The adoption of the enhanced Land Sector Development Framework and Roadmap (LSDF) 2019-2040 has gained support and pledges from different organizations during the recent National Governance Summit.
With the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Land Management Bureau (DENR-LMB), together with the Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC) and German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), leading the raising of commitments of land sector stakeholders, a number of pledges in support for efficient and effective land management in the country were raised during the summit that took place in Quezon City.
"The enhanced LSDF—led by the Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF) and supported by the DENR and GIZ—is a long-term strategic roadmap for the land sector that provides a relevant, responsive, holistic, and progressive approach in areas such as land administration, land information systems and management, land governance, and land valuation and market development," according to the DENR-LMB.
Undersecretary for Legal and Administration Ernesto D. Adobo Jr. emphasized the importance of “timely, evidence-based, and equitable policies and technology-driven” land governance amid the ever-growing population and the negative effects of climate change.
“Today, we will be looking at the improved LSDF with renewed excitement, as consultation and inputs from broader land agencies, local governments, the private sector, and civil society groups have been incorporated, and its vision aligned with Ambisyon 2040,” Adobo said, referring to the framework that establishes national development goals and strategies for the next 20 years.
Anchored on the previous version of the LSDF 2010-2030, key land developments and policies, and rapid urbanization trends, the enhanced LSDF serves as a foundation to develop integrated policies for land administration and management reforms, and identify key areas of intervention and problems to be solved.
"Funded under GIZ’s Responsible Land Governance in Mindanao project, the framework underwent rigorous consultation from government and non-government groups, academe, professional organizations, and communities to develop an evidence-based and inclusive framework," the agency disclosed.
Lawmakers from the Senate and the House of Representatives, national government agencies involved in land administration and management, and various organizations attended the summit. Among the officials who expressed their commitment were La Union 1st District Rep. and House Committee on Agrarian Reform vice-chairperson Francisco Paolo Ortega, Senator Ana Theresia Navarro Hontiveros-Baraquel, Senator Raffy T. Tulfo, and Department of Finance-Bureau of Local Government Finance OIC Executive Director Ma. Pamela Quizon.
Land Registration Authority Administrator Gerardo Sirios, Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III, National Mapping and Resource Information Authority Undersecretary and Administrator Peter Tiangco, National Commission for Indigenous Peoples Chairperson Allen Capuyan, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., South Cotabato Governor and League of Provinces of the Philippines president Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. also conveyed their support through their representatives.
"In addition, representatives from the academe, farmers and fisherfolk groups, indigenous peoples, and the urban poor including Roel Ravanera of Xavier Science Foundation and Institute of Land Governance, Ireneo Cerilla of Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka, Ruperto Aleroza of Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Samahan sa Kanayunan, Giovanni Reyes of BUKLURAN, and Ruby Haddad of the Homeless People’s Federation Inc. expressed approval for the enhanced LSDF and called for more collaboration with land sector agencies," the DENR-LMB added.
FEF consultant Elmer Mercado said the updated version of the LSDF is broader and more comprehensive in scope as it also focuses on private land, valuation of ecological resources, alternative dispute resolution, and capacity-building of land agencies when it comes to technology.
Moreover, in the areas of Land Administration, Land Management and Governance, Land Information Systems and Management, and Land Valuation and Market Development, the enhanced LSDF aims to contribute to tenure security, protection of natural resources, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and resilience.