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INITIATING REFORMS, FORGING ALLIANCES

FOR BETTER LAND GOVERNANCE

by: Fatima R. Leya
he recent completion of the “In the past, our approach to land
century old National Cadastral management has been fragmented,
TSurvey and the implementation of with several agencies going in di erent
the Land Administration and Management directions” says Undersecretary Ernesto
Systems (LAMS) are remarkable reforms Adobo, Jr., who was tasked by Secretary
that address the long time, deep-seated Roy Cimatu to handle the Improved
problems in land governance in the Land Administration and Management
country. Program, one of the ten priority programs
of DENR.
e cadastral survey and the
establishment of a standard computer- Such fragmented approach bore
based land records management of LAMS issues that undermine the integrity of
serve not only as an accurate system of the country’s land administration and
national base land information and quick management system. One way to correct
process of land transactions, updating this approach is to encourage agencies and
of land records, and tracking of land other stakeholders to work together and x
applications, but also preventive measures the loopholes for better land governance.
to safeguard land management from illicit
land processing practices and fraudulent e DENR, fully aware of the dispersed
land transactions. land administration functions among
government agencies, will adopt a
Undersecretaries Atty. Ernesto D. Adobo Jr. and Atty. Analiza Rebuelta-Teh, with
However, remarkable as they are, such coherent and consistent set of land LMB Director Atty. Emelyne V. Talabis unveil the pledge board of the Declaration of Commitment and Support during the
reforms are not enough to sustain ideal policies and laws, stipulated in the Land National Land Summit
land governance in the country. e Administration Reform Act (LARA). e
complexities in land management are also LARA bill aims to x the institutional the need to conduct an on-the-ground constitutional right and dignity to live a
brought about by ine cient and ine ective and structural de ciencies that land validation of the potential and workable better future," he said.
coordination among land administration administration in the country currently lots for titling. is will be done through
institutions that causes overlapping, have. By designating a lone agency to do the Rapid Land Tenure Appraisal Around 500 participants of the summit
inconsistencies, and inaccuracies in land the full land administration functions; (RLTA), which involves tapping the local pledged to support DENR’s undertakings
surveys and records. high cost transactions, low investment, knowledge to assess land tenure situation in land reforms. An act that Secretary Roy
and gra and corruption, and other on the ground. Cimatu considers, “a priceless gi and a
Such predicament also a ects land associated impact of poor administration con rmation of willingness to be part of
titling and land distribution process of services can be addressed. e conduct of the RLTA will be the reform process.” e LMB and the
the government, placing land governance undertaken in partnership with the participants committed to sustain the
as a matter of national concern – serious Once the bill is approved, all land local government units (LGUs) which developments that have transpired and
enough to make it as one of the 10-point administrative power and functions also do land titling activities within initiated, which include adoption of best
Socio-Economic Agenda of the President. will be streamlined in one government their jurisdiction. To also aid in the practices and improvement of public-
agency. is will ease delivery of land conduct of RLTA, the DENR has issued a private partnership among stakeholders.
President Duterte’s Six-Point Agenda, administration services and rid of memorandum directing regional o ces to ey vowed to work jointly in identifying
“Ensure security of land tenure to unnecessary costs on the part of agencies provide LGUs with the approved cadastral and addressing emerging issues in the
encourage investments, and address and clients. maps. e use of a uniform cadastral map land sector, and serve as information
bottlenecks in land management and in LGUs will be the basis for the issuance of conduits to people on matters concerning
titling agencies,” is a necessary precursor Reforms would also be carried out on land patents to claimants or land owners. the land sector.
to actualize the “AmBisyon Natin 2040,” a land information and management. A
collective vision of Filipinos that sees the multi-purpose cadastre will be adopted to Forging alliances and building networks In relation to the re that gutted the
Philippines prosperous and predominantly support readily available comprehensive LMB Building in Binondo, Manila,
middle class society by 2040. land-related information at the parcel e DENR recognizes the valuable inputs more than two months ago, the
level. Likewise, the DENR will utilize of other sectors in land administration Land Management Bureau assures
To attain this vision, the government the one control map, an integrated map and management. In facilitating reforms, the public that all land records are
has to triple real per capita income and of the country’s environment and natural the agency solicits the essential support intact. It has backup les in the DENR
eradicate hunger and poverty by 2040. resources that will aid in evidence- of stakeholders and partners. It forges Regional O ces, and it will continue
Ensuring security of land tenure plays a based planning and decision making in alliances and builds networks to collectively to process land related inquiries
crucial role in achieving this objective. environmental governance. address bottlenecks in land management. and transactions at its temporary
Distribution of lands to poor landless o ce at the 3rd oor, New Mines
farmers, peasants, shermen, and local By next year, 2019, the DENR Land On January 16-17, 2018, LMB organized and Geosciences Bureau Building,
communities in the country could Management Bureau (LMB) will fast track and conducted the rst summit on land MGB Compound, North Avenue,
enhance agricultural, shery, and forestry the issuance of residential patents through administration and management held at Diliman, Quezon City.
production, boosting local and national the Accelerated Land Titling Program. the Manila Hotel. e summit laid bare
economy of the country. LMB will intensify the implementation the status of land management in the C CENROS...FROM PAGE 4
of Rapid Land Tenure Appraisal, a country. It convened di erent stakeholders
e DENR, as the main agency procedure that will determine the number in a two-day discussion to identify issues, According to him, a good leader
responsible for the management of land of lots suitable for titling; and adopt the formulate reforms, and think of strategies would make subordinates follow, and a
resources in the country, leads other systematic adjudication approach to to adopt to improve land governance in conducive work environment could help
agencies and government institutions simplify, streamline and fast track titling of the country. Land ownership, public land increase productivity. He also stressed
towards the direction of national land alienable and disposable lands. management, land tenure, socio-economic the bene t of acknowledging one’s good
reform. rough its Improved Land agenda, innovation, and land information work; it boosts morale and motivates
Administration and Management Strengthening land records in management and security were among e cient and e ective work.
Program, a comprehensive land tenure eld o ces those deeply discussed. For his nal message, he said, “I wouldn’t
reform would be carried out to fast track forget my experiences in the academy,
the processing and issuance of titles over In order to deliver LMB’s target of 390, Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco made aside from the important lessons that I
alienable and disposable lands. 000 patents for residential areas from 2017 emphasis on land ownership. He stressed have learned, I was promoted to full time
to 2022, the bureau will have to strengthen the right to property as among the basic CENRO of Masinloc, Zambales, while
Fixing institutional and structural existing land records in the DENR eld human rights, alongside life and liberty. taking the course.”
de ciencies o ces. Currently, discrepancies in land “Depriving people of their property
records are evident in the eld hence rights also means depriving them of their

VOLUME 5 NO. 2 JUNE 2018
VOLUME 5 NO. 2 JUNE 2018