FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
7 JM 38 P3:jp 
Introduced by: Senator Lacson 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
* 
Land is the ultimate resource, for without it, life on earth cannot be sustained, and 
thus, good stewardship of the land is essential for present and future generations. 
The world’s population has doubled in the last 40 years and passed the 6 billion 
mark. It is predicted to reach 8.5 billion by the year 2030, a population level thought by 
many scientists to be the maximum number of people supported by the world‘s resources 
and capacity for food production. Less than half of the world’s population has secure 
access to land. 
The International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) in cooperation with the United 
Nations hosted the “Bathurst Workshop on Land Tenure and Cadastral Infrastructures for 
Sustainable Development” in Australia in October, 1999 and concluded that sustainable 
development is just rhetoric without appropriate land administration system. The Bathurst 
declaration recommends a global commitment to provide effective legal security of 
tenure and access to property for all men and women and to provide reforms in the land 
administration system essential for sustainable development and facilitating full and 
equal access for men and women to land-related economic opportunities, such as credit 
and natural resources. 
The performance, however, of government agencies undertaking land 
administration functions such as land surveys, mapping, classification, titling and 
disposition and registration is below par. The services being provided by these agencies 
are not contributing to address our domestic problems on sustainable development, much 
more to the global concerns. The problem is largely contributed by fundamental legal and 
institutional defects in both the structure and operations of the land administration 
system. For one, there are many laws governing the land administration functions 
including the existence of a number of institutions administering our scarce land 
resources resulting to confusions, delays, high 
transactions costs (government and 
users), low investment, and graft and corruption. 
These institutional and structural defects in land administration besides not 
contributing to the sustainable development of natural resources have also given rise to 
major inefficiencies including extensive delays in the disposition and titling of alienable 
and disposable land, inaccurate and incomplete land information and records, duplicate 
and fake titles, duplication and overlap of activities between government agencies, and 
unnecessary costs to both the national and local governments and the user/clients of land 
administration services. 
To address these problems, the Government has been undertaking a Land 
Administration and Management Project preparatory to a long-term program to 


fundamentally reform the present land administration system, thereby promoting 
sustainable development, economic growth, and poverty alleviation. 
However, there is a widespread agreement that a fundamental prerequisite for the 
pursuit of the necessary reforms is the consolidation and streamlining within a single 
government agency of land administration powers and functions currently dispersed 
across the Department of Justice’s Land Registration Authority and Registries of Deeds 
and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Lands Management Bureau, 
Land Management Services in the regional, provincial and community offices, National 
Mapping and Resource Information Authority, and CARP Secretariat and its field offices. 
The integration of these agencies/offices into a single agency will: 
1 Implement the necessary reforms in the land administration system to enable to 
provide land information and services necessary to pursue sustainable 
management of natural resources, among others; 
. Enable the integrated planning, budgeting and implementation of the long term 
land titling program, including the development of integrated land 
classification, land titling and records management; 
Provide the necessary management structure for the creation and extension of a 
One Stop Shop network for the delivery of land titling, registration and 
information services to members of the public; 
1 Consolidate staffing patterns and training programs for government staff 
engaged in the provision of land administration services, thereby establishing 
the basis for the major training and professional development of staff needed to 
support the proposed reforms and improve their career structures and 
opportunities; 
. Create scope to achieve significant savings through the elimination over time 
of duplicated administrative support services and other costs arising from the 
current fragmentation of land administration services; and 
. Enable the development of increased transparency and enhancement of 
professionalism and accountability across the whole land administration 
system. 
The Philippines is unusual, compared to its neighboring countries, in that the 
government’s land administration functions are currently dispersed across multiple 
agencies. Without integrating these three agencies, it will be difficult to undertake the 
major long-term investment of resources that will be necessary to implement the required 
over all reforms. 
The proposed Land Reform Act seeks to enable the lands sector to contribute to 
sustainable development, economic growth and poverty alleviation. The Bill’s early 
enactment will ensure Philippines recognition to the global efforts for sustainable 
development while providing an improved access to land and services to the majority of 
our Filipino people especially the poor. I strongly recommend the Bill for favorable 
consideration by the Senate. 
PA 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE mpmm 
First Regular Session 
) 
OF TIJE PHILIPPINES 
1 
‘7 JUN 30 p3 :.jg 
SENATE 
Senate B i l l . N o . x 3  
Introduced by: Senator Lucson 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTING REFORMS IN LAND ADMINISTRATION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress Assembled: 
ARTICLE I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as “The Land Administration Reform 
Act of2007.” 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to institutionalize 
reforms in land administration in order to optimize and rationalize their contribution to the goals 
of national development, the eradication of poverty, and the attainment of social, economic, and 
cultural justice. Towards this end, the State shall: 
(a) 
Promote efficient and effective mapping, land survey, classification, disposition, 
registration, and management of private and public lands; 
(b) 
Undertake a comprehensive and continuing land administration program that will 
make the processes and procedures on land registration and titling affordable and expeditious; 
Assist in the attainment of the government’s asset reform programs; 
Accelerate and complete the distribution, titling, and registration of alienable or 
(c) 
(d) 
disposable lands to provide security of land tenure; 
(e) 
Undertake reforms in land administration and management to ensure equitable 
distribution and full utilization and development of alienable or disposable lands; 
(Q Improve the efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, and accountability of land 
administration services; 
(g) 
Establish a sustainable and viable administration of land through computerization 
of functions and removal of overlaps and duplication in the delivery of land administration 
services; 
(h) 
Establish an administrative system for the cancellation of duplicate and fake titles 
and the eradication of land grabbing activities; 


