Vice President Jejomar C. Binay today distributed land title certificates to 3,279 families in Cavite occupying land owned by the Philippine National Railways (PNR).

            Binay, who is also the concurrent chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), first handed out Certificates of Lot Awards (CeLAs) to 1,516 beneficiaries from 9 barangays at the Tanza Municipal Covered Court.

            He then proceeded to the town of Kawit where he and Mayor Reynaldo "Tik" Aguinaldo led the distribution of CeLAs to 1,100 families from 8 barangays at the Emilio Tirona Memorial National High School.

            From there, he went to Bacoor City Hall where he and Mayor Strike Revilla awarded CeLAs to 644 families from 8 barangays.

            “Ang paghahandog ng lupang ito ay nagsimula noong taong 2001 nang lagdaan ang Executive Order no. 48. Nakasaad sa kautusang ito ang paghahandog ng mga lupa ng Philippine National Railways (PNR) na hindi na gagamitin sa operasyon ng tren,” Binay said.

            “Sa tulong ng Executive Order na ito, nabigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga mamamayang matagal nang nangungupahan o naninirahan dito na mabili at matawag na kanila ang lupang kinatitirikan ng kanilang mga bahay,” he added.

            Binay also said that most of the beneficiaries have occupied the non-core properties for decades as informal settler families who faced constant threats of eviction and demolition. The CeLA has effectively removed those threats as these families have finally been vested with the right to acquire their occupied properties.

            “Pinasasalamatan po namin ang iba’t ibang ahensiya at organisasyon, kasama na ang PNR, ang HUDCC, ang inyong lokal na pamahalaan, at ang mga opisyales ng inyong homeowners association na nagtulong tulong at nagtrabaho ng mahigit sampung taon upang makamit ang inyong pangarap – ang magkaroon ng kasiguruhan sa inyong lupa,” he added.

            Binay however admitted that they temporarily stopped handing out CELAs to beneficiaries because the new administration of the PNR wanted to make sure if they really do not need the land covered by the EO.

            “Pagkatapos ng pakikipag-usap ng HUDCC, dala ang inyong mga kahilingan, ang pamunuan ng PNR ay pumayag na sa disposisyon ng kanilang mga lupain, basta lamang may matitirang ten-meter right-of-way mula sa sentro ng riles na mananatiling pag-aari nila,” Binay said.

            The Vice President also reminded the beneficiaries to fulfil their obligations, including the payment of monthly amortizations for the land, so as not to waste this opportunity to have these lands titled to their names eventually.

            “Lagi kong ipinapaalala sa mga benepisyaryo ng programang pabahay na ang bawat biyaya ay may kaakibat na obligasyon. Ngayong hawak n’yo na ang CeLA, sana ay bigyan n’yo ng halaga at pangalagaan ang nasabing lupain. Huwag n’yo pong isangla o ipagbili ang karapatan ninyo sa nasabing lupa upang hindi ito mawala sa inyo,” he added.