LUCENA CITY — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling handed Certificates of Entitlement to 100 families on July 21, 2026, ending a painful 23‑year wait for security of tenure. The event at the Lucena Convention Center marks a major milestone for the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.
A Long Wait Finally Ends
The families have lived on a portion of the former airfield in Barangay Ibabang Iyam since the land was reserved for socialized housing in 2003. Presidential Proclamation No. 436, signed that year by then‑President Gloria Macapagal‑Arroyo, set aside 11 hectares of the 17.6‑hectare property for qualified urban poor families and government employees. Administrative delays and shifting priorities kept titles out of reach for more than two decades.
President Marcos stressed that the certificates provide a clear path to full land ownership. He said the government is relentless in its efforts to give Filipino families the security and dignity they deserve. Secretary Aliling called the ceremony a concrete proof of the administration’s commitment to uplifting lives through decent, safe, and affordable housing.
A Broader Land Regularization Push
The Lucena awarding forms part of a larger, sustained campaign to revive idle presidential proclamations across the country. DHSUD has now granted land rights to 684 families under this specific 4PH modality. These beneficiaries are spread across Los Baños, Laguna (228 families), Jaro, Iloilo City (213 families), Lucena City (285 families cumulatively), and Narra, Palawan (58 families).
The 100 new COE holders join 185 Lucena families who received their certificates in March 2025, bringing the city’s total to 285. The government aims to grant entitlements to more than 1,100 qualified families in Lucena alone, with the full rollout expected to conclude in 2027. The effort restores faith in a program that had been stalled for years, directly linking executive action to tangible land security.
Dignity and Security Through Homeownership
For the beneficiaries, the certificates represent more than a piece of paper. They mean no more fear of eviction, no more uncertainty about the land beneath their feet, and the freedom to invest in home improvements. The psychological shift from informal settler to legal landholder is profound, unlocking a sense of permanence that transforms communities.
Secretary Aliling explained that the COE is a critical first step. It allows the beneficiary to move through the formal titling process, ultimately leading to a Transfer Certificate of Title. Senior Undersecretary Eduardo Robles Jr. and Undersecretary Odilon Pasaraba joined the ceremony, reinforcing the department’s all‑in support for the program’s success.
A Promise of More to Come
The administration has pledged to sustain the momentum of the Expanded 4PH Program nationwide. By fast‑tracking the resolution of long‑standing land issues, the government is building a foundation for broader economic upliftment. Families with secure tenure are more likely to invest in their homes, their children’s education, and small enterprises that energize local economies.
The Lucena ceremony is a clear signal that the government is serious about bridging the gap between policy and lived reality. As the 4PH Program continues its rollout, thousands more families across the country can expect to finally hold proof that their land is truly their own.