(i) 
Provide accessible, efficient, and affordable land administration services to the 
people through the establishment of One-Stop-Shops nationwide; 
(i) 
Establish an effective land information system and provide easy and affordable 
access to land information by members of the public; 
(k) 
Rationalize and clarify the entitlements of persons to land titles to make the process 
of issuing original titles fast and low-cost; 
(1) 
Promote and support the development of a national land administration and 
management education system; 
(m) Identify and reduce disincentives to the registration of property transactions; 
(n) 
Mainstream gender in all aspects of the land administration system; and 
(0) 
Recognize, respect, ensure participation, and assist in the enforcement of land 
related rights of men and women of the basic sectors, as defined in Republic Act No. 8425, 
otherwise known as the “Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act.” 
Section 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purpose of this Act, the following terms shall, 
unless the context indicates otherwise, have the following meanings: 
(a) “Director General” refers to the person occupying the position of Director General 
of the Land Administration Authority created by this Act including any person appointed as 
Acting Director General. 
(b) 
“Land Administration and Public Land Management” refers to the administration 
of all functions, powers and activities related to the mapping, land survey, classification, 
ownership, disposition, and registration of land titles and deeds, and the management of public 
lands. 
(c) “Lands Management Bureau (LMB)” refers to a staff Bureau of the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). 
(d) “Lands Management Services (LMS)” refers to the land management sector or 
offices of the DENR at the regional, provincial, and district level. 
(e) “Land Registration Authority (LRA)” refers to an attached agency of the 
Department of Justice (DOJ), including the Registers of Deeds (ROD). 
(f) 
“National Mapping and Resource Injormation Authority (NAMRIA)” refers to the 
agency known by that name attached to the DENR. 
(g) “Land Administration and Management Project (LAMP) ” refers to the project office 
providing technical and administrative support to the interagency endeavor of the Philippine 
government to identify strategic directions toward land administration reform in land institutions, 
laws, taxes and fees, and valuation. 
(7) 
“Classijkation and Reclassification” refers to the Act of Congress in setting the 
specific limits of forestlands and national parks and increasing or decreasing their boundaries by 
law, as provided for in Article XII, Section 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. 


