BUILDING SYSTEMATIC APPROACH IN LAND TITLING – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 2 held recently a committee meeting with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Solana, Cagayan to kick off land titling partnership.

The meeting will pave the way for the signing of a memorandum of partnership agreement (MOPA) between DENR Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan and Mayor Jenalyn Carag to fast track the processing and issuance of titles applied for in the said municipality.

In the meeting, Licenses, Patents and Deeds Division Chief Eliseo Mabasa discussed the objective of the land titling partnership program, its policies and procedures as stated in Department Administrative Order No. 2011-16 known as “Prescribing Guidelines for the Implementation of Public Land Titling in Partnership with Local Government Units”.

“We recognized the invaluable role of the LGUs in the attainment of a fast and speedy titling of public alienable and disposable lands.  We hope for a more collaborative interaction on how we can have a smooth implementation of this project in the municipality,” Engr. Mabasa said.

The land titling partnership program helps the LGUs to have facilitated land and housing program; affordable expenses to acquire land titles; protection of properties; resolved conflicts and boundary disputes; improved real property tax collection; faster delivery of land transaction services; and better access to land records and information at reduced cost to government, private and public clients.

The said partnership shall also apply to the disposition of public lands under Commonwealth Act 141, the Public Land Act; Republic Act (RA) 730, the Direct Sale of Residential Lands not more than 1,000 square meters Without Public Auction; and RA 10023, the Residential Free Patent Act.

In addition, Memorandum Circular No. 2011-117 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government mandate the integration of land titling in all local government programs; creation of land information office; organization of cadastral council; and nomination of LGU official to be deputized as public land inspector by the DENR.

Engr. Mabasa also explained the indicative process flow of LGU partnership arrangement, assisted titling and deputation.

“A systematic adjudication approach shall be employed as we progress in the implementation of our land titling partnership.  We will do it per barangay.  We cannot proceed to another barangay until the application of the current barangay being undertaken is finally completed,” he added.

Optimistic to have a successful partnership, the local government officials of Solana thanked the DENR as they long for an improved land management program in their locality.#