Belmonte said the construction of land titles has been given priority by the city government because lands are "a source of economic power" that residents can harness anytime for bank loans, businesses and other transactions.
"Your land is a source of economic power, make use of it," Belmonte told the beneficiaries as he awarded them their newly reconstituted titles during a simple ceremony held at the Bulwagang City Hall yesterday afternoon.
He said the city government has taken steps to help landowners in judicial proceedings for the reconstitution of their land titles.
During the distribution ceremony, the Quezon City Realtors Board Inc. presented the mayor with a plaque of appreciation for his concern for the landowners in the city.
Former Assemblyman Rogelio Quiambao, spokesman of the group, said the reconstitution of land titles is a big help to city residents since they can now fully develop their lands.
"We are grateful for the land tilting program of the city government," Quiambao said.
The release of 500 new titles brings to 12,500 the total number of land titles distributed to city residents since the 1988 fire that destroyed some 380,000 such documents.
Elias Jesus Santos, head of the city land titling unit, urged city residents to take advantage of the city governments land title reconstitution project which is being offered to them for free under Belmonte’s "Serbisyong Bayan" program.