The government is eyeing the completion of migration of the country’s land records from a manual to a digital system within the year to be able to ensure safe, fast, and efficient delivery of land-related services to the public under the so-called “new normal.”
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The Land Management Bureau (LMB) will carry out the digitization of records through the Land Administration and Management System (LAMS). LMB is an agency under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that is responsible for administering, surveying, managing and disposing alienable and disposable lands and other public lands not placed under the jurisdiction of other government agencies.
Director Emelyne Talabis said the bureau is also working to digitize the processing of public land application, verification and approval of survey plans, and access to land information in order to minimize physical presence of clients and stakeholders at LMB offices nationwide.
“Even before the pandemic, the LMB is already revisiting the processes and procedures under LAMS since its launch in 2016,” Talabis pointed out.
“This new normal all the more showed the urgency of our development plans for LAMS,” she added.
LAMS is a computerized information system that consolidates land data and records in the country.
The system is designed for quick and easy processing, tracking and retrieval of land information.
Warlito Quirimit, the head of both the LMB Information and Communication Technology Section and LAMS National Coordinating Desk, said the bureau looks forward to the full implementation of the Inspection, Verification and Approval of Surveys (IVAS) under the LAMS.
Quirimit said the IVAS would allow clients—through accredited geodetic engineers—to submit e-survey returns online instead of going to LAMS kiosks located at LMB regional offices.
Geodetic engineers will also be able access and download survey records, including textual and scanned documents of land information subject to LAMS policy on digital land data sharing and security measures.
These, however, do not include confidential records.
“Step-by-step, enhancement plans will be implemented this year until 2021,” Quirimit said.
Although the field officers of the DENR are still faced with the challenge of internet limitations, Quirimit assured the public that “LMB continues to enhance LAMS to maximize its full potential and become digitally-available.”