213 Jaro families receive land entitlement certificates

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

A total of 213 families in Iloilo City’s Jaro district have secured legal recognition over the land they occupy after receiving Certificates of Entitlement (COE) from the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

The certificates were awarded Wednesday, Feb. 4, to qualified beneficiaries in Barangay Quintin Salas, Jaro, under Presidential Proclamation No. 1528.

Issued June 18, 2008, by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Presidential Proclamation No. 1528 reserved a 36,000-square-meter parcel of land in Barangay Quintin Salas as a socialized housing site.

The site forms part of a larger 60,000-square-meter property covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-7137 and registered in the name of the Republic of the Philippines.

A COE grants beneficiaries legal recognition and security of tenure over socialized housing sites.

While it does not immediately transfer full land ownership, the certificate affirms a family’s entitlement to a specific residential lot following validation by the local interagency committee.

The Iloilo City Local Housing Office (ICHLO) said the awarding marked a major milestone for beneficiaries by affirming their inclusion in government socialized housing and land tenure programs.

“The activity underscores the national government’s continued efforts to strengthen secure, legal, and dignified shelter for Filipino families,” the office said.

Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu described the certificates as symbols of security and peace of mind for recipients.

“With the issuance of the COE, you can finally breathe easier, knowing that the place you call home is now secured and recognized,” she said.

The mayor also announced she issued an executive order designating the ICHLO as the city’s Homeowners Association Affairs Office.

She added that the city has assisted in the registration of 55 homeowners associations and allocated more than PHP 2 million for livelihood and skills training.