Capitol Backs DENR Land Titling Program in Consolacion

In an effort to fast track the processing and issuance of land titles over alienable and disposable lands, the Cebu Provincial Government, in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), assisted the public land titling program in Consolacion town Tuesday last week.

Consolacion municipal assessor Marilou Herrera said the DENR sent their eight-man survey team to assess barangay Poblacion Occidental in preparation for the titling of the land.

The composite land adjudication team will help the DENR in the titling of alienable and disposable lands in cities and municipalities. 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.

Engineer Vivencio Jumawid led the DENR survey team with Evaristo Guinita of the Provincial Environment Natural Resources Office (Penro).

Herrera said her office submitted 30 workable lots located in the said barangay. After the survey, these may result to subdividing 60 to 100 parcels of lots in the area, she said.

The program, created under DENR Administrative Order No. 2011-06, provides opportunity to lot owners to apply for residential free patent, at no expense, Herrera said.

Through the ‘Public Land Titling Program’, residents in Consolacion will soon have their lots as the town is among the pioneer in Cebu to avail the benefits of this agenda.

“Even the newly constructed municipal building, the public market is sitting on an untitled lot.” said Herrera adding that even the LGU may apply for special title through this program.

By becoming alienable and disposable, lots may host government infrastructure projects like housing.

Moreover, Herrera added that some residents are possessor of land for 30 years including predecessor in interest (original owners) and a parcel of inherited lot will eventually be subdivided into parcels among the heirs.

Since the land titling is free of charge, beneficiaries will enjoy huge savings.

The prevailing estate rate in Consolacion is P4,000 per parcel of resultant lot, regardless of its size, “so beneficiaries will save P240,000 to P400,000”, said Herrera.

Having the lots titled, she said, will eventually resolve boundary conflicts and encourage lot owners to dutifully pay land taxes, encouraging business activity as the titled lot may now be guaranteed as collaterals in business loans.

Under DENR Administrative Order No. 2011-06, 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.

They are also assigned to process applications by undertaking adjudication activities such as conduct interviews of land titling applicants, ocular inspection, evaluation of land claims and the pieces of evidence presented and assistance in the amicable resolution of disputes. OCP

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