Gov’t agencies commit to efficient land titling

Several government agencies and stakeholders have committed to bring about a more efficient and effective land titling services to the public as part of efforts to address the issues of the land sector in the country.

After the first-ever National Land Summit organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), over 500 land management and titling agencies signed a Declaration of Support and Commitment that will solve the bottlenecks in land administration and management.

“The Declaration of Support and Commitment signifies unity with DENR in pursuing the implementation of land administration and management reforms across all agencies and sectors. It is a confirmation of willingness to be part of the reform process, and of the need for strong partnership,” Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said.

The document will be forwarded to President Duterte in support of Agenda No. 6 of the administration’s 10-point socioeconomic agenda, which aims to “ensure security of land tenure to encourage investments and address bottlenecks in land management and titling agencies.”

The DENR will also incorporate climate change and land administration and management in its overall plans, programs and activities.

“With the complex issues on land administration and management, institutional convergence and harmonization are necessary to ensure that the enabling policies and appropriate programs are put in place,” Environment Undersecretary Analiza Teh said.

“We need to accelerate the completion of land titling under a unified mapping and streamlined procedure, and to equip local government units for spatially enabled land governance,” she added.

Land administration and management is one of the major programs of the DENR this year.

It is also pursuant to Ambisyon Natin 2040, which represents the collective long-term vision and aspirations of the Filipino people for themselves and for the country in the next 25 years, which includes owning a medium-sized house in a lot registered under their names.

Cimatu said the government aims to achieve this by providing tenure security through land ownership and formal titles.