ARTICLE I1 
CREATION OF THE LAND ADMINISTRATION AUTHORITY 
Section 4. Creation of the Land Administration AuthoriQ (LAA). - To cany out the 
purposes of this Act, the Land Administration Authority (LAA) is hereby created and placed 
under the Office of the President. It shall be the primary government agency responsible for land 
administration and public land management. 
Section 5. Powers and Functions ofthe LAA. - The LAA shall exercise the following 
powers and functions: 
(a) 
Conduct, integrate and regulate the functions of geodetic and geophysical surveys, 
land classification surveys, mapping, aerial photography, remote sensing, management of 
resource information needed by both public and private sectors, and research development 
thereof in accordance with existing laws and internationally accepted norms, procedures, and 
standards; 
(b) 
Survey, map and maintain data base to support the determination of specific limits 
of forest lands and national parks by Congress as provided under Section 4, Article XI1 of the 
Constitution; 
(c) 
Survey, map, maintain database on, administer, manage and/or dispose of all 
alienable and disposable lands of the public domain and other lands, including foreshore and 
marsh lands, under the provisions of Commonwealth Act No. 141, as amended, otherwise known 
as the Public Land Act, and in accordance with existing laws; 
(d) 
Manage, sell, andor dispose the remaining Friar Lands under the provisions of 
Act No. 1120, as amended, and in accordance with existing laws; 
(e) 
Manage and dispose lands of patrimonial property of the National Government 
under the provisions of Act No. 3038, or such other Government lands as have not been placed 
under the administration, management, control or exclusive use of any other gove&ent 
agency 
by legislative or executive issuance; 
(0 
Register original titles to land issued pursuant to Commonwealth Act No. 141 and 
subsequent dealings of registered lands under the provisions of Act No. 496 and Presidential 
Decree No. 1529, otherwise known as the Land Registration Act and the Property Registration 
Decree, respectively; 
(g) 
Conduct, regulate and approve all types of land surveys including surveys 
intended for the implemeiitation of Commonwealth Act No. 141, Republic Act No. 6657 or the 
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL), Republic Act No. 8371 or the Indigenous 
Peoples Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA) and Republic Act No. 7279 or the Urban Development and 
Housing Act (UDHA); 


(h) 
Prepare, issue, and register all titles to land issued pursuant to Commonwealth Act 
No. 141 and subsequent dealings of registered lands including all types of tenure instruments 
intended for the implementation of the CARL, UDHA and the IPRA; 
(i) 
Determine, fix, and collect reasonable amounts to be charged as administration 
fees, fines, and penalties relative to the implementation of this Act; 
(j) 
Formulate land administration and management policies in accordance with 
existing national laws; 
(k) 
Promulgate rules, regulations, circulars and other administrative issuances as may 
be necessary to implement the provisions of this Act; 
(1) 
Such other functions undertaken by the LRA/RoD, LMBLMS, NAMRIA, 
DENR-Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (DENR-CARP) National Secretariat under 
P.D. 1529 and C.A. 141, as amended; and 
(m) 
Such other functions as are necessary, proper, and incidental to implement the 
provisions of this Act. 
Whenever any reference is made to the LWRoD, LMBILMS, NAMRIA, DENR- 
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (DENR-CARP) National Secretariat under E.O. 192, 
P.D. 1529, and C.A. 141, as amended, pertaining to a duty, power, purpose, responsibility, or 
jurisdiction transferred to the LAA by this Act, it shall be deemed to be a reference to, and to 
mean, the Land Administration Authority and the Director General of the LAA, as the case may 
be. 
Section 6. Stakeholders’ Advisory Committee. - The LAA shall be assisted by a 
Stakeholders’ Advisory Committee composed of the following: 
(a) 
Six (6) Representatives from the Basic Sectors (farmers, fisherfolk, urban poor, 
workers in the informal sector; indigenous peoples and NGOs) chosen through the 
nomination process of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC); 
Two (2) Representatives from the NAPC Women’s Sectoral Council; 
Three (3) representatives from the private sector such as, but not limited to, real 
estate, professionals/practitioners, and academe to be appointed by the President; 
and 
The LAA Director General, as ex-officio member. 
(b) 
(c) 
(d) 
The President shall designate the chairperson from among the members of the 
Committee. The members of the Committee, except the LAA Director General, shall not hold 
office in the LAA nor receive any salary but shall be entitled, for actual attendance during 
meetings, to such allowances ana honoraria as are allowed by rules and regulations promulgated 
by the Commission on Audit. 


