Lands Management Division on track of 2006 goal

The Regional Lands and Management Division said they are on track in their goal to issue 5,000 target patents for this year on agricultural lands.

Bonifacio Rivera, head of LMD of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7, said recent favorable condition and sufficient logistics led to the fast tracking of the agency's aim to issue titles of 7,527 hectares in Central Visayas.

Rivera said the division can fulfill the Land Titling Fast Tracking assurance that titles can be released after a maximum of three months compared with the extra delayed processing years ago.

"Should there be no blocking factors like incomplete documents, unfinished cases, or unsatisfied claimants, in three months release na ang title," Rivera said.

During summer, Rivera said, community environment officers can reach the farthest barangays and continue the campaign and processing.

Aside from that the region's manageable insurgency compared with other regions is also a plus factor.

Of the 7,527 hectares equivalent to 5,994 patents targeted for this year, LMD had already issued 1,037 patents covering 673 hectares.

In Bohol province, a total of 473 patents were issued covering 239.6 hectares.

Cebu province followed with 442 patents covering 254.74 hectares.

There were 69 patents issued in the province of Oriental Negros covering 164 hectares.

The province of Siquijor is the smallest with 15 hectares covered equivalent to 53 patents.

Rivera said they are still to collate data with the courts in determining the number of hectares which are yet to be titled in Central Visayas.

Land Titling is among the 10 point agenda of President Gloria Arroyo since a titled lot is easier to market and can serve as a collateral. - Ferliza C. Contratista