Occupants of residential public lands can now obtain titles
Occupants of untitled residential public lands, like the above photo in Brgy. Sooc, Arevalo, can now have the chance to have their occupied land titled in their names with the implementation of Republic Act No. 10023, otherwise known as the Free Patent Act on Residential Land. Fifteen days from May 16, occupants of untitled residential public lands can now file their applications for free patents at the nearest field office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) having jurisdiction over their areas.
Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Horacio Ramos issued the call following the approval of the implementing rules and regulations that will implement Republic Act No. 10023, otherwise known as the Free Patent Act on Residential Land.
“The long wait is over for the millions of Filipinos who fought years of tedious and expensive process to have their occupied land be titled in their names and realized their dream. Now, getting a land title is not far-fetched,” Ramos said.
The implementing rules and regulations of RA 10023, which Ramos approved last May 5, sets the procedure in the speedy processing and issuance of free patents on residential lands.
RA 10023 is considered a landmark measure to streamline the requirements and procedures of land titling involving zoned residential lands. It was signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on March 9, 2010.
Land Management Bureau Director Allan V. Barcena, who concurrently heads the second phase of the Land Administration and Management Project (LAMP2), said that the IRR will fasttrack the titling process and will provide security of tenure to estimated 39 million Filipinos in the country.
Under the law, lands that are eligible for free patent applications include untitled public alienable and disposable (A & D) lands which have been zoned as residential; and zoned residential areas in proclaimed townsite reservations.
The law also provides that any Filipino citizen who is in actual occupation of a residential public land for at least 10 years may apply for a free patent, provided that in highly urbanized cities, the land should not exceed 200 square meters, and in other cities, it should not exceed 500 square meters.
The law also states that the application for a free patent in the first and second class municipalities should not exceed 750 square meters and in all other municipalities, it should not exceed 1,000 square meters for as long as the land applied for is not needed for public service and/or public use.
Applications for residential free patent shall be filed at the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of the DENR, which has jurisdiction over the area. From the CENRO, the application, including the recommendation, shall be forwarded to the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO), who shall have five days to approve or disapprove the application.
Regional Executive Director Julian D. Amador of Region VI invites all those who may qualify to this new mode of land titling to grab the opportunity in the earliest time so that applications can be acted upon immediately.