Section 7. Functions of the Stakeholders Advisory Committee. - The Committee shall 
advise the LAA on the formulation of policies and policy development pertaining to land 
administration and public land management and shall monitor their implementation. It shall 
submit, within three months following the end of each calendar year, a report to the President on 
its advisory and monitoring activities. 
Section 8. Meetings ofthe Committee. - The Chairperson shall convene regular meetings 
of the Committee, which shall be at least once every quarter. Special meetings may also be 
called by the Chairperson or at the initiative of at least three (3) members. 
Section 9. Secretariat and Logistical Support. - The Office of the Director General shall 
provide secretariat and logistical support to the Committee. 
ARTICLE I11 
IMPLEMENTING MECHANISM 
Section 10. Structure and Organization. - The LAA shall consist of: 
(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
(d) 
Field Offices 
The Office of the Director General; 
The Offices of the Deputy Director Generals; 
The Offices of the Assistant Director Generals; and 
Section 11. The Director General. - The authority and responsibility for the exercise of 
the mandate of the LAA, the accomplishment of its objectives, and the discharge of its powers 
and functions shall be vested in the Director General, a cabinet rank, who shall exercise control 
and supervision over the LAA and shall be appointed by the President. For such purposes, the 
Director General shall have the following functions: 
(a) Advise the President on the promulgation of rules, regulations, and other issuances 
relative to land administration and public land management; 
(b) Exercise appellate jurisdiction of all cases arising from conflicting land surveys; 
(c) Establish policies and standards for the efficient and effective operations of the LAA 
in accordance with the programs of the Government; 
(d) Promulgate rules, regulations, and other issuances necessary in carrying out the 
LAA’s mandate, objectives, policies, plans, programs and project; 
(e) Exercise control and supervision over all €unctions and activities of the LAA; 
(0 Delegate authority over all powers, functions and activities of the LAA; and 


(g) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by the 
President. 
Section 12. Office ofthe Director General. - The Office of the Director General shall 
consist of the Director General, his immediate staff, and the Office of the Legal Services. 
Section 13. Deputy Director Generals. - The Director General shall be assisted by at 
least three (3) Deputy Director Generals who shall likewise be appointed by the President. The 
Director General is hereby authorized to delineate, assign, and/or reassign the respective 
functional areas of responsibility of the Deputy Director Generals: Provided, That no Deputy 
Director General shall be assigned primarily administrative responsibilities. 
Within his 
functional area of responsibility, a Deputy Director General shall have the following functions: 
(a) Advise the Director General in the promulgation of administrative orders and other 
issuances with respect to his area of responsibility; 
(b) Exercise supervision over the offices, departments, or operating units and officers 
and employees under his responsibility; 
(c) Promulgate rules and regulations that will efficiently and effectively govern the 
activities of units under his responsibility; 
(d) Coordinate the functions and activities of the units under his responsibility with 
those of other units under the responsibility of other Deputy Director Generals; 
(e) Exercise authority on substantive and administrative matters related to the functions 
and activities of units under his responsibility as may be delegated by the Director General; and 
(0 Perform other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by the Director 
Geneid. 
Section 14. Assistant Director General's. - The Director General and Deputy Director 
Generals shall be assisted by five (5) Assistant Director Generals in the formulation, 
management and implementation of land administration and public land management laws, 
policies, plans, programs, and projects. 
Section 15. Field Offices. - The LAA shall establish permanent field offices at city and 
provincial levels. The LAA may also establish additional field offices in a city or province as it 
may determine for the efficient and effective delivery of its services subject to the approval of 
the President: Provided, That said additional field offices may be abolished by the Director 
General when no longer necessary. 
The field offices shall undertake, among others, the following functions: 
(a) Implement laws, policies, plans, programs, projects, rules and regulations of the 
LAA on land administration and public land management; 


