The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ha vowed to fast-track the land titling procedures in the country, saying it is an essential element to put an end to land conflicts and insurgency.
The insurgency factor on land titling procedure is reportedly being capitalized by the communist rebels to fuel anger among Indigenous People's through the ancestral domain issue and in recruiting among poor farmers.
DENR Acting Secretary Jim O. Sampulna said he had already urged the Land Management Bureau (LMB) and other DENR offices to initiate processes that would expedite the land-titling procedures.
Sampulna made the statement following the National Task Force-Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict meeting led by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in Butuan City on April 12. The event, which was also highlighted by the distribution of 7,000 land patents, enforces President Duterte’s order to fast-track land distribution as a counter-insurgency measure in the provinces.
“I would like to urge the Land Management Bureau and the Undersecretary for Legal, Administration, Human Resources and Legislative Affairs and supervising undersecretary of LMB to fast-track the titling of all areas because of the fact that 70 percent of the conflict around us is caused by land conflict,” said Sampulna.
Sampulna also prompted the DENR’s regional officials to fast-track the distribution of lands until the end of the year.
Republic Act 10023 or the Residential Free Patent Act mandates the DENR to accept and process applications for free patent titles of residential lands.
As he acknowledged the low number of Filipinos with land titles, Sampulna underscored the importance of bringing the agency’s services to the public to ease the processing of free patents.
“I think by estimate, 30 to 35 percent of our people still do not have titles but they are in possession of tax declaration. This is mainly because they do not want to undergo the process of land titling, as they do not know who to approach. That is why we have to bring our service to them. Let us be closer to the people to speed up the transactions of the public with us,” Sampulna said.
“There are three reasons the DENR exists. First is to give lands to those without titles. Second is for the country’s natural resources—forestry, mines, and environment. And last, to address conflicts on lands which is a pressing issue at present. Let us concentrate on land conflicts and whoever is in charge should work more,” he added.