LOS BAŇOS, Laguna (PNA) — The Los Baños-based DENR – Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Deputy Public Land Inspector Edna L. Eugenio has assured on Wednesday residential lot owners who until now have no “legal title certificates” to their land to avail themselves of the services under the free patent program.
Eugenio has coordinated with Alaminos Mayor Dr. Eladio M. Magampon for the continuing program of the DENR in partnership with the Land Registration Authority (LRA) for the granting of the Original Certificate of Title through the administrative process without going through the court legalities.
The CENRO official urged owners of untitled properties to visit the Municipal Assessor’s Office on Wednesdays where Eugenio also holds satellite office to receive the applications for registration and assistance on the titling services for residential lots.
The CENRO Deputy Public Land Inspector explained that the titling services for residential lots are pursuant to Republic Act 10023 or the Free Patent Act of 2010.
Eugenio advised the lot owners the terms and conditions for the titling services that:(1) the untitled lot should not exceed 1,000 sq. meters; (2) certification from the Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator that the lot has been classified as residential; (3) certification from the court that the lot is not under contest for ownership issue;
(4) certification from the Barangay Chair that the applicant exercises actual possession of the lot for not less than 10 years; certification that the lot’s real property taxes were paid for at least 10 years; and (6) Cadastral Map showing the Lot Number.
Eugenio also clarified that the applicant pays the P50 application fee, P5 entry fee and P5 final fee to the CENRO office.
She said however that the applicant shoulders the costs for securing the certifications and the required notarized documents.
The owner also pays to the Register of Deeds in San Pablo City upon obtaining the owner’s duplicate copy of the Original Certificate of Title, Eugenio added.
Eugenio encouraged the lot owners to avail of the P2,000 minimal expenses and six-month processing period compared with the previous court procedures where the expenses reached P60,000 with the legal services of a lawyer and more than a year’s processing.