Ivatans secure lands thru ‘Handog Titulo’ Program

The government’s effort to expedite land titling has continued in Batanes by granting land titles to qualified applicants through a Joint ‘Handog Titulo’ Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Registry of Deeds (ROD) Region 2.

 

A total of 61 land titles were issued to 47 patentees in Basco, Mahatao, Sabtang and Ivana towns during the awarding ceremony held yesterday at the provincial capitol.

 

"Through the ‘Handog Titulo’ under the Land Administration and Management Program of the DENR, we fast-tracked the resolution of several land cases because we understand how important it is to have land titles,” said Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan during the ceremony.

 

Director Bambalan encouraged the recipients to make the most of their lands through livelihood developments that will contribute to the economic growth of the island province.

 

“Since you are living in Batanes which is declared as a natural park, you may anchor your developments to the province’s protected area management plan,” she added as she hoped that future interventions will bring more improvement in the province’s biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.

 

ROD Officer-In-Charge Maria Jocelyn Puriran who supported the program said the granting of titles is indeed beneficial to Ivatans since they no longer have to undergo hard and tedious land transactions. “When you have your land titles, no one can anymore question your land ownership,” she enthused.

 

Assistant Regional Executive Director for Technical Services Marcos Dacanay encouraged the grantees to religiously pay their taxes for the government to sustain its projects in the province.

 

For the part of the provincial local government unit (PLGU), Governor Marilou Cayco represented by Provincial Administrator Juan Caballero said they will encourage the Ivatan beneficiaries to make their lands productive through initiating vegetable and tree planting activities.

 

Meanwhile, PENR Officer Victoria Baliuag extended her gratitude to the provincial and municipal government units for their support and assistance that made the program possible.

 

The ‘Handog Titulo’ Program of the DENR which will also be conducted in other provinces of the region this June is one of the Agency's priority programs under the leadership of Acting Secretary Jim Sampulna. This massive awarding of titles is in support of the government’s program entitled Pamana sa Mamamayang Pilipino: “A Duterte Legacy”.

 

Joining the ceremony were Environment and Natural Resources Officer Henry Acaya, Conservation and Development Division Chief Enrique Pasion, and other DENR and PLGU Batanes officials.#