BACOLOD CITY, July 27— The Department of Environment of Natural Resources (DENR) distributed 157 free land patents to residents of Barangay Colonia Divina, Sagay City in Negros Occidental as part of the agency’s Handog Titulo Program.
This was reported Thursday by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) headed by Edgardo Rostata, who led the distributions of the free patent titles with Renato Sabinian, chief of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO)-Cadiz City, whose jurisdiction includes Sagay City.
Rostata said the activity aimed to strengthen the social and economic well-being of the beneficiaries, and part of the national government’s program to provide land for the landless.
Last month, the PENRO also distributed 97 residential and eight special patents to residents of Barangay Tumuntong, E.B. Magalona town under the supervision of CENRO-Bago City headed by Concordio Remoroza.
The land patents distribution is a yearly event initiated by the DENR to highlight the need to continue identifying and fastrack land titling of A and D (alienable and disposable) lands for the beneficiaries.
Before the issuance of land titles, the beneficiaries were considered mere occupants. After receiving the land titles from the DENR their rights over the land are confirmed.
The Handog Titulo Program is a joint effort of the DENR with the Land Registration Authority and Local Government Units.(Nanette L. Guadalquiver/PNA)