4,000 informal settlers in QC to get permanent homes
Published Dec 19, 2021 01:17 pm
By Khriscielle Yalao and Aaron Dioquino
Around 4,000 informal settler families from four baranggays in Quezon City can now call their homes their own after the local government and its partner private companies signed deeds of sale through the city's Direct Sale Program on Saturday, Dec. 18.
The Direct Sale Program is an initiative wherein the city government buys lands within the city from private corporations to offer to informal settlers at cheaper prices, making it easier for beneficiaries to own the land their houses reside in.
The deeds of sale were signed by Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, Atty. Godie Liban, and representatives of each barangay and company.
Beneficiaries of the program include some 300 families in Brgy. Payatas, 1,127 families in Brgy. Bagong Silang, 50 families in Brgy. Old Balara, and some 2,000 families in Brgy. Baesa.
The first agreement allowed the city government to purchase 20,000 square meters of land in the Brgy. Payatas.
Brgy. Councilor Darwin Zepeda, and Edgar Khron of Manila Remnants Company Inc. signed the deed of sale.
From Tofemi Properties, the local government bought 90,000 square meters of land for Brgy. Bagong Silang.
It also signed a subdivision plan wherein they bought 5 hectares of land from Tofemi last year for 530 families residing in Sitio Veterans, Brgy. Bagong Silang.
The subdivision plan will be submitted to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to begin the distribution of titles for the land.
Brgy. Bagong Silang Captain Willy Cara, and Bernadette Halili of Tofemi Properties signed the deed of sale.
The city also signed another agreement with the Elizabeth Elsie Ng Et Al. prperties to grant 50 informal settler families in Brgy. Old Balara the 5,000 square meter land where their homes are located.
Majority Floor Leader Councilor Franz Pumaren, and Housing Community Development and Resettlement Department Chief Ramon Asprer, and Attorney-in-fact Jean Regala-Calalang signed the deed of sale on behalf of Elizabeth Elsie Ng Et Al. properties.
For Brgy. Baesa, the city government bought 24, 285 square meters of land at F. Carlos Medez-Pajo Phase 1 to 5 from Prosperity Industrial Properties.
Councilor Marivic Co-Pilar, Brgy. Baesa Chairwoman Gemma Juan, and Susan Uy of Prosperity Industrial Properties signed the deed of sale.
Mayor Belmonte assured the residents of the city that more deeds of sale will be signed in more barangays, according to the Quezon City Public Information Office (PIO). She added the city will help residents own their lands to reduce evictions.