CAPAS, Tarlac — At least 465 residents of the former O’Donnel Resettlement Area, now Barangay Cristo Rey, in this town finally received on Wednesday their land titles from the local government, in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV witnessed the ceremonial turnover of land titles to the residents who sought refuge here following the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991.
“I am glad to know that the DENR, National Housing Authority and the local government unit of Capas have worked together to give the more than 400 families a place to call their own,” Robredo said.
“I am happy that the more than 400 residents of Cristo Rey now have land titles and they now obtained the independence and freedom as official residents of Capas,” Capas Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan said.
Separated from Barangay Aranguren in 2003, the O’Donnell Resettlement Area was constituted as a distinct and independent village under Tarlac’s Provincial Ordinance No. 004-2003. It was later renamed Barangay Cristo Rey.
Bounded by Barangay Lawy on the northwest, Aranguren on the northeast and southwest, and by a provincial road on the southeast, Barangay Cristo Rey is recognized as the largest village in Capas in terms of landmass and population.
“They can now breathe a sigh of relief because of the security of the land titles that they have,” Catacutan added.
The distribution of the land titles is part of the government’s “Handog Titulo” program that seeks to address poverty in rural areas and improve the people’s economic productivity. (Eden Gutierrez/PNA)
