Some 668 families residing along the Philippine National Railways (PNR) tracks have received Certificates of Lot Award (CELA) from the City Government of San Fernando through its Local Housing and Settlement Division.
These families, who are structure owners in Barangays San Jose, San Juan, Juliana, Sto. Nino and Dolores, are qualified for the awarding after being verified and approved by the Local Inter-Agency Committee composed of this city, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), Presidential Commission on Urban Poor (PCUP) and PNR.
The awarding was led by Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago, Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin, Third District Representative Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, Jr., Under Secretary Angel Ojastro III and Atty. Alvin Claridades of HUDCC, and PCUP representative Noli Adora Ogot, and witnessed by Councilor Reden Halili, Councilor Noel Tulabut and DPWH District Engineer William Bustos.
Meanwhile, Mayor EdSa said the awarding is pursuant to Executive Order No. 48 declaring non-core properties of the Philippine National Railways as socialized housing sites and providing for the disposition of the same to bona fide occupants.
The project gives Fernandinos the opportunity to have tenurial security on their properties and an assurance to acquire the lots on which their houses or structures are built.
“They will no longer fear losing their homes because they now have proper documents to settle their ownership,” Santiago said. “Gusto natin na mabigyan ng disenteng tirahan ang ating mga kababayan na pwede nilang ipamana sa kanilang mga magiging anak.”
