Headline
Bill simplifying land titling for farmers gets bicam nod
MANILA – The bicameral conference committee on Wednesday approved its report on a measure seeking to improve the confirmation of imperfect titles by simplifying the procedure and requirements in granting land deeds.
With the signing of the report, the congressional bicameral panel ironed out the disagreeing provisions of House Bill 7440 and Senate Bill 1931, otherwise known as the proposed Imperfect Land Title Confirmation Act.
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, principal author and sponsor of the measure, said it would help small farmers and homesteaders by making it easier for them to borrow capital from banks, lease their land to more efficient users, and earn income from their property.
“Small farmers suffer the most from having their titles unconfirmed. They don’t have the money to litigate or undergo complex processes, and they can’t use their land or sell them in the meantime. It’s like they don’t own their lands,” Salceda said.
The present law governing land titles in the country requires the claimant to present a copy of the original classification approved by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary, as well as a City or Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO/PENRO) certification, that should be accompanied by an official publication of the DENR Secretary’s issuance declaring that the land is alienable and disposable.
These requirements, he said, can be difficult to secure given strict conditions and processes in the courts.
The approved bicameral report requires the DENR and the CENRO to act on petitions for agricultural free patents within 120 days.
The DENR Secretary’s approval is only required for lands above 20 hectares, and the requirement for a proclamation by the DENR Secretary of a time period during which CENROs and PENROs are allowed to take applications for free patents is also removed. This means that PENROs and CENROs can now take such petitions year-round.
The report also harmonizes and shortens the period of possession required for perfection of imperfect titles from 74 years to 20 years.
It shall also allow “those who have acquired ownership of private lands or abandoned riverbeds by right of accession or accretion under the provision of existing laws” to file petitions to the regional trial courts (RTC) for perfection of their claims.
“Informal settlers who have been residing on their lands for so long now also have a chance to own their property. This is a matter of dignity for thousands of Filipino families,” Salceda said.
He said property rights, especially for the small property owner, is crucial in equitable development.
“When people feel more secure in their rights to their property, they tend to develop it more aggressively. We need farmers and small landholders to use their lands efficiently as we recover from the Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. This reform is crucial for agricultural and economic recovery,” Salceda said.