FIVE LAND POLICIES, ISSUED

Five land policies were issued by former Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje which will serve as guiding principles in implementing various programs, activities and projects across the country. These policies were pursued by the Land Management Bureau (LMB) living up to its mandate as a policy-making arm of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The approved policies are as follows:

1. DENR Administrative Order No. 2016- 01 dated January 22, 2016 entitled, “Adoption of Digital Land Survey Data (DLSD) Lodgment as a Standard Format for the Submission and Exchange of Survey Data in Digital Form under the Land Administration and Management System (LAMS)”This new Administrative Order adopting a standard medium for digital data exchange and submission of survey data in digital format – Digital Land and Survey Data (DLSD) aims to improve the services of the Regional Offices through improving processing time particularly in the submission and approval of survey returns and establishing a standard format for use in data exchange with other government agencies and other stakeholders requiring land information.This move is geared towards paperless transactions in the land sector which is being eyed by the government.
2. DENR Memorandum Circular No. 2016-01 dated February, 2016 entitled, “Amending Section 180.D of the DENR Manual on Land Survey Procedures”This Memorandum Circular provides a clear description of the land parcel in an isolated plan which aid in the identification of land parcel during the conduct of verification/relocation survey for the resolution of either judicial or administrative land cases, specifically on the description of vegetation and terrain when plotted in plans and maps.
3. DENR Memorandum Circular No. 2016-06 entitled, “Adoption of the Manual for the Operationalization of the Land Administration and Management System, Inspection, Verification and Approval of Surveys (LAMS-IVAS)”This user’s guide signed on June 21, 2016 provides step by step procedure on how to use the different functionalities of the LAMS-IVAS which will be operationalized in the entire country.This aims to ensure efficiency of service delivery, access to land information, as well as fast track the verification and approval process of land survey.

   LAMS-IVAS, an integral part of LAMS Philippines, features special functionalities to facilitate automated checks which aid the automated verification process that will result to a better delivery of service.

   The establishment of an integrated land information system in the land sector supports land titling activities and any future collaboration with other agencies, local governments and other users.

4. DENR Administrative Order No. 2016-22 dated June 29, 2016 entitled, “Requiring Geo-tagged Photographs of the Land Subject of Public Land Applications (PLAs) during the Ocular Inspection/Investigation”This Administrative Order requires public land inspectors/investigators to take geo-tagged photographs showing the location of the subject lot and its existing improvements together with the actual occupant.They are mandated to attach in the investigation report at least three photographs of the subject area taken using at least a 3.2 megapixel camera resolution showing its geographic position (latitude and longitude) and date and time.

   Field Offices have been using panoramic pictures during ocular inspections/investigation in support of investigation reports submitted in the processing of PLAs.

5. DENR Administrative Order No. 2016-21 dated June 30, 2016 entitled, “Guidelines Governing the Processing of Requests for Proclamations and Issuance of Special Patents over Agricultural Lands”This Administrative Order draw up guidelines in speeding up the processing of requests for proclamations and issuance of special patents actually used and occupied by government agencies and entities including Local Government Units (LGUs).DENR Administrative Order No. 2016-21 signed by former Secretary Paje on June 30, 2016 provides guidelines which shall govern the processing of these requests used for charitable or other similar purposes run by the government; public cemetery, municipal halls, public plazas or parks and other government institutions for public use or public purpose.

   The issuance of special patents under this new administrative order will be part of the land disposition program of the government which will be implemented across the country in consonance with the thrust of the government to dispose public lands in favor of authorized beneficiaries.

The LMB, in consultation with the Regional/Field offices still continues to formulate policies for the betterment of the implementation of programs relative to land administration and management.