DENR to speed up cadastral survey

 CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - Central Visayas will fasttrack the cadastral survey in at least four municipalities in Cebu.

For this year, DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Maximo Dichoso said they aim to cover 73,661 hectares with a total budget of P163,090,115.76 for certain municipalities in Central Visayas.

The budget for Cebu is P49.879 million, covering the municipalities of Minglanilla, Argao, Tuburan, and Tabuelan with a total area of 25,710 hectares or 34.90 percent of the whole project.

According to Dichoso, they are also preparing the survey for selected towns in Negros Oriental, Bohol and Siquijor covering 73,661 hectares and costing P163.090 million.

The DENR was given a marching order from Malacañang to hasten and complete the cadastral survey of the country to support the government’s land titling, land use planning, taxation and internal revenue allotment (IRA) program for the various municipalities nationwide.

Dichoso said that reforms in the country’s land services is a must as it will improve the productivity of idle lands therefore boost economic prosperity.

Cadastral survey covers extensive areas such as an entire municipality or city consisting of several or many parcels of land undertaken for the purpose of land registration.

“The cadastral survey program is seriously pursued as it is instrumental in efficient patent distribution and accelerating countryside development,” Dichoso said.

Secretary Paje earlier issued DENR Administrative Order No. 2011-05 directing the Land Management Bureau to conduct an inventory and establish a database of abandoned cadastral survey projects.

A cadastral survey project is said to be abandoned when field activities are left unfinished after the period stipulated in the contract, when the contractor fails to correct survey defects within a prescribed period, or when the contractor fails to return survey project records and other violations of the contract.

Aside from Cebu, covered are the municipalities of Manjuyod, Pamplona, Dauin, and Zamboanguita of Negros Oriental with the biggest target of 37,456 hectares or 50.85 percent and a budget of 87.998 million for the survey.

Bohol has 5,158 hectares or seven percent coverage with a budget of P24.581 million to cover the municipalities of Tubigon, President Carlos Garcia, and Danao.

Siquijor has 5,337 hectares or 7.25 percent coverage with a budget of P630,000 covering the municipality of Maria.

The regional executive director was given the power to cancel abandoned survey projects, and to determine and impose the appropriate sanctions against erring geodetic engineers or survey contractors.  (FREEMAN)