259 locals get free patents in Samar

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Eastern Visayas has distributed free patents to 259 beneficiaries in San Jorge, Samar, a report from the agency’s website said Friday.

DENR-8 Director Arleigh Adorable told reporters that the beneficiaries of the government’s Handog Titulo program received one patent each for free in San Jorge, where the distribution took place.

He added that the beneficiaries were from the municipalities of San Jorge, Gandara, Pagsanghan, Sta. Margarita, and Tarangnan in Samar. They availed of the free titling services offered by the department’s Registry of Deeds (ROD) and the local government units.

Adorable encouraged the beneficiaries to make their land productive and stressed the responsibility of the titleholders to pay real property taxes to help the government sustain its provision of services for the people.

He also urged them to help in disseminating information about the free titling program of the government, which aims to reduce poverty and increase productivity of the people.

First District Representative Edgar Mary Sarmiento, who graced the patent distribution, also made a commitment to provide services that will increase the productivity of agricultural lands, as well as favorable market conditions for their products.

Section 45, Chapter VII of Commonwealth Act 141, amended by RA 6940 and further amended by RA 9176, authorizes the issuance of free patents to natural born Filipino citizens who do not own more than 12 hectares of agricultural land, and has continuously occupied or cultivated the subject property either by himself or through his predecessors-in-interest for at least 30 years prior to the effectivity of the amendatory act, and have paid the real property tax thereon. (FREEMAN)