Land of their own for 3,000 Caloocan families

Prospects for a better life became rosy for some 3,000 families in Caloocan City after the city government gave away land they can now call their own through a program also known as the Community Mortgage Program (CMP), a priority of the present administration.

Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri announced that some 13,240 illegal settlers have so far benefited from the CMP, administered by City Hall’s Urban Poor Affairs Office (UPAO) in the first 10 months of his administration.

"The best is yet to come," Echiverri said as he acknowledged the support and cooperation of concerned government agencies in this undertaking.

UPAO records showed that the Echiverri administration gave away more in 10 months (2,648 beneficiaries) that in seven years of the previous (697).

The mayor said a total of 11.44 hectares of lands were allotted for socialized housing within the 10-month period.

He added that figures could still go up as other CMP projects are now lined up for implementation. He said the CMP projects is in line with his commitment toward improving the standard of living of the homeless and the less fortunate in the city.

Among the ongoing projects were those being developed by Inter Urban Developers Inc. in Deparo, Caloocan City, where 715 families are direct beneficiaries.

Some 700 families stand to benefit from the program with the development of several other properties including the Tomas Estrera property in Barangay 171 in Bagumbong, the Ligaya Robles property at Interior 50 Malolos Avenue in Bagong Barrio, the Aurora Espiritu on Cleofer street in Sa. Quitera, Orestes Sosa property in Kaybiga, Vista Verde, and the Gregorio Araneta III in Barrio San Jose.