(b) Provide efficient and effective delivery of services to the people; 
(c) Coordinate with field or branch offices of other agencies of the government in the 
region and with local government units in the enforcement of land administration and public land 
management laws and regulations and in the formulation and implementation of programs and 
projects; 
(d) Recommend and, upon approval, implement programs and projects on land 
administration and management and related concerns; 
(e) Conduct a comprehensive inventory of alienable and disposable lands of the public 
domain and of patrimonial properties and formulate districVprovincialhegiona1 short and long 
term development plans for the management, administration, utilization, and disposition of such 
lands toward national development; and 
(0 Perform such other functions as may be assigned by the Director General and/or as 
provided by law. 
ARTICLE IV 
LAND ADJUDICATION BOARD 
Section 16. Creation of the Land Adjudication Board (LAB). - There is hereby created 
a Land Adjudication Board (LAB) that will exercise primary jurisdiction to determine and 
adjudicate land administration and public land management matters and shall have exclusive 
original jurisdiction over all matters involving the implementation of laws, rules and regulations 
on land administration and public land management including petitions for the correction of 
clerical or typographical errors committed in writing, copying, transcribing, or typing of an entry 
in the maps, survey plans, and certificate of land titles, except those cases falling under the 
jurisdiction of the Department of Agrarian Reform unless specifically provided herein. 
Section 17. Composition. - The LAB shall be composed of five (5) members who shall 
be nominated by the Stakeholders Advisory Committee and to be appointed by the President. 
The Presiding Officer shall be selected by the members from among themselves 
Section 18. Local Land Adjudication Board. - The Board shall create a Local Land 
Adjudication Board in the provincial or city office which shall be composed of five members 
who shall be appointed by the LAB. Decisions, orders, and resolutions of the Local Land 
Adjudication Board shall be raised on appeal to the LAB. 
Section 19. Budget and Administrative Support. - The LAB shall determine and propose 
its budgetary requirements and shall be submitted as part of the LAA’s budget request. 


Disbursements of the approved budget resources shall be the sole responsibility of the LAB. 
Secretariat services shall be provided by the LAA. 
Section 20. Proceedings and Procedures. - The LAB shall not be bound by technical 
rules of procedure and evidence but shall proceed to hear and decide all cases, disputes, or 
controversies in a most expeditious manner, employing all reasonable means to ascertain the 
facts of every case in accordance with justice and equity and the merits of the case. Toward this 
end, it shall adopt a uniform rule of procedure to achieve a just, expeditious, and inexpensive 
determination of merits: Provided, That it shall endeavor to settle disputes and controversies 
amicably. 
In the exercise of its functions, the LAB shall have the power to summon witnesses, 
administer oaths, take testimony, require submission of reports, compel the production of books 
and documents and answers to interrogatories, issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum, and 
enforce its writs through sheriffs or other duly deputized officers. It shall punish direct and 
indirect contempt in the same manner and subject to the same penalties as provided for in the 
Rules of Court. 
. 
Responsible persons shall be allowed to represent themselves or their organizations in 
any proceedings before the LAB: Provided, however, That when there are two or more 
representatives for any individual or group, the representatives should choose only one from 
among themselves to represent such party or group before any LAB proceedings. 
Section 21. Finaliw of Determination. - Any case or controversy before the LAB shall 
be decided within thirty (30) days after it is submitted for resolution. Only one (1) motion for 
reconsideration shall be allowed. Moreover, any order, award, ruling, or decision shall be final 
after the lapse of fifteen (1 5) days from receipt by the parties of a copy thereof. 
Section 22. Frivolous Appeals. - To discourage frivolous or dilatory appeals from the 
decisions, awards, rulings, or orders, the LAB may impose reasonable penalties including, but 
not limited to, fines or censures upon erring parties. 
ARTICLE V 
JUDICIAL REVIEW 
Section 23. Certiorari. - Any decision, order, award, or ruling of the LAA on any 
dispute or on any matter pertaining to the application, implementation, enforcement, or 
interpretation of this Act and other pertinent laws on land administration and public land 


management may be brought to the Court of Appeals by certiorari within fifteen (1 5) days from 
the receipt of a copy thereof. 
The findings of fact of the LAA shall be final and conclusive if based on substantial 
evidence. 
Section 24. Restraining Order or Preliminary Injunction. - The Court of Appeals and 
Supreme Court of the Philippines shall have jurisdiction to issue any restraining order or writ of 
preliminary injunction against the LAA or any of its duly authorized or designated offices in any 
case, dispute or controversy arising from, necessary to, or in connection with the application, 
implementation, enforcement, or interpretation of this Act and other pertinent laws on land 
administration and public land management. 
Section 25. Procedure on Review. - Review by the Court of Appeals or the Supreme 
Court, as the case may be, shall be governed by the Rules of Court. The Court of Appeals, 
however, may require the parties to file simultaneous memoranda within a period of fifteen (1 5) 
days from notice, after which the case is deemed submitted for decision. 
ARTICLE VI 
TRANSITORY PROVISIONS 
Section 26. Transfer of Powers. - The powers and functions of the LAA heretofore 
vested by law in the DENR, DOJ, LFWRoD, LMB/LMS, NAMRIA except the powers and 
functions of its Coast and Geodetic Surveys Department, DENR-Comprehensive Agrarian 
Reform Program National Secretariat, LAMP, or in any office within or attached to these 
agencies, are hereby transferred to and vested in the Office of the LAA Director General. 
Section 21. Transfer of the Coast and Geodetic Surveys Department of NAMRIA to 
the OfJice of the Secretary of National Defense. - Within twelve (12) months upon the 
effectivity of this Act, the commissioned officers and enlisted and civilian technical personnel of 
the Coast and Geodetic Survey Department of NAMRIA and a complement of administrative 
support staff shall be constituted as the National Hydrographic Office directly under the Office 
of the Secretay of National Defense. The National Hydrographic Office shall be responsible for 
the hydrographic and oceanographic surveys necessary in chart production and safety to 
navigation. It shall retain its budgetary allocation under the current General Appropriations Act, 
and all properties, survey instruments and equipment and other facilities necessary in the 
performance of its mandate. 


Section 28. Organization of the L A .  - The LAA's organizational and administrative 
structure and functions and staffing pattern, including the personnel's duties and responsibilities 
and the appropriate compensation package shall be submitted by the Director General for review 
and approval to the Congressional Oversight Committee within six (6) months from the 
effectivity of this Act. After the oversight committee's review and approval, the proposed 
organizational structure and staffing pattern, which shall not exceed the total number of 
permanent positions that have been merged, shall be submitted to the President for final approval 
and shall be fully implemented within a period of three (3) months after such approval. 
Section 29. Transfer of Personnel. - To ensure a smooth transition, all incumbent 
personnel of the DENR's LMB/LMS, NAMNA, DENR-CARP National Secretariat and its field 
offices, and LAMP; the DOJ's LFWRoD shall continue to perform their present duties and 
functions as interim personnel of the LAA until such time, being not later than twelve (12) 
months from the effectivity of this Act, that the regular staff of the LAA, based on the new 
staffing pattern, shall have been appointed: Provided, That the regular personnel shall be 
appointed by the Director General, or hidher duly authorized representative, on the basis of 
merit, previous permanent appointment, fitness, and seniority: Provided, moreover, That except 
for the position of Director General and Deputy Director Generals, there shall be no hiring of 
new personnel for the LAA. 
Section 30. Separation and Benefit. - Personnel who are not offered appointment 
within twelve (12) months upon the effectivity of this Act under the new staffing pattern of the 
LAA on at least equivalent terms and conditions as their present employment by reason of 
duplication or redundancy and those who decline an appointment in the LAA by reason of 
diminution in rank and conditions shall be entitled to a gratuity at a rate equivalent to the 
following: 
(1) Two and one-half (2%) months basic salary for every year of service for the first 
twenty (20) years; 
(2) Two and three-fourths (2%) months basic salary for every additional year of service 
from the twenty-first (21") to the thirtieth (3Oth) year of service; 
(3) Three (3) months basic salary for every additional year of service from the thirty- 
first (31") year of service and onwards. 
Affected personnel shall also be entitled to other benefits as may be authorized by 
existing laws and regulations. Furthermore, they shall be entitled to the refund of their 
contributions including government share to the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) 
and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and to the commutation of their unused 
vacation and sick leaves in accordance with existing rules and regulations. 


Employees who are offered appointments under the new staffing pattern of the LAA 
without any diminution in rank and work conditions but who decline such appointments shall be 
deemed to have voluntarily resigned and shall be entitled only to separation benefits equal to 
those provided for by other laws: Provided, morever, That those who are qualified to retire shall 
be allowed to retire and be entitled to all the benefits provided under any of the existing 
retirement laws. 
Section 31. Separation Fund. - There is hereby established a “one-time’’ separation fund 
in the amount of Two Billion Pesos (P2,000,000,000.00) to pay the separation benefits herein 
provided: Provided, That the fund shall be used exclusively to pay for separation benefits: 
Provided further, That within two years after the effectivity of this Act, any unutilized amount of 
the separation fund shall be reverted to the National Treasury. 
Section 32. Reemployment. - Government personnel who are separated as a result of the 
integration of the aforecited offices may apply for positions and be employed in other agencies 
or branches of the government including Government-Owned and/or -Controlled Corporations, 
Government Financial Institutions (GOCCs/GFIs), or local government units. 
Section 33. Unexpended Appropriations and Transfer of Assets. - The unexpended 
balances of appropriations in the current General Appropriations Act and other Acts in force 
upon approval hereof, pertaining to, held, or used by, or available to the LRA and ROD, 
NAMRIA except the budget for its Coast and Geodetic Survey Department, LMB, LMS, DENR- 
CARP National Secretariat and its field offices, and the LAMP are hereby transferred to the 
LAA. 
Such other unexpended balances of appropriations as may be deemed appropriate by the 
Department of Budget and Management for transfer to the LAA shall also be so transferred. 
All real and personal properties, assets, liabilities, records, documents, positions, 
appropriations, contracts, and agreements which, upon the effectivity of this Act, are vested in, 
or owned, by the LMB/LMS, NAMRIA except those pertaining to its Coast and Geodetic Survey 
Department, DENR-CARP National Secretariat and its Field Offices, LWRoD, and LAMP, are 
hereby transferred to the LAA. 
Section 34. Penal Provisions. - 
Any person who sells forms issued and distributed gratuitously under this Act or who, 
being an officer charged with distributing them rehses or fails without sufficient reason, to 
furnish the same, shall be punished for each offense by a fine of not less than one hundred 


thousand pesos and not more than one million pesos or imprisonment of not less than six months 
nor more than three years, or both, in the discretion of the Courts. 
Any person, corporation, association, or partnership which, not being qualified or no 
longer authorized to apply for registration purposes, files or induces or knowingly permits 
another person, corporation, association, or partnership to file an application in hidher or its 
behalf or for hidher or its interest, benefit, or advantage, shall be punished for each offense by a 
fine of not less than one hundred thousand pesos (Pl~O0,OOO.OO) or imprisonment of not less than 
five (5) years, or both, at the discretion of the Courts: Provided, That in case the offender is a 
corporation, association, or partnership, their responsible officials shall be deemed jointly and 
severally liable. The application shall be cancelled. 
Any person who shall, by deceit or fraud, acquire or attempt to acquire lands of the public 
domain or other real property or any right, title or interest, or property right of any class to the 
same, and any person aiding and abetting him therein or serving as a means or tool thereof, shall, 
upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred thousand pesos and 
imprisonment of not less than five years nor more than twelve years, or both, in the discretion of 
the Courts. 
Any person who shall tamper or attempt to tamper any records of the LAA that will result 
in the acquisition of rights, title or interest over real property and any person aiding and abetting 
him therein or serving as a means or tool thereof, shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of 
not less than five hundred thousand pesos (P500,OOO.OO) and imprisonment of not less than 
twelve (12) years, or both, at the discretion of the Court. 
For purposes of this Act, if the offender is a public official or government official or 
employee, he or she shall be, in addition to the existing penalties, removed from office, forfeit all 
retirement benefits except the monetary value of accumulated leave credits, and be perpetually 
disqualified from holding any elective or appointive public office. 
Section 35. Preservation of Records. - The LAA shall have possession and control of all 
records, books, papers, offices, equipment, supplies, moneys, funds, appropriations, land and 
other property, real or personal, held for the benefit or use of all bodies, offices, and officers 
whose duties, powers, and functions have been transferred to and conferred upon the authority. 
Pending a written notice of receipt issued by a duly authorized officer of the LAA, it shall 
be the duty of any and all personnel responsible for, or in possession of records relating to the 


