Cebu 5th district Rep. Vincent Franco "Duke" Frasco (Rep. Frasco's office)

House Deputy Speaker Cebu 5th district Rep. Vincent Franco "Duke" Frasco has made the decades-long dream of land ownership for Camotes islands residents come true.

This, after the ranking congressman delivered land titles to residents of Camotes during simple distribution rites held in the Municipality of San Francisco on Nov. 22.

A statement issued by Frasco's office on Tuesday, Nov. 26 said that "This historic milestone ends the long standing struggle of families in Camotes for legally recognized ownership over properties that are theirs by right."

Issued by the Cebu Province Registry of Deeds, in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-CENRO), as well as Office of Congressman Duke Frasco, were official certificates of title for 76 lot owners.

The land titles gives the owners security and the freedom to use the land without fear of displacement.

“At the heart of our efforts to help secure the issuance of these land titles is to bring justice to families who have long toiled on these lands. The people of Camotes deserve a life of opportunity and stability. That includes upholding their rights of ownership over their lands," Frasco said after the distribution.

Ever since he was elected as the congressman for the 5th district, Frasco has championed the cause for land ownership in Camotes. 

In 2019, he filed House Bill (HB) No. 4785, which was passed on third and final reading by the House of Representatives a year later. The measure declares dry lands in the Camotes islands of Poro, Pacijan, and Ponson as alienable and disposable lands.

After the distribution of land titles, Frasco also distributed P3.3 Million in cash assistance to 904 habal-habal, tricycle, and trisikad drivers, as well as 154 scholarship grants to students from San Francisco.

The move was consistent with the deputy speaker's priorities of providing opportunities for educational and social welfare advancement in Camotes.