The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) CALABARZON officially forged partnership with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Lucena, Quezon through the signing of Memorandum of Agreement for the declaration of certain parcels of land for the housing sites of government employees and the urban poor in Barangay Ibabang Iyam, Lucena City, Quezon.

On August 11, 2003, then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Proclamation No. 436 for the location of housing sites. The proclaimed land was an abandoned airfield formerly owned by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

A total area of 11 out of the total 17.6 hectares were allotted for the housing site for government employees and the urban poor in the area, where P50.00 per square meter fee where approved pursuant to Resolution No. 004-2004, and later reaffirmed pursuant to Resolution No. 19-019, series of 2022.

 “Mula po noong nag umpisa ang proklamasyon, mula sa pormulasyon ng Certificates of Land Allocation (CELA), at ngayon po sa pagpirma natin ng MOA, wala po kayong dapat ipag-alala dahil ang kapirmahan po ngayon ni Mayor ay naumpisahan po ang proseso ng  Proclamation 436 mula po sa umpisa”, DENR CALABARZON Regional Executive Director Nilo B. Tamoria promised the beneficiaries.

RED Tamoria was an official of the Housing and Development Council from 2001-2004, and was part of the pre-proclamation until the post proclamation process of Proclamation No. 436.

Mrs. Donata Veloso, President of the United Landing Urban Poor Association, Inc., expressed her gratitude to the involved parties. “After 19 years ay nagkaroon ng katuparan ang ating mga pangarap na ang ating tinitirahan na lupa ay mapapapunta na po sa bawat isa sa atin.” The MOA aims to strengthen the partnership between DENR CALABARZON and Lucena LGU for the effective and speedy land disposition for the identified beneficiaries for the housing sites.