Nation

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Posted on September 12, 2011 10:37:44 PM

Land titling information pressed

LOCAL OFFICIALS have been asked to set up an information system on land titling in line with a directive to hasten the titling of alienable and disposable lands.

Issuance of titles to alienable and disposable lands may be fast-tracked with an information system at the local level, according to a circular of the Department of Interior and Local Government. -- AFP

In Memorandum Circular 117, signed by Interior Secretary Jesse M. Robredo dated Aug. 17 and released yesterday, the Department of Interior and Local Government told local government units (LGUs) the initiative could include the creation of a Land Information Office (LIO) and Cadastral Office.

The LIO, under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) order, will be responsible for providing accurate and updated land information to support real property taxation, land transaction, resource management, development and conservation, zoning and land use, infrastructure, disaster management and business process and investments.

The Cadastral Office, meanwhile, will be in charge of safe-keeping land records, the order stated.

The establishment of such offices are “encouraged,” said Local Government Undersecretary Austere A. Panadero in a text message, but not required.

DENR order

The circular was issued in line with DENR Administrative Order 06 issued in July to fast-track the issuance of titles on alienable and disposable lands.

Alienable and disposable lands, which account for nearly half of the country’s total land area, are those declared as not needed for forest purposes, according to the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority. Such lands may be transferred by mortgage or by deed.

Meanwhile, local government units could nominate a local official or employee as Deputy Public Land Inspector upon proper notification by the Regional Executive Director of the DENR, the circular said.

Local authorities could submit nominees and their corresponding qualifications for land inspectors through the community or provincial environment and natural resources officers, the order further read.

Officials of the League of Cities of the Philippines and League of Provinces of the Philippines were not immediately available for comment. -- ASOA

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=Land-titling-information-pressed&id=38147

Cordova creates Land Management Office

Mayor Adelino Sitoy of the municipality of Cordova, Cebu recently declared the titling of properties a priority for his administration.

Issued on July 14, 2011, Executive Order No. 17, s. 2011 created a Land Management Council Council (LMC) and a Land Management Office (LMO) in Cordova, a third-class municipality in the 6^th district of Cebu Province.

The EO is in consonance with DENR Administrative Order 2010-06 which provides guidelines on DENR-LGU partnership in titling and programs and encourages the creation of LGU land information office and cadastral council to facilitate titling. 

The LMC is composed of the Municipal Assessor, Treasurer, Planning and Development Coordinator, Environmental and Natural Resources Officer and Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (DENR) and headed by the Mayor.

It shall gather, maintain and update information about land policies, issues, challenges and opportunities; analyze such information to recommend appropriate policies and management intervention to the Mayor and Sangguniang Bayan; and supervise the activities of the LMO.

Supervised by the Municipal Assessor, a Land Management Office was created to carry out the policy direction set by the LMC. Coordination with other agencies such as the DENR and Register of Deeds shall be undertaken to obtain information, technical assistance, training and specific technical services.

The first LMC meeting was held on 3 August 2011 chaired by Mayor Sitoy and attended by representatives of DENR Regional Office (Region 7), DENR-CENRO Cebu City and Cebu City LMO, Cordova municipal officers with Vice-Mayor Rodrigo Jumao-as, and the Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF), a public advocacy organization implementing the Property Rights for Economic Progress program with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and The Asia Foundation.

FEF provided a background on the benefits of LGU titling, Republic Act No. 10023 (Residential Free Patent Act) and the DENR-LGU partnership on titling.

DENR Regional Technical Director for Lands said that the first step to be undertaken for the DENR-LGU partnership on public land titling is the signing of a Memorandum of Partnership Agreement between the DENR Regional Executive Director of Region 7 and Mayor Sitoy. Ms. Liezl Gonzaga of the Cebu City LMO shared their experience on their start-up activities prior to titling. Cebu City LMO was established on January 14, 2011.

The next step identified is training the members of LMC and LMO on public land titling and systematic adjudication. The LMC meeting shall meet monthly or as often as necessary.

FEF is a public advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the cause of economic and political liberty, good governance, secure and well-defined property rights, and markets-oriented reforms. FEF believes that ensuring a secure property rights regime will result in a stable and fertile environment ripe for economic progress.

