Special patents for Baguio and barangay lots pushed

By Julie G. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY – Registration of lands identified for city and barangay needs was pushed by city officials here in a recent meeting.

Though tedious and time-consuming, extra effort should be done to register such parcels of land identified through  special patents,  officials said in a recent forum here at city hall.

The meeting was facilitated by the General Services Office and Councilor Leandro Yangot, Jr. as chair of urban planning, lands and housing committee.

Others were Register of Deeds officer for Baguio and Benguet Guerrero Felipe and Helma Aboy, of the Land Management Services, Department of Environment and Natural Resources who explained process of the application.

    

DENR officials said lands classified as forest, mineral and national parks, may not be alienated, except for agricultural lots.

According to Ms. Aboy, land use could be for settlement and protection, but lands for production, infrastructure, forest reservations and mineral areas could not be issued patents.

The change in land use would need Congress approval, it was known.

Forest reservations include the Buyog and Busol reservations, while the mineral areas are in Mines View.

Production areas are at Export Processing Zone (EPZA).

Road right of ways could not also be issued patents, it was known. 

Protected lands include coastal areas for wildlife and identification of species, and researches for the ecosystem  located at Loakan.

The modes of disposition are Homestead, Free Patent, Townsite Sales Application, Miscellaneous Sales Application, Residential Free Patent Application, and Special Patent.

For Special Patents, first process is to request for reservation. In the case of the barangay, the punong barangay may be authorized; 

Recommendation of the provincial/city health officer concurred in by the regional health director and secretary of health in case of reservations where the health of the people may be affected are also needed.

These include those of the district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways concurred by the Regional Director and Secretary;

Also needed is complete survey duly approved by the Lands regional Technical director. This would include verified and certified correct technical descriptions; certified photographs, visual documentation with adjacent areas, improvements, landmarks, land classification or city/municipal index map and land uses within two-kilometer radius. Others are MC no. 28, series of Jan. 19, 1993 report, brief background of the area, certification on status of land. 

These are embodied in DENR memorandum circular 97-02 of Jan. 8, 1997.  

ROD chief for Baguio and Benguet, Guerrero Felipe also explained procedures and requirement in the application, and procedures in the transfer of titles acquired through donation or purchases.