long occupied is becoming a reality for more Filipino families as the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), together with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), awarded Transfer Certificates of Title (TCTs) to 44 families from the Samahang Magkakapitbahay ng Purok III Homeowners’ Association, Inc. Phase II-A in Marikina City.

Located in Barangay Malanday, the community is a beneficiary of SHFC’s Community Mortgage Program (CMP), one of the agency’s major initiatives under President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s Expanded Pambansang para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program. The 44 title awardees are part of the association’s 124 member-beneficiaries, many of whom lived for decades without security of land ownership.

The awarding ceremony was led by DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling, SHFC President and CEO Federico Laxa, along with DHSUD Senior Undersecretary Eduardo Robles, Jr. and SHFC Executive Vice President Atty. Junefe Payot.

The activity reflect DHSUD’s continuing commitment under Aliling’s leadership to bring government housing services closer to the people. Through initiatives like this, DHSUD and SHFC provide not only housing but also land tenure security for more Filipino families who have long dreamed of owning the land they have long occupied.

In his message, Laxa shared his joy as the awarding of land titles marked the fulfillment of a long-awaited dream for the beneficiaries. “Ito na po ang katuparan ng pangarap ng bawat isa sa inyo na magkaroon ng titulo sa lupa’t bahay ninyo at pangarap ninyo para sa inyong pamilya at sa susunod pang henerasyon.”

Meanwhile, HOA President Cristina Bautista expressed her heartfelt gratitude to SHFC for helping make secure land ownership possible through the CMP. “Taos-pusong pasasalamat sa SHFC sa pagkakataon na maging amin ang katiyakan namin sa aming tinitirhan,” she said. “Malaking tulong talaga kasi pang habangbuhay na ito at mamanahin ng kaapu-apuhan kaya napakalaking tulong talaga ang ipinagkaloob sa amin ng Social Housing.”

Meanwhile, Marikina First District Rep. Marcelino Teodoro welcomed the milestone, expressing his gratitude that the long-standing dream of his constituents to achieve secure homeownership had finally become a reality.

Samahang Magkakapitbahay ng Purok III was established in the late 1990s as part of Marikina’s in-city relocation program. The association received its land acquisition loan from SHFC in 2019. To date, nearly half of its members have fully paid their housing loans, reflecting the community’s commitment to responsible homeownership.

For more information on SHFC projects and application procedures, the public may visit www.shfc.gov.ph or call (02) 5322-7300.