It counts among its members former and present Cabinet secretaries and undersecretaries, leading figures in the academe, respected media personalities and opinion makers, and prominent members in the business and finance community.

FEF, DENR IV-A commit to advocate property rights in CALABARZON

07/06/11

Calamba City, Philippines. Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF) President Calixto V. Chikiamco and Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region IV-A (DENR-RIV-A) Executive Director Nilo B. Tamoria sign a memorandum of cooperation to advocate the implementation of the Residential Free Patent Act (RA 10023) among the local government units within the jurisdiction of DENR-RIV-A.

Witnessing the signing are: (L-R) Atty. Reynante Orceo, FEF Local Government Adviser; Engr. Edgar Barraca, DENR-RIV-A Chief, Regional Surveys Division; Atty. Marlou Alutaya, DENR-RIV-A OIC Chief, Land Management Division; Atty. George Katigbak, FEF Legal Adviser; and Atty. Erwin Tiamson, FEF Land Administration Consultant.

Through FEF's Property Rights for Economic Progress program, an initiative supported by the United Sates Agency for International Development (USAID) and The Asia Foundation (TAF), the partnership seeks to improve land administration and land titling under the said act.

DENR-RIV-A covers the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.

DENR IMPLEMENTS LAND TITLING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LGUS

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is partnering with local government units (LGUs) in the conduct of land titling in an effort to fast track the processing and issuance of land titles over inalienable and disposable lands.

DENR Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje said the move will also provide an opportunity for the LGUs to take an active role in the agency’s programs.  “Local government units have critical role to play in the implementation of national programs and projects as provided by the Local Government Code, and one of these is land titling where their help is important particularly in resolving boundary conflicts,” Paje said.

Paje said the LGU-DENR partnership calls for the creation of a composite land adjudication team composed of at least one deputy public land inspector (DPLI) who will work under the supervision of the DENR land management officer (LMO) assigned to the LG. The team will help the DENR in the titling of alienable and disposable lands in cities and municipalities, according to Paje.

“The team is expected to function in its municipality of jurisdiction to assist in land adjudication, dispute resolution and other steps to facilitate and fast tract the land titling,” Paje said.

Under the DENR Administrative Order No. 2011-06 entitled “Prescribing the guidelines for the implementation of public land titling in partnership with local government units”, all the regional executive directors (REDs) of the DENR are authorized to deputize permanent LGU officials that may be assigned to the titling program as Deputy Public Land Inspectors (DPLI).

The order also provides the following procedures in the deputation of DPLIs: a) submission of list of nominees and their corresponding qualifications by the LGU  to the RED through the community environment and natural resources officer (CENRO) and provincial environment and natural resources officer (PENRO); b) the CENRO and the PENRO to conduct their respectivetive review of the list of nominees and then submit their respective recommendations within 15 days; and c) upon submission of the list and recommendations to the RED, the RED in turn will authorize the conduct of necessary training related to DPLIs’ functions, mandates, authorities, duties and responsibilities.

Paje said that the responsibilities and authority of the DPLI only apply in their respective cities and municipalities of their jurisdiction.

Under the Order, the composite land adjudication team has the following roles to play in the titling procedure: liaise with, orient and mobilize the community to participate in the LGU titling program; coordinate with barangay officials of the area under the titling program; process applications by undertaking adjudication activities such as conduct interviews of land titling applicants, conduct of ocular inspection, evaluation of land claims and the pieces of evidence presented; assistance in the amicable resolution of disputes, among others.

The DENR also has the following roles: assignment of land management  officers (LMOs) from the CENROs, PENROs or DENR regional office concerned to the LGU initiated titling program and the titling office created; provide all  the necessary and pertinent land records, surveys maps and other pertinent data; provide technical assistance in the conduct of surveys, land adjudication, training and capacity building on public land administration and management; and provide general control and supervision over the LGU titling program where the DENR field offices shall maintain approval and signing authorities in all phases of the patent application and adjudication process.

The land information office created under the Order will be responsible for the provision of accurate and updated land information to support real property taxation, land transactions, resource management, development and conservation, zoning and land use, infrastructure, disaster management and business process and investments.

http://www.denr.gov.ph/index.php/news-and-features/latest-news/243-denr-implements-land-titling-in-partnership-with-lgus.html