A total of 341 families received their transfer certificates of title (TCTs), while 484 other families were awarded certificates of house allotment (COHA) when De Castro visited the Sta. Lucia Resettlement Center the other day.

"As I have promised, I’ll come back not simply to make a social visit. I came here to bring you what you have dreamed of for a very long time. I have with me the titles of the lands that will finally make you genuine and legitimate homeowners," De Castro said during turnover ceremonies witnessed by local officials and other government representatives.

De Castro said the awarding brought the total number of land titles given to Mt. Pinatubo victims to 9,426 since the HUDCC started producing titles for relocation sites in 2002. Some 40,000 titles still remain to be processed.

"Marami pa po ang kailangang tumanggap ng kanilang mga titulo kung kaya’t patuloy po namin tinututukan ang gawain dito para sa inyo," De Castro said.

He said even if the Pinatubo Project Management Office (PPMO) had already closed due to budgetary reasons, the National Housing Authority (NHA) has been ordered to assume the functions of the PPMO.

With its vast experience in housing and adequate manpower, the NHA can do and finish the job it inherited from PPMO, De Castro said.

At the same time, he announced that the government has allotted a P1-billion budget for housing this year. A big portion of the budget shall be used in the national relocation program in relation to the Northrail Project, he said.

"Tulad nga po ng aking nasabi kamakailan, marami pa po ang kailangang gawin ukol sa pambansang programa ng ating pamahalaan lalung lalo na para sa ating mga mahihirap na kababayan at hindi po ako titigil magtrabaho ng lubos upang masiguro na mabigyan ng disenteng tahanan at magandang kinabukasan ang ating mga kapus-palad na mamamayan," he added.

De Castro reminded the housing beneficiaries, particularly those who recently got their titles, not to sell their newly acquired properties because that is prohibited by law.

"Bukod po dito, hindi ko po nanaisin na mawala sa inyo ang tanging yaman na maiaalay ng pamahalaan para sa inyo at ang tanging mahalagang bagay na maipapamana ninyo sa inyong mga anak at sunod na salinglahi," he said.

He said housing beneficiaries can help make the national shelter program a success by being responsible citizens who are united with the government in pushing for the country’s development.