affairs of the LMB, LMS, NAMRIA, the DENR-CARP National Secretariat and its field offices, 
the LRA and the RODS to protect and preserve such records. 
Without prejudice to any other penalties provided for by law, any person who fails to 
fulfill hidher duty pursuant to the above paragraph, shall be guilty of an offense against the 
provisions of this Act, punishable by a fine of not less than one million pesos (Pl,OOO,OOO.OO) or 
imprisonment of not less than five years, or both, upon the discretion of the Court. 
Section 36. Saving Clause. - All orders, determination, rules, regulations, permits, 
certificates, licenses, and privileges which have been issued, made, or granted effective by the 
former LMB, LMS, NAMRIA, LRA, RoDs, DENR-CARP National Secretariat and its field 
offices, and LAMP, or their predecessors shall continue to be in effect according to their terms 
until modified, terminated, superseded, set aside, or repealed. 
No suit, action, or other proceeding commenced by or against any officer in his official 
capacity as an officer of any division or unit of the former LMB, LMS, NAMRIA, LRA, RoDs, 
DENR-CARP National Secretariat and its field offices, and LAMP, the functions of which are 
transferred by this Act. In like manner, no cause of action by or against such division or unit or 
by or against any officer thereof in his official capacity shall abate by reason of the enactment of 
this Act. Causes of actions, suits, or other proceedings may be asserted for or against the LAA 
or such official of the LAA as may be appropriate. 
ARTICLE VI1 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
Section 37. Use of Income. - The LAA is hereby authorized to use twenty percent 
(20%) of all revenues derived from fees, charges, and other sources in the implementation of its 
projects. 
Section 38. Assurance Fund. - A special account within the LAA is hereby created for 
the entire proceeds of the Assurance Fund, which shall no longer be paid to the National 
Treasurer as provided for in Section 94 of PD No. 1529. Claims from the Assurance Fund shall 
be heard, decided, and determined by the Land Adjudication Board. All pending cases or claims 
against the Assurance Fund now being handled by the Bureau of Treasuv, through the Office of 
the Solicitor General, shall likewise be transferred to the Land Adjudication Board. Thereafter, 
the National Treasurer shall no longer be impleaded as party in any action against the Assurance 
Fund. 
Section 39. Indemnijication of Officials and Personnel. - The LAA shall indemnify all 
officials and personnel for all costs and expenses reasonably incurred by such persons in 


connection with any civil or criminal actions, suits, or proceedings to which they may be or made 
a party by reason of the performance of their functions or duties, unless they are finally adjudged 
in such actions or proceedings to be liable. 
In the event of settlement or compromise, indemnification shall be provided only in 
connection with such matters covered by the settlement as to which the LAA is advised by an 
external counsel that the persons to be indemnified did not commit any gross negligence or 
misconduct. 
The costs and expenses incurred in defending the aforementioned action, suit or 
proceeding may be paid by the LAA in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or 
proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Director General, official or 
employee to repay the amount advanced should it ultimately be determined by the LAA that 
he/she is not entitled to be indemnified as provided in this section. 
Section 40. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the LAA shall promulgate the rules and regulations to implement the 
provisions of this Act. Said rules and regulations shall be submitted to the Congressional 
Oversight Committee for approval. 
Section 41. Congressional Oversight Committee on the Land Administration Act. - 
There is hereby created a Congressional Oversight Committee composed of seven (7) members 
from the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and seven (7) members from 
the House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources. 
The oversight committee, which shall function for a period not more than three (3) years, 
shall review the administrative structure, functions, staffing pattern, duties and responsibilities of 
personnel, the implementing rules promulgated by the LAA including the procedures on claims 
against the assurance fund, and oversee the implementation of this Act: Provided, That the 
secretariat of the Oversight Committee shall be drawn from the existing secretariat personnel of 
the committees comprising the oversight and the funding shall be taken from the appropriations 
of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. 
Section 42. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act or any part thereof 
be declared unconstitutional or invalid by a Court, the other provisions hereof which are not 
affected thereby, shall remain in force and effect. 


Section 43. Repealing Clause. - The pertinent provisions of CARL and IPRA with 
regard to the conduct of survey, approval of survey results, preparation and issuance of tenure 
instruments, and the provisions of PD 1529 pertaining to the assurance fund, and their 
implementing rules and regulations are hereby amended or modified accordingly. 
All other laws, decrees, orders, instructions, proclamations, rules and regulations or parts 
thereof, including pertinent provisions of Commonwealth Act No. 141, Act No. 496, Presidential 
Decree No. 1529, Executive Order No. 192 and its related rules and regulations; Executive Order 
No. 469 dated February 1 I, 1981 and the subsequent Presidential Memorandum Circular dated 
30 September 1988 and their related rules and regulations; and the Administrative Code of 1987, 
which we inconsistent with any provision of this Act, are hereby repealed, modified, or amended 
accordingly. 
Section 44. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
publication in the Oficial Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,