NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Education plays an essential role in the overall development effort of the country 
particularly in tapping the potentials and harnessing the talents of the Filipino youth. 
Unfortunately, the Department of Education reported that there are still 8,011 untitled and 
6,257 unregistered school sites throughout the nation. This means that these schools are 
“squatters“ in the sense that they do not have legal property rights over the land they 
occupy. 
In most cases, these school sites are owned by local government units or are leased 
from private individuals. On the other hand, some lands which were verbally donated lack 
the proper legal documents to support the transfer of ownership. Thus, upon the death of the 
donors, their heirs claim the ownership of the land resulting to court litigation. Currently, most 
of these cases are pending in court. 
The passage of this bill will provide for the summary titling of all lands being utilized 
as public school sites and the registration of these real properties with the Registry of Deeds 
in the name of the Department of Education. This will enable the school authorities to have 
direct control and supervision over the land occupied by public schools. 
In view thereof, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
May 3, 2023
4:06 pm
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUMMARY TITLING OF REAL 
PROPERTIES USED AS SITES FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1.  Purpose of this Act - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to provide all 
lands being utilized as public school sites with titles under the name of the Department of 
Education to enable it to have legal ownership over these school sites. 
SEC 2.  Mandatory Titling of School Sites - Titles to real properties, public or private, 
including those owned or possessed by the national, provincial, city or municipal 
governments which are being utilized as actual sites for public schools for a period of at least 
five (5) years shall be transferred to the Department of Education by simple motion filed by 
the Office of the Solicitor General or by the City or Provincial Prosecutor. 
The proceedings shall be administrative and summary in nature and the decision 
shall be final and executory and not subject to appeal except in a petition for certiorari to the 
Supreme Court. 
SEC 3. Registration of Land Titles - The Registry of Deeds concerned shall forthwith 
register the properties as provided herein and issue the corresponding certificate of title to 
the Department of Education. 
SEC 4. Rules and Regulations – The Department of Justice, the Department of Education, 
the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development 
Authority shall jointly promulgate the implementing rules and regulations within 60 days from 
the effectivity of this Act. 
SEC 5. Appropriations - Funds necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be 
charged to the appropriations for the Department of Education under the General 
Appropriations Act. 
SEC 6. Separability Clause - If any part or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or 
invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby, shall continue to 
be in full force and effect. 
SEC 7. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, rules and regulations or other issuances or 
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or 
modified accordingly. 
SECTION 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the completion 
of its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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