ILOILO CITY — More than 517 households from Molo District took a monumental step toward permanent homeownership on June 22, 2026. They signed Contracts to Sell for lots priced at just ₱200 per square meter, a rate frozen from three decades ago.
A Subsidy That Defies Inflation
Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu presided over the ceremony alongside city councilors, barangay officials, and representatives from the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor. The event formalized a landmark transfer of security to families who once lived along riverbanks and fire-prone areas.
The price reflects the city’s original acquisition cost from around 1996. By refusing to add interest, administrative fees, or markups over thirty years, the local government absorbed the full weight of Molo’s real estate appreciation. Commercial lots in the same district now sell for thousands of pesos per square meter, making this subsidy extraordinary.
ICLHO head Atty. Peter Jason Millare recalled asking the mayor what valuation to use. She instructed him to charge only what the government paid, with zero additional cost. This decision stripped away every possible expense, keeping the lots accessible to families with minimal incomes.
A Manageable Path to Full Ownership
The Contract to Sell spreads payment over ten years, so a typical 60‑square‑meter lot costs just ₱100 per month. Families do not face a single overwhelming payment, easing the burden on daily wage earners. The structure allows them to build stable lives while gradually acquiring a permanent asset.
During the amortization period, the city retains the land title as security. Once a household completes 120 monthly payments without default, the government executes a Deed of Absolute Sale. The Transfer Certificate of Title then passes fully into the resident’s name, securing the land for future generations.
Rooted in Decades of Land Banking
Iloilo City’s proactive approach to socialized housing began with early land banking strategies. Over the years, the government assembled more than two dozen resettlement sites to move informal settlers away from hazardous zones. The Villanueva‑Sian site in Molo is a direct product of that forward‑thinking policy.
Rather than evicting families, the city relocated them to safe, serviced lots and held the land in trust. Now, with the signing of these contracts, long‑time occupants finally transition from informal residents to legal landowners. The event symbolizes a commitment to dignified, inclusive urban development.
Part of the Larger PASILONG Vision
This horizontal lot distribution runs parallel to Iloilo’s aggressive vertical housing push. Under the PASILONG umbrella, the city is tackling a 15,000‑unit backlog with both land allocations and high‑rise condominiums. Recent groundbreaking ceremonies launched ₱3.18 billion worth of projects in the Jaro District.
These include the ₱640‑million Iloilo Residences Rental Housing Project and the ₱2.54‑billion Uswag 4PH Condominium Complex. Balancing multi‑story solutions with ground‑level lot ownership ensures that diverse family needs are met. The Molo signing represents the horizontal piece of this comprehensive strategy.
Security That Transforms Communities
A stable home changes a family’s entire trajectory. Children grow up in one place, parents invest in small improvements, and communities strengthen. The 517 families in Molo now have a legal address, a defined future, and an asset they can proudly pass on.
The city’s decision to freeze prices and forego profit sends a powerful message: governance can be compassionate and practical at once. As the signing ceremony concluded, many residents held their contracts with tears and smiles, knowing that their decades of waiting had finally ended with a signature and a promise kept.
