ANGARA: LAND REFORM KEY TO ERADICATING POVERTY IN RP

Sen. Edgardo J. Angara is urging Congress to enact the Land Administration Reform Act and optimize the use of distributed lands, which he said is key to poverty eradication, social, economic and cultural justice and asset reform.

Angara emphasized that "land is vital to the people's sense of security and quest for a better life, but such [security] can only be achieved through an efficient land administration system including efficient survey and mapping of land, first-time titling of alienable and disposable land, registration of land titles and title transfer and public land management."

The current trend of government agencies undertaking land surveys, mapping, classification, disposition and registration is hampered by fundamental legal and institutional defects in both the structure and operations of the land administration system. Such structural defects in land administration have caused major inefficiencies including extensive delays in the disposition and titling of alienable and disposable land, inaccurate and incomplete land records, duplicate and fake titles, duplication and overlapping of activities between government agencies, and unnecessary costs to both the national and local governments and the general public.

"This may be a long and painful process, but a necessary step to ensure our farmers' welfare and promote agricultural growth. In the end, we all strive for a common core objective--to contribute to nation-building by maximizing our resources and encouraging our farmers to become part of national development," said Angara.

The bill seeks to provide leadership and management of land administration reforms through comprehensive and continuing programs to make acquisition and registration of real property affordable and expeditious, as well as undertake asset reform programs. It will also adopt workable policies and programs to accelerate and complete the titling and registration of alienable and disposable lands, ensure equitable distribution and full use and development of lands and establish a sustainable and viable land administration through a computerized administration.

In addition, it will provide accessible, efficient and affordable services to people through an effective information system, facilitate the abolition of judicial registration of title in favor of more simple processes, and improve the skills of and career opportunities for government employees engaged in the provision of land administration services.