BY BENJAMIN MOSES M. EBREO
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (September 20)—Officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the local government units (LGUs) of Diadi and Quezon agreed to provide villagers with ownership on their occupied lands.
DENR Region 2 Director Gwendolyn Bambalan said this will be made possible with the signing of a Memorandum of Partnership Agreement (MOPA) with Diadi Mayor Sandy Gayaton and Quezon Mayor Dolores Binwag for the implementation of the Rapid Land Tenure Appraisal (RLTA) in their respective municipalities.
RLTA is a mechanism to expedite issuance of land titles. Through barangay profiling of lands covered by cadastral surveys, the RLTA will reveal how many of the remaining untitled lots are available and workable for titling.
“In every program we implement, we are into partnership because we believe in shared responsibility and synergy. If there is cooperation and shared responsibility, our work will be faster and better,” Bambalan said.
She said the land titling will benefit the LGUs and patent holders since it will generate additional revenues that would improve the socio-economic potentials of the municipalities.
“This will also provide security of tenure for patent holders to facilitate economic activities because land titles can also be used as collateral for loans,” Bambalan added.
Under the MOPA, the DENR shall conduct land titling activities within the territorial jurisdiction of the municipality and provide technical assistance as well as materials, manpower, documents and data to the LGUs.
It shall also provide quick response assistance to the municipality in the phases of titling activities including the conduct of necessary trainings and capacity building for LGU personnel.
The LGU shall also assign officials and personnel required under the partnership and create necessary committees and teams to work out the RLTA.
It shall also spearhead community mobilization, provide after-titling support to beneficiaries, and support the institutionalization and mainstreaming of land administration and management policies and procedures.