The local government of the City of Manila distributed land certificates to 126 families on Friday, Sept. 8, at Bulwagang Villegas in Manila City Hall in Ermita, Manila.
Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan led the ceremony, where they formally gave a certificate to all beneficiaries confirming their ownership of the lands where they are currently residing.
The land that was given to the families was the land that is now owned by the city government through the project "Land for the Landless Program".
"Ngayong umaga ay magkakaroon na ng katuparan ang napakatagal na ninyong pangarap, hindi lamang po sa inyong mga sarili kundi sa inyong mga mahal sa buhay (This morning your dreams will finally come true, not only for yourselves but for your loved ones)," Mayor Honey said.
"[Sa] certificate of land award ay magkakaroon na po kayo ng katibayan na mapanghahawakan ninyo bilang patunay na ang lupang kinatitirikan ng inyong mga tahanan ay tunay nang sa inyo (With the certificate of land award, you will have the documents that you can hold as proof that the land on which your homes are located is truly yours)," she added.
Some of the families who were given the land certificates lived in Anthony Torres Estate, Lico Estate, Francisco Tan Estate, and others.
Mayor Honey was also joined in the ceremony by Vice Mayor Yul Servo Nieto, Head of the Office of Urban Housing of Manila, Atty. Danilo De Guzman, Mayor's Secretary, Atty. Marlon Lacson, Representative of the Third and Fifth Districts, Cong. Joel Chua and Cong. Irwin Tieng, as well as councilors of the second, third, and fifth districts.
The association leaders of the said lands expressed their gratitude to the city government.