Page 22 - Property Rights in the Philippine A Time and Cost Study_July 2017

Recommendation 5: Support DPLI in rolling out the existing version of PLA LAMS to LGU
partners, and to ready CENROs. Cordova Municipality DPLIs have already used PLA Mobile to
help 70 applicants, 32 of whom have successfully submitted their application with complete
requirements to the CENRO. Local governments are faster and more nimble in using PLA Mobile
as a stand-alone App (without needing to connect to DENR’s LAMS because their interface with
the CENRO is purely through paper documents). Local governments are also able to mobilize funds
to procure tablets, desktops and printers.

Improving the efficiency and decreasing the cost of subdivision surveys

The areas to be surveyed for public land titling are usually flat, medium-high density, with existing
boundaries clearly recognized by neighbors - ideal for the use of drones for surveying. As of this writing,
based on the data generated from Walter Volkmann’s demonstration flight and subsequent “Academic
Research” flights, feedback from Academe, policy and LMB partners, there is a high level of confidence
that LMB will issue a Land Management Circular supporting the use of drones for surveying within the next
few months.

Recommendation 6: Continue to support the use of drones for surveying, specifically through:
• Continued representation with the Land Management Bureau;
• Development of a Continuing Professional Education course for Geodetic Engineers on
using drones for surveying;
• Conduct of an Information and Education campaign within DENR, local governments and
the GE community;
• Coalition-building: getting drone suppliers, operators, users and drone data users to come
together, to push for policy reforms towards decentralization of drone use.

Eliminating the Handover Gaps

Handover gaps could be addressed by appropriate policies (e.g., requiring the PENRO to inform
the LGU when it endorses a free patent to the ROD, then requiring LGUs to inform lot occupants; or a policy
requiring the LRA-ROD to notify local governments when a free patent has been registered).

A technology solution is possible by uploading PLA Mobile data to a public-access website like the
Cadasta Platform. Engr. Quirimit’s vision for full implementation of PLA LAMS involves sending out SMS to
applicants to update them on the status of their applications. This feature of PLA LAMS is not yet functional,
so the second recommendation (providing technical assistance to LMB for LAMS) would help here too.

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