The local government of Cainta, Rizal, said around 400 informal settler families living along rivers and creeks in the municipality have been granted lots where they can build permanent homes.

In a recent interview with the PaMaMariSan Rizal Press Corps, Cainta Mayor Keith Nieto said it is his fourth housing project in the municipality.

"We buy the land, and then we cut it into dimensions that are visible for them to build a house. And we award it to them," he said.

The project aims to remove houses built along the creeks, which obstruct the local government’s drainage work to help prevent flooding. Also, to give families long-term security and independence.

Nieto said the housing project’s beneficiaries will pay the local government for the lots at acquisition cost, payable over 25 years with zero interest.

"It's payable in 25 years and has zero interest. So, we're just talking about P300 to P400 a month. I'm already dead [by that time], but they are not yet done paying it," he said.

"But what's important is that even after I'm done with politics, they'll be certain in their lives that they don't have to join or get involved in politics so that they can retain their houses, because by the time that I leave this, they'll own it. They can own it. They're no longer informal settlers [in our town]," he added.

On the other hand, he said the local government will reclaim any lot if it is sold, saying such a sale is invalid.

"Actually, the selling of their lot is already void. The property will be reclaimed by the government so we can reassign it to someone also deserving," the mayor explained.

He said beneficiaries have a five-year holding period and can sell the property afterward, but they will no longer qualify for future housing projects.