More than 300 lots were awarded to residents of Districts 2, 4 and 5 in Manila through the city government’s “Land for the Landless” program on Friday, July 26.
“More and more Manileños who have been landless all their lives, are now legitimate land owners, as the city government continues to award lots to qualified beneficiaries,” the city government said.
Lacuna-Pangan was joined by Manila Vice Mayor John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto and Secretary to the Mayor Marlon Lacson, Manila Urban Settlements Officer-in-Charge Atty. Danilo De Guzman and the congressmen and councilors from the city's ruling party, the Asenso Manileño.
A total of 99 families from District 5 received their lot awards along with 18 families from Sampaloc.
The awarding was done at the Our Lady of Loreto Church in Sampaloc and the Anakbayan Covered Court in Malate.
Around 184 families also received lots at Anthony YK, Lico, and Fajardo Estates during a simple ceremony held in Barangay 152 in Tondo, Manila on July 19.
The mayor was joined by Fifth District Congressmen Irwin Tieng, Second District Congressman Rolan "CRV" Valeriano and Tondo Councilors Dr. J Buenaventura, Roma Robles, Uno Lim and Macky Lacson, along with Fifth District Councilors Charry Ortega and Boy Isip.
The lady mayor said the recipients were comprised of residents and informal settler families who have long been living on the lots awarded to them.
"Kami po ay natutuwa na maging bahagi ng katuparan ng kanilang mga pangarap na magkaroon ng sariling lupa. Ang paggawad ng mga lupang kinatitirikan ng kanilang mga bahay ay pangarap din namin para sa kanila (We are glad to be part of the fulfillment of their dreams of having their own land. The awarding of lands where their houses stand is also our dream for them)," Lacuna-Pangan said.
Some 133 residents were also awarded of lots located at YK, 24 received land at the Lico Estate, 17 at Fajardo Estat,e and 10 were awardees of lots from four other estates.
The city government was able to award the lots after the local chief executive ordered the allotment of a special budget for the city to acquire the lots.
The mayor said the awarding of lots to the deserving families will be a continuous project under her administration.
"We will keep implementing the Land for the Landless' program for a long as the city still has lots to award to waiting beneficiaries because housing is a key component of our vision to make Manila livable and whole," she added.