RECEIVED

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE XAVIER JESUS D. ROMUALDO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The late Representative Pedro P. Romualdo originally filed this proposed measure in
the 15th Congress. It was re-filed in the 16" Congress and was approved by the House
of Representatives on Third Reading.

Commonwealth Act No. 141, otherwise known as the Public Land Act, was enacted in
1936. There is a need to amend the antiquated provisions of Section 24 of the Public
Land Act to bring up to date the process of disposition of alienable public agricultural
lands to qualified persons.

If the proposed amendments are enacted into law, the period for publication of notices
of sale shall now be two (2) consecutive weeks, instead of six (6) consecutive weeks.
‘Such notices shall be published just in English, instead of English and Spanish or in the
loca! dialect. The threshold land value that will result in an exemption from the
requirement of publication in the Official Gazette and in newspapers shall now be Fifty
Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00), instead of Two Hundred Forty Pesos (P240.00). Finally,
the date on which public biddings shall be held and the awards of the lands to disposed
of shall be made shall be thirty (30) days after the date of the notice of sale, instead of
‘sbtty (60) days.

In order for government to be able to better serve the people, we must revisit, review,
and update our old statutes so that our laws are be able to respond to and meet the

needs and demands of the present times. This proposed measure is a step in that
direction.

Hence, with a view to streamlining and improving govemment systems, procedures, and

processes, the kind and favorable support of the Members of Congress for the prompt
and timely passage of this measure is eamestly sought.

XAVIER JESUS D. ROMUALDO

HOUSE 2F REPRESENTATIVES


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 691

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE XAVIER JESUS D. ROMUALDO

AN ACT
SIMPLIFYING THE PROCEDURE IN THE DISPOSITION OF PUBLIC
AGRICULTURAL LANDS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 24 OF
COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 141, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE PUBLIC LAND
ACT”

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

1 SECTION 1. Section 24 of Commonwealth Act No. 14 lis hereby amended to read as follows:

3 “Sec. 24, Lands sold under the provisions of this chapter must be appraised in
4 accordance with section one hundred and sixteen of this Act. The [Director of
5 Lands] DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL
6 RESOURCES (DENR) shall announce the sale thereof by publishing the proper
7 notice once a week for [six] TWO consecutive weeks in the Official Gazette, and
8 in two newspapers one published in METRO Manila and the other published in
9 the municipality or in the province where the lands are located, or in a
10 neighboring province, and the same notice shall be posted on the bulletin board of

u the [Bureau of Lands] CENTRAL OFFICE OF THE DENR [in Manila], and in

12 the most conspicuous place in the provincial building and the municipal building
13 of the province and municipality, respectively, where the land is located, and, if
4 practicable, on the land itself, but if the value of the land does not exceed [two
15 hundred and forty] FIFTY THOUSAND pesos, the publication in the Official
16 Gazette and newspapers may be omitted. The notices shall be published [one] in
17 English [and the other in Spanish or in the local dialect,] and shall fix a date [not

18 earlier than sixty] THIRTY days after the date of the notice upon which the land


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will be awarded to the highest bidder, or public bids will be called for, or other

action will be taken as provided in this chapter.”

SEC. 2. All laws, decrees, executive orders, issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof

inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly

SEC. 3. The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources shall promulgate the necessary

rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or

in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved,