DENR adopts integrated land information system

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is adopting an integrated computerized land information system.

DENR Secretary Ramon Paje said the deteriorating condition of the paper records and the absence of an up-to-date spatial map that links these records into an effective system have negatively affected the land-related services of the agency.

“With the establishment of the Land Administration and Management System (LAMS), missing, erroneous and conflicting land records will now be addressed,” Paje said.

LAMS is an information system designed to provide effective management of land records and efficient delivery of land transactions and information services to the public through the LAM One-Stop-Shops, Land Management Bureau (LMB), Regional Land Management Sector (LMS) and concerned local government units (LGUs).

Through the LAMS’ database and imaging technology and computerized inspection, verification and approval of survey returns, effective land titling activities will be realized.

According to Paje, this system will be the platform for managing the land data and information of the Land Management Bureau and Land Management Services in the DENR’s regional offices, where data may be inputted from other systems such as the PRS 92 Project of the National Mapping Resources Information Authority or NAMRIA and the Land Titling Computerization Project of the Land Registration Authority.

Likewise, links with the LGUs shall be established on a demand-driven and partnership approach to increase the LGU revenue collection, planning and other systems.

Paje added that complementing the computerization initiatives of other land agencies and LGUs, the LAMS will link other land information to cadastral maps, approved land survey plans, public land applications and titles.

“The LMB shall oversee the implementation of DENR Administrative Order 2010-18 to ensure that LAMS is successfully installed in all regional land management offices, including Provincial and Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices of DENR.”

LMB Director Allan Barcena, who also sits as the executive director of LAMP2, said that “the development of a computerized system at the start of the second phase of the Land Administration and Management Project was envisioned in response to land-related services and in preparation for the bigger challenges of the LMS sector’s continuous operation in the future.”

Barcena said that relative to this effort, the LMB has successfully negotiated for the provision of funds for the construction of records facilities and initial equipment outlay to all regional land offices for the eventual computerization of records and services.