DENR hastens processing of land patents for schools

CEBU, Philippines - The titling of lands for at least 472 public schools in Central Visayas is now being fast tracked to avoid future issues on land ownership.

Isabelo Montejo, regional director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7, said they are targeting to distribute special patents to the 472 schools within the year.

“We are pursuing very seriously the titling of lands over public school sites consistent with the directive of the Aquino administration’s twin policies of improving the public education system and reforming land administration and management in the country,” he said.

DENR-7 spokesperson Eddie Llamedo said special patents for public lots can now be released four months after application, as compared to the normal seven year to 10 years’ processing.

He said the central office has already decentralized the issuance of special patents to the provincial environment and natural resources office (PENRO) through DENR Administrative Order No. 2015-01 signed by Secretary Ramon JP Paje on March 5.

“We can assure faster distribution of special patents here in the region. The central office, on the other hand, will no longer be facing backlogs,” he said.

The DAO orders DENR regional offices to speed up the processing and issuance of special patents for around 2, 200 school sites within the year at the national level.

Of the untitled 472 public schools in Central Visayas, the applications of 100 schools have already been processed and will soon be distributed.

“We would like to protect our public schools from encroachment, segregation, illegal occupation and adverse claims of ownership by other individuals or parties,” Montejo said.

The 100 public schools included in the signing of special patents consist of 25 schools in Cebu with two primary schools and 23 elementary schools; Bohol has 50 schools all in all with 37 elementary schools, eight primary schools, four high schools and one for TESDA; Negros Occidental has 20 patent-applications for 18 elementary and two high school sites; and Siquijor with five public elementary schools.

He clarified that only lands declared as “alienable and disposable” will be issued with special patents under the name of DepEd, pursuant to Republic Act No. 10023, otherwise known as the Residential Free Patent Act of 2010.

Process

Under the new guidelines, superintendents of division schools may apply for special patents with the concerned community environment and natural resources officer.

The application after the verification and endorsement is processed within 120 days from receipt and will be sent to PENRO.

The 120-day period, however, may be interrupted once a complaint is filed. The CENRO is given 30 days to resolve the same or make recommendation.

The PENRO, on the other hand, is given five days from receipt of the CENRO’s transmittal of the application to approve or disapprove the request for special patent.

Upon the approval of the special patent, the PENRO will transmit the patent to the registry of deeds for registration and will inform the DepEd of the transmittal. (FREEMAN)