DENR 7 Overshoots 2016 Target for Issuance of Land Titles

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 has already overshot its target this year for the issuance of agricultural and residential free patents in Central Visayas, an official said.

Dr. Eddie Llamedo, DENR 7 planning division head, said the agency’s Licensing, Patents and Deeds Division (LPDD) has issued a total of 6,510 lot titles, covering a total area of around 1,835.9 hectares.

Of the titles issued, 4,622 were agricultural and 1,888 were residential, he said.

Llamedo said they targeted issuing 5,445 lot titles in the region for 2016.

DENR 7 Director Emma Melana said the patent issuance and distribution is still one of the priority programs of the DENR under the leadership of Environment Secretary Gina Paz Lopez.

Melana said this is geared towards a more improved land administration and management in the country and provide stronger support to the local government units (LGUs) by boosting their land revenue collections.

Melana said she has directed all the provincial and community environment and natural resources officers in the four provinces in the region, namely, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor, to observe very strictly the required time frame in accepting, processing and releasing of the said documents.

Republic Act No. 3844, or the Agricultural Land Reform Code, mandates that the DENR is primary responsible for the distribution and land disposition through the issuance of free patents or homestead patents for public agricultural alienable and disposable lands.

The issuance of patents for residential lands is covered under Republic Act No. 10023, or the New Free Patent Act, which mandates the DENR to process a free patent title application to any Filipino citizen who is an actual occupant of a residential land. (PNA)SCS/EB/SSC