TACLOBAN CITY- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has issued over 7, 000 land titles to qualified beneficiaries here in the region last year.
The issuance of the land titles was under its “Handog Titulo” program which is in compliance of Republic Act 10023 otherwise known as “Free Patent Act” as well as under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program of 2016.
“This law (RA 10023) aims to ease the requirements and procedures in the titling of residential lands. It legalizes a Filipino citizen’s rights over a parcel of land actually possessed for at least 10 years provided that the land applied for is not needed for public use or public service,” Leonardo Sibbaluca,DENR regional director, said in a press statement.
Sibbaluca said that the issuance of the free patents is part of the government’s program to reduce poverty and increasing the productivity of the people.
“We care about the economic growth and the total well-being of the people through an equitable access to land,” the DENR official said.
Sibbaluca said that their office, which is responsible in managing, disposing and recording, and administering the alienable and disposable kinds of the state, ensures to facilitate ownership of lands, especially to those who have less in life.
Sibbaluca urged land claimants to file their applicants for land titles at their nearest DENR office.
Aside from issuing free residential patents, the DENR regional office distributed 1, 888 agricultural patents last year, covering an aggregate area of 1, 484 hectares.
The issuance of agricultural patent is under the CARP that aims to alleviate poverty and to promote social equity among landless individuals.
The DENR regional office shows data that 5, 705 residential free patents covering an aggregate area of 91. 53 hectares were distributed to beneficiaries across the region last year. (PEDRO NOYA, EVSU Intern)