BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (June 17)—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) has distributed a total of 2,383 patents to beneficiaries under the Malawakang Handog Titulo Program (MHTP).
The land titles were distributed all over Cagayan Valley, which comprises the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Isabela, Cagayan and the island province of Batanes, DENR Region 2 Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan said.
The recently conducted MHTP series of awarding ceremonies was in collaboration with the Registry of Deeds (RoD) represented by lawyer Melba Niña Quinto in Nueva Vizcaya, lawyer Brenda Lyn Afalla in Quirino, lawyer Ariel Vallejo in Isabela, lawyer Herminio Sychangco Jr. in Cagayan and Maria Jocelyn Puriran in Batanes.
The DENR Region 2 said the activity was in support of the government program of the Duterte administration dubbed “Pamana sa Mamamayang Pilipino: A Duterte Legacy,” which is also part of the government’s land disposition program under Republic Act 10023 or the “Residential Free Patent Act.”
Earlier, responding to DENR acting secretary Jim Sampulna directing field officials to facilitate the land titling process in the department, Bambalan moved to strengthen the land management disposition program in the region and created a regional committee.
Bambalan said the creation of the committee is meant to deliberate all environmental and administrative cases to fast track the resolution of land conflicts that are relevant to the speedy issuance of patents and that through the committee, the resolution of land cases is now being facilitated.
Meanwhile, Juan Miguel Cuna, DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, lauded the officials of the DENR, RoD and local government units (LGUs) for facilitating the patent processing and issuance of the land titles awarded.
Cuna encouraged the DENR and RoD officials to continue building partnerships with the LGUs to expedite not only the land titling process but also to facilitate the resolution of land conflicts.
Benito Antonio de Leon, Undersecretary for Enforcement, Solid Waste Management and LGU Concerns, said the strong collaboration of the DENR with the different LGU partners and the RoD sustained its activities under the land administration and management program.
De Leon explained that the Handog Titulo program aims primarily to uplift the socio-economic condition of farmer-beneficiaries by encouraging investments and empowering them through having the security of tenure over their property.
Bambalan has encouraged patent beneficiaries to make use of their land productively to uplift their livelihood and economic condition.
The patent awardees were also given seedlings as part of the DENR’s environment month celebration